changing fuses on European to UK travel adaptors

matoki · 21 Apr 2009

Hi readers,
I am moving from the Netherlands to Ireland and I bought many European to UK travel adaptors to fit my (European plug) appliances which I'm intending to take with me. They are shaver adaptors with a 1 Amp fuse. Now, after doing some more research, I came to realize that this plug as it is, will do for shavers and electric toothbrushes but not for other appliances. For those "other" appliances that I want to use in Ireland can I change that existing 1 Amp fuse with a 3 Amp fuse or a 5 Amp fuse or a 13 Amp fuse? I am aware and already realize that I cannot use these adaptors for my washing machine and I also do not intend to take my refrigerator with me but what about the rest?
Thanks in advance!

ElectricDunc · 21 Apr 2009

How long are you planning on staying in Ireland. If it's a permanent arrangement have you thought about changing the european plugs for 3 pin 13A plugs? Can't imagine it would cost too much or take too long.

securespark · 21 Apr 2009

Can you post pictures of these europlugs?

There are adaptor plugs available to safely convert these to the UK style plug without having to take the existing plug off.

This is the 2 pin type: http://www.powerconnections.co.uk/convert_eurotouk.htm

This is the schuko type:
http://www.powerconnections.co.uk/convert_eurotouk_scp3.htm

ElectricDunc · 21 Apr 2009

If you buy those sort of adapters ensure you get good quality ones. I'm sure they should feature the kite mark and be fused. There are alot of cheap knock off ones out there which are unfused and potentially lethal.

matoki · 21 Apr 2009

Thank you for your help.
Below is another example of the same plug I bought (I bought the same type at ASDA) and it has a plastic grounding with a 1 Amp fuse.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=1186&DOY=31m3#features

securespark said:
Can you post pictures of these europlugs?

There are adaptor plugs available to safely convert these to the UK style plug without having to take the existing plug off.

This is the 2 pin type: http://www.powerconnections.co.uk/convert_eurotouk.htm

This is the schuko type:
http://www.powerconnections.co.uk/convert_eurotouk_scp3.htm[/QUOTE]

ColJack · 21 Apr 2009

if it bothers you that much.. just buy euro plug sockets and get them swapped for some of yours..

or buy a euro extension lead and fit it with a 13A plug..

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/TLEC13AW.html

wingcoax · 21 Apr 2009

It's all very well changing the fuses in the adaptors, but can you guarantee that the adaptor stays with the appliance it's fused for?

securespark · 21 Apr 2009

matoki

You can only use shavers & toothbrushes with that adaptor, nothing larger & nothing that requires an earth connection.

Your best bet is to use the plugs I posted links for if you have the moulded plugs that they are designed for, ie the two pin type & the shuko style.

matoki · 22 Apr 2009

Sorry for my ignorance but what is the difference between these lid-type plugs you are suggesting compared with the "regular" type adaptor I bought? Also are these lid-type plugs only available at distributers? (I did not find them at any stores). Thanks.

securespark said:
matoki

You can only use shavers & toothbrushes with that adaptor, nothing larger & nothing that requires an earth connection.

Your best bet is to use the plugs I posted links for if you have the moulded plugs that they are designed for, ie the two pin type & the shuko style.

plugwash · 22 Apr 2009

There are many types of adaptors on the market and knowing what is suitable for what purpose is important to get a safe and reliable result.

You have to be particularlly carefull with the german/dutch schuko plugs because they use side clips not pins for earthing. This means it is easy to end up with a situation where an appliance that needs earthing for safe operation has it's live and neutral pins connected but not it's earth pins.

1: shaver adaptors: (e.g. http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=1186&DOY=31m3#features) theese are designed for shavers and can also be used for other very small <1A appliances that do not require earthing and come with a two pin europlug (a relatively thin plug with two thin flexible pins). They are NOT suitable for either applicances that require higher currents or those that require earthing
2: visitor adaptors (e.g. http://www.roamingfox.co.uk/UK-Visitor-Travel-Adapter-pr-16228.html ). Theese have a higher current rating than shaver adaptors and can be used with some earthed plug types. However THEY WILL NOT PROVIDE AN EARTH TO GERMAN/DUTCH/FRENCH plugs.
3: specific UK to schuko adaptors. (e.g. http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?moduleno=22928 ), unlike the generic vistor adaptors theese will properly earth, they are rather bulky though and stick out of the socket more than is desirable. I'd probablly suggest theese for a visitor from germany but for permanent use having plugs sticking that far out of the wall is just asking for them to get damaged IMO.
4: converter plugs (e.g. http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=19246 ). Theese give a very neat and solid conversion for europlugs. There are also models availible for schuko plugs but they are far bulkier and harder to obtain ( you will probablly have to buy them mail order from a specialist supplier of you want them ).

Unfortunately most stores only carry the first two categories and often provide poor information about what they are suitable for

It may be better to avoid adaptors altogether and simply change the plugs for british ones (changing plugs on extention leads so you have an extention lead with a different plug type and socket type can be a usefull trick if you are moving backwards and forwards between countries)

ban-all-sheds · 22 Apr 2009

"Suitable for accepting the plugs fitted to electric shavers and standard 2-pin continental mains plugs"

Hard to see how that's true, as shaver plugs and standard 2-pin continental mains plugs have different spacing. Yes you can force them in but I'd not agree that makes it "suitable".

"Rated at 1A"

And that means that you should not replace the fuse or use it for anything which draws more than 1A.

Plugwash's final suggestion is the one to go for - just change the plugs on your appliances and have done with it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domestic_AC_power_plugs_and_sockets
.
.
.

matoki · 22 Apr 2009

Thank you for your good and elaborate explanation.
It seems indeed to be the right conclusion to cut and replace the Euro (schuko) earth plugs to British ones alltogether.
Regarding the non-earthed europlugs, if I look at the photo of converter plug number 4 in your list, I see a 2 pin thin europlug. Is that converter good for ALL non-earthed appliances that have this 2 pin thin europlug? But what's actually the difference then between this (number 4) adaptor and number 1 shaver adaptor? I'm asking because that is the same kind of plug one has for his shaver. So what's the difference, other than the design, between that converter plug and a shaver adaptor (except for the fuse? but can the fuse simply be changed to a higher one?) In other words, what I still don't understand is how is a higher current rating achieved in a plug? Thanks a million!

plugwash said:
There are many types of adaptors on the market and knowing what is suitable for what purpose is important to get a safe and reliable result.

You have to be particularlly carefull with the german/dutch schuko plugs because they use side clips not pins for earthing. This means it is easy to end up with a situation where an appliance that needs earthing for safe operation has it's live and neutral pins connected but not it's earth pins.

1: shaver adaptors: (e.g. http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=1186&DOY=31m3#features) theese are designed for shavers and can also be used for other very small <1A appliances that do not require earthing and come with a two pin europlug (a relatively thin plug with two thin flexible pins). They are NOT suitable for either applicances that require higher currents or those that require earthing
2: visitor adaptors (e.g. http://www.roamingfox.co.uk/UK-Visitor-Travel-Adapter-pr-16228.html ). Theese have a higher current rating than shaver adaptors and can be used with some earthed plug types. However THEY WILL NOT PROVIDE AN EARTH TO GERMAN/DUTCH/FRENCH plugs.
3: specific UK to schuko adaptors. (e.g. http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?moduleno=22928 ), unlike the generic vistor adaptors theese will properly earth, they are rather bulky though and stick out of the socket more than is desirable. I'd probablly suggest theese for a visitor from germany but for permanent use having plugs sticking that far out of the wall is just asking for them to get damaged IMO.
4: converter plugs (e.g. http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=19246 ). Theese give a very neat and solid conversion for europlugs. There are also models availible for schuko plugs but they are far bulkier and harder to obtain ( you will probablly have to buy them mail order from a specialist supplier of you want them ).

Unfortunately most stores only carry the first two categories and often provide poor information about what they are suitable for

It may be better to avoid adaptors altogether and simply change the plugs for british ones (changing plugs on extention leads so you have an extention lead with a different plug type and socket type can be a usefull trick if you are moving backwards and forwards between countries)

matoki · 22 Apr 2009

Thanks for your information.
My shaver and toothbrush plugs have the same spacing as the standard 2 pin thin europlug.
Thanks also to everybody else that helped me out here...

ban-all-sheds said:
"Suitable for accepting the plugs fitted to electric shavers and standard 2-pin continental mains plugs"

Hard to see how that's true, as shaver plugs and standard 2-pin continental mains plugs have different spacing. Yes you can force them in but I'd not agree that makes it "suitable".

"Rated at 1A"

And that means that you should not replace the fuse or use it for anything which draws more than 1A.

Plugwash's final suggestion is the one to go for - just change the plugs on your appliances and have done with it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domestic_AC_power_plugs_and_sockets
.
.
.

BS3036 · 22 Apr 2009

ban-all-sheds said:
Hard to see how that's true, as shaver plugs and standard 2-pin continental mains plugs have different spacing. Yes you can force them in but I'd not agree that makes it "suitable".

You're probably thinking of UK shaver plugs. They don't need funny pin-outs in the rest of Europe, cause they don't have the silly bathroom rules we do.

matoki · 22 Apr 2009

BS3036 said:
ban-all-sheds said:

Hard to see how that's true, as shaver plugs and standard 2-pin continental mains plugs have different spacing. Yes you can force them in but I'd not agree that makes it "suitable".

Click to expand...

Sorry I guess you were not reacting to my coment here rathar than to "ban-all-sheds"??

No, I meant my own european shaver has a plug similar to the standard 2 pin thin plug which is in use with some non-earth products. By the way, do you have any comment on my message to Plugwash? Thanks!

You're probably thinking of UK shaver plugs. They don't need funny pin-outs in the rest of Europe, cause they don't have the silly bathroom rules we do.

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changing fuses on European to UK travel adaptors

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