Electrical Advice Please
I know that we have the same 3 pin sockets here as in the UK, with the same voltage. Most of the electrical items I have bought here, have 2 pin plugs, so I have bought a lot of adapters.
I dont like using adapters, as they never seem to fit securely, and if the 2 pin comes loose, it can create a short and burn the adapter or plug. I dont fancy changing all of the 2 pin plugs for 3 pin ones either. That is if you can do that safely?
I noticed that the 'electrician' on our compound plugs 2 pin plugs directly into the bottom 2 holes of a 3 pin socket, is this safe? Also, when I have tried to do the same, the 2 pins dont seem to fit unless you force them, which I dont want to do.
Any advice appreciated :)
Thanks Vic, that was VERY useful. I will go and and buy half a dozen of them when I get back from the UK, in the new year. By the way, I had a look at your art work and I am very impressed. Do you have any exibitions in Doha, where do you sell them and how much etc?
This is the grounded adapter I was referring to.
The same adapter (right) seen from the other side. The metalic stud inside on the right is the ground and makes contact with the metallic strip at the side of the plug (left)
This adapter is 13 Amp and 250 V, which means it can support a load of as much as 3250 Watts. And it has a fuse in it so in case of short circuit it won't burn nor melt. You can plug any two-pin plug to this adapter, grounded or not. OSHTRACO is a reliable brand.
In general, an adapter will melt or burn if the wattage of the plugged appliance exceeds the adapter's wattage. To find out the wattage of an adapter multiply its ampere rating and its voltage. The result is the wattage. So, a 3-Amp and 250-V adapter has a wattage of 750 (3x250). You can't plug to this any electrical item with a wattage higher than 750 otherwise it will melt. You will find amperage and voltage ratings always engraved on the adapter. Look for them.
Your dryer plugged directly to the socket will work perfectly. But if it has short circuit you could get electrocuted if you touched it. The adapter above should be more than able to handle it.
I give in. One fan heater just melted the plug and I had to switch off the other, as it stated smelling of burning. Looks like I will have to freeze :( Thanks for all your help though x
You are the man, Finally I did fix, my own circuit breaker and two outlets. I got my heaters back in action.
Those color coded European style wires are a little tricky.
Thank you
Tyler: pink-a-boo!
non arab billiards as I hate getting asked if I have a gf or wife all night and then the queer looks when i answer no to both.
and I need alcohol, as we have thrown about all afternoon
good luck with the wiring
Hmmm- which personality is coming out today?
The New Airport road has a nice billiard place.
thinking about billiards tonight but here to help for now
Hmmm- which personality is coming out today?
Nice my brother, I'm glad you are still here.
blue hot
brown neutral
green gnround
Hmmm- which personality is coming out today?
I got 3 wires that I strip back.
One brown
One blue
one green with a yellow strip in the center.
Is the brown the wire the ground? Dammed middle east colors. I'm breaking out my meter and checking for resistance and grounding.
Please PLease, don't do the two pin into the three pin socket, if you get it wrong you will be the path to earth and potentially an early death. The only adapters you should touch are the ones that are recessed and your two pin fits snugly in them, the cheap ones have exposed sides/tops and you will get a belt if you take them out wrong.
The only real option is to fit UK plugs, remember that the live which is either red or brown goes to the fuse, blue goes across from it and yellow and green if applicable is the earth and goes to the top. It would take about 10 mins with the right tools. Then you can buy the proper Uk extensions and live safe
You are warned!!
Regarding adaptors, particularly cheap ones.
If you ever get a fishy smell in the villa/flat, check the adaptors.
We had a couple melt on us and it was the smell that gave them away
Check that all three pins are metal. This is a good start. Don't buy any with 1 plastic pin because if you plug in a UK plug that needs earthing - it won't be earthed.
I too bought the cheap variety of adapters - but what is better are the more pricey ones with plastic pins guides inside the holes. They hold the pins in place better.
All appliances sold here should be for the same 240 voltage so you should not need to worry. Anything brought from America may need to be looked at - sometimes they have a switch in the back to change the voltage input from 110 to 240.
Please do not poke anything in a socket in front of kids - they won't know the difference.
The only thing in your house that needs specialist connections should only be your oven.
Hope this helps.
Now I am a little confused.
The appliance that the 'electrician' plugged directly into the bottom 2 holes was a tumble dryer. Surely this is a high wattage appliance that needs earthing?
The appliance that I would like to plug directly into the bottom 2 holes is a small fan heater. It's 2000w but only has 2 pins but no metal strips at the side.
I have lots of different sorts of adapters, how do you tell which ones are grounded?
(Hope you dont invoice me for this :)
Some low-wattage electrical items like radios, cd players, etc. do not need to be grounded and can be plugged directly and safely to the bottom 2 holes of a 3 pin socket. To do this successfully you have to first insert a flat screwdriver or something into the upper pin which is the ground and carries no current with it. Press down the screwdriver to open the two lower pins and it is then that you can insert your plug. Never force it.
For two-pin high-wattage appliances like microwaves, heaters, etc. that need to be grounded (they have a fat round plug with two metal strips at the side), it is better to buy a special adapter with a ground (costs QR11 at Carrefoure). Your 2-pin plug should fit in perfectly and firmly, if it is the right adapter.