Hi,

we're off to Greece (Rhodes) in a few weeks time and I always find
that mains adapters are a pain in the bum - heavier stuff like
phone/mp3 chargers keep pulling the adapters out of the socket, so I
thought that I'd get around this by taking a couple of UK 4-way mains
blocks fitted with local mains plugs.

Now I could just wait until we arrive and then find somewhere to buy a
local mains plug to fit to the block, but I thought that I'd try to be
efficient and buy & fit the correct plugs before we leave home.

I've posted a query on VirtualTourist asking which of the plug types
listed for Greece at http://kropla.com/electric.htm (types C,D,E and
F) are commonly used in Rhodes.

If it turns out to be a type that I don't have, does anyone know of a
UK source of foreign mains plugs?

Thanks

Perry

"SlapHead" wrote in message
...
Hi,

we're off to Greece (Rhodes) in a few weeks time and I always find
that mains adapters are a pain in the bum - heavier stuff like
phone/mp3 chargers keep pulling the adapters out of the socket, so I
thought that I'd get around this by taking a couple of UK 4-way mains
blocks fitted with local mains plugs.

Now I could just wait until we arrive and then find somewhere to buy a
local mains plug to fit to the block, but I thought that I'd try to be
efficient and buy & fit the correct plugs before we leave home.

I've posted a query on VirtualTourist asking which of the plug types
listed for Greece at http://kropla.com/electric.htm (types C,D,E and
F) are commonly used in Rhodes.

If it turns out to be a type that I don't have, does anyone know of a
UK source of foreign mains plugs?

Thanks

Perry

www.farnell.com pt 1207923

SlapHead wrote:
Hi,

If it turns out to be a type that I don't have, does anyone know of a
UK source of foreign mains plugs?

Thanks

Perry


Knock yourself out...


http://cpc.farnell.com/jsp/endecaSea...mSearch=tr ue

In article ,
SlapHead wrote:
If it turns out to be a type that I don't have, does anyone know of a
UK source of foreign mains plugs?

A big electronics supplier like RS or CPC. But you may fall foul of their
minimum order value.

--
*The problem with the gene pool is that there is no lifeguard *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

On Sun, 25 Jun 2006 07:04:37 +0100, SlapHead wrote
(in article ):

Hi,

we're off to Greece (Rhodes) in a few weeks time and I always find
that mains adapters are a pain in the bum - heavier stuff like
phone/mp3 chargers keep pulling the adapters out of the socket, so I
thought that I'd get around this by taking a couple of UK 4-way mains
blocks fitted with local mains plugs.

Now I could just wait until we arrive and then find somewhere to buy a
local mains plug to fit to the block, but I thought that I'd try to be
efficient and buy & fit the correct plugs before we leave home.

I've posted a query on VirtualTourist asking which of the plug types
listed for Greece at http://kropla.com/electric.htm (types C,D,E and
F) are commonly used in Rhodes.

If it turns out to be a type that I don't have, does anyone know of a
UK source of foreign mains plugs?

Thanks

Perry

I have this issue as a result of travelling somewhere elsewhere in Europe or
beyond almost every week. I've been doing this to a greater or lesser
extent for 25 years.

I need to be able to plug in various notebook computers and assorted chargers
and have some lead length away from the socket - e.g. when sitting at a
conference table and the socket is on the wall.

The other issue is not wanting to cart around more stuff than I have to.

I've been through the whole gamut of travel adaptors and frankly as you say,
they are generally crap. They are designed to be used a couple of times and
then binned. If you thought that ones that you can get in Europe were bad,
those available in the US are diabolical.

Occasionally I am involved in exhibitions and for these I have adopted the
same approach that you are suggesting. However, I have only ever needed to
use a Schuko type of plug since generally exhibition centres either have this
or the French (compatible) version type F. So if a ground is needed, the
type F plug will work in types E and F. It will also fit type C but not
provide a ground. The only place in Europe that I have found where this
plug won't fit is Switzerland where they have type J in a lot of places. A
Schuko plug won't fit this, but a narrow type C will if you forgo the ground.

For my regular weekly travel, a few years ago I found a universal adaptor
made/branded by Fujifilm. These are available in camera shops and the
Dixons etc. shops at Heathrow have bucket loads of them at around £20.
On the male side they have UK, type C (shaped to fit type J if needed), U.S.,
Australian,..... There are little sliders to select which pins you want.
On the top there is a choice of two clip on components. One is for mains
plugs and will accept any of the types for which there are pins and more.
The other is a small USB power supply, so you can charge anything which uses
this. I use that for charging my iPod and IPAQ etc.
Internally there is a fuse.

http://www2.fujifilm.co.uk/digital/a...ry.php?id=1017

There's another without the USB

http://www2.fujifilm.co.uk/digital/a...ory.php?id=542

I've had a couple of these in weekly use (typically three different places in
a day, 3-4 days a week) for over three years. They are still fine and work
perfectly. I take a two way UK extension lead and plug it in the top and
have never had problems of it falling out or not making good contact - even
in crappy American outlets.

The only place that I regularly go to where it is not useful is South
Africa.There they have type M which is like the old British 15A plug.
However, adaptors to UK BS1363 are widely available and the whole thing is
massive so no issues there.

Type D is like the old British 5A plug. I have never found this in use in
Greece or the islands - it's always been one of the other three that you
list, mostly Schuko but occasionally the French one.


If you really wanted to go the made up lead route, I would be very surprised
if more than the Schuko one would be needed. Otherwise the Fuji adaptor
works well for me. One of the computers that I use as well as the projector
need to be continuously powered in use so I can't have anything where the
plug would fall out or make poor contact. This has never happened.

SlapHead wrote:
If it turns out to be a type that I don't have, does anyone know of a
UK source of foreign mains plugs?

The trick I use is to put an IEC (kettle/computer) plug on the end of
everything I take abroad. It's usually easy to beg, borrow, steal, or
if all else fails, buy, a computer lead with local plug on it.

Chris

In message , SlapHead
writes
Hi,

we're off to Greece (Rhodes) in a few weeks time and I always find
that mains adapters are a pain in the bum - heavier stuff like
phone/mp3 chargers keep pulling the adapters out of the socket, so I
thought that I'd get around this by taking a couple of UK 4-way mains
blocks fitted with local mains plugs.

They use standard european sockets on Rhodes

Use a normal UK 3 pin plug on your 4 way adapter and a travel adapter -
should be fine, and they don't fall out IMO


--
geoff

SlapHead writed in
:

Hi,


If it turns out to be a type that I don't have, does anyone know of a
UK source of foreign mains plugs?


http://www.euronetwork.co.uk/acatalog/MAINS_LEADS.html
http://www.euronetwork.co.uk/acatalo...ion_Leads.html

Ordered from them about 12 months ago - very quick delivery

Thanks for all the links, especially Andy Hall with his advice about
the type F plug being the most useful.

I've managed to find a couple of unused server power cords that have
type F plugs on them so I'll attach those to the mains blocks and
(hopefully) all will be well.

Thanks again

Perry