astera

Need to get 1/2-a-dozen of these and the ones I have seen have been rather mediocre (one had these "wings" making it so wide it made the socket next to it unusable). I just want a simple one that isn't let down by some idiotic design.

Any place you think of first when you need a regular, decent one?

GarryP

Just get a UK 4-way adapters and put an Aus plug on it. Probably most reliable and compatible.

Otherwise the best ones I've seen are the really cheapo ones you get when you order stuff from Hong Kong, eg. -


For example http://www.aliexpress.com/item/20pcs...411013546.html

Small enough that they don't get in the way, and providing you are not putting much current through them, reliable enough.

Amazulu

EBay - $10 for 10 delivered

But you really should be rewiring the plugs

astera

Any good ones made for the Aussie market that aren't the upside-down versions that were destined for China?

Since both plugs are the same - albeit rotated 180 degrees - those made for China will have your UK plug upside down when used here. Not heart-breaking stuff, but I'd prefer something made for AU.

Pulaski

This.

Adapters are great for travellers and visitors, but they are not a safe long-term solution.

astera

I agree, and if I was staying long-term I'd change the plugs myself. But I'm heading out next year and the current plugs on my appliances will once again be useful.

paulry

Guaranteed against shorting and causing house fires/electrocutions. ....Not

paulry

+1

paulry

Plugs in Australia have got to be the crappiest, most dangerous that I've ever known. The best ones are in South Africa. They have great (and very safe) ones there that you don't even need a screwdriver to fit - a teaspoon will do!

Pulaski

I assume you have never been to America. Many plugs are flimsy and loose in the socket, and often don't have a ground pin. It is possible to buy "adapters" that allow appliances, or an extension cord, with a ground pin to be plugged in to a two-hole non-grounded socket.

Then there is the electrical code requirement that socket be about 18" above the floor, and that almost all plugs in the US have cords that stick out at 90° to the wall, rather than coming out of the bottom of the plug.

It has only been required that clothes dryers have a ground pin since about 1993 too, so there are still many dryers that have a power cord that don't have a ground pin, and many houses that only have "three pin" (groundless) socket and groundless wiring. ...... And therefore people routinely buy groundless powercords to attach to their brand new dryers, so there are going to be many more years of dryers without a separate ground.

FWIW "pre 1993 code" dryers are grounded through their neutral wire.

paulry

Sounds like you have similar annoyances in the US. Our plugs in Australia have their cords coming out at pretty much every direction other than the neat bottom-down configuration and are annoying when you have mixed (many cord-directioned) plugs on a multiple socket plug point. Extension lead sockets/socket strips are very poor quality too resulting in frequent shorts. When I buy a house later this year/early next, I'm going to get UK plug points fitted alongside nearly all of the Aussie ones.

Amazulu

Yes if you buy the cheapest, shittiest ones. A few years ago I bought an Arlec 4 outlet, surge protected board with 2 3A USB ports. Great quality

The Belkin brand boards are very good too

paulry

Agreed, I have a couple of the surge protected ones and they're definitely better. However, even the cheapest shittiest ones should be safe.

GarryP

Don't think it's anything to do with some supposed chinese plug which is an upside down UK shape. Instead it's so that the upside down Australian plug (eg earth at the bottom) can easily tie up with the UK earth element.

Never had any problems with these adapters - unlike some other more expensive ones bought in 'reputable' shops. Still say a UK 4-way with an aussie plug on it is the best bet.

Would never touch a Belkin anything with a barge pole - overpriced and underperforming.

Amazulu

And they generally are