British Expats

British Expats (https://britishexpats.com/forum/)
-   Spain (https://britishexpats.com/forum/spain-75/)
-   -   Using travel adapters for big items???? (https://britishexpats.com/forum/spain-75/using-travel-adapters-big-items-588275/)

JnK Jan 30th 2009 10:14 pm

Using travel adapters for big items????
 
Have had conflicting opinions on this question so some sensible advice needed please. We're not sure whether or not to take our electrical appliances from the UK to Spain mainly because most of ours are earthed whereas the Spanish system isn't and just uses the two-prong plug. We did buy travel adapters but on them they say that they're not to be used only "with non-earthed appliances up to 1800W 250V and 7.5amps". This would then apply to our tumble drier and freezer which we were planning on taking. Can someone please help :eek: :eek:

valenciatim Jan 30th 2009 10:20 pm

Re: Using travel adapters for big items????
 
Does your property not have any of the round plug sockets? They are still two pin sockets, but the earth is at the sides.

rachelk Jan 30th 2009 10:28 pm

Re: Using travel adapters for big items????
 
You should be able to change the plugs to continental ones

See here - you don't need spanish as it's all done in photos.

JnK Jan 30th 2009 11:33 pm

Re: Using travel adapters for big items????
 

Originally Posted by rachelk (Post 7232846)
You should be able to change the plugs to continental ones

See here - you don't need spanish as it's all done in photos.

That is fantastic ... thank you thank you thank you, in fact, I can't thank you enough :) :thumbsup: :D

mikelincs Jan 31st 2009 12:49 am

Re: Using travel adapters for big items????
 

Originally Posted by rachelk (Post 7232846)
You should be able to change the plugs to continental ones

See here - you don't need spanish as it's all done in photos.

That's the best idea, we bought about 3 adaptors, but changed all the ones we could before we came. The only ones we needed adaptors for were the things like chargers for phones etc that plug direct into the socket.

jurdyr Jan 31st 2009 4:54 am

Re: Using travel adapters for big items????
 
buy few plug boards from uk and the put EU plug on the end off it , non-earthed appliances can not trip and lead to fires that damage your house and kill

bigglesworth Jan 31st 2009 5:23 am

Re: Using travel adapters for big items????
 

Originally Posted by jurdyr (Post 7233676)
buy few plug boards from uk and the put EU plug on the end off it , non-earthed appliances can not trip and lead to fires that damage your house and kill

Wow what a great idea! Thank you also

JnK Jan 31st 2009 6:59 am

Re: Using travel adapters for big items????
 

Originally Posted by jurdyr (Post 7233676)
buy few plug boards from uk and the put EU plug on the end off it , non-earthed appliances can not trip and lead to fires that damage your house and kill

Okay, bearing in mind that I'm a woman ... no smart remarks :) ... what is a "plug board"? :confused:

rachelk Jan 31st 2009 7:26 am

Re: Using travel adapters for big items????
 

Originally Posted by JnK (Post 7233912)
Okay, bearing in mind that I'm a woman ... no smart remarks :) ... what is a "plug board"? :confused:

I think he means one of those what I call extension cables - plugs into the wall and has room for you to plug 3, 4 or more other plugs into it. Then you'd only have to change one plug.

bil Jan 31st 2009 9:19 am

Re: Using travel adapters for big items????
 
We get around the problem by wiring in a separate earthing 'loom' and then conecting an earth line where those are lacking on the Spanish system.

trentino Jan 31st 2009 7:40 pm

Re: Using travel adapters for big items????
 
Ok, stupid here. I thought spanish plugs could only take two wires. It does not show in the phto what they have done with the brown wire. Oh, by the way, I am female??

linda Coyle Jan 31st 2009 8:05 pm

Re: Using travel adapters for big items????
 
We shipped our microwave DVD and LCD tv to Spain and just had Spanish plugs put on - no problem

rachelk Jan 31st 2009 9:09 pm

Re: Using travel adapters for big items????
 

Originally Posted by trentino (Post 7235273)
Ok, stupid here. I thought spanish plugs could only take two wires. It does not show in the phto what they have done with the brown wire. Oh, by the way, I am female??

One of the photos shows all 3 wires connected, just before the cover goes back on.

Brown and blue to the two pins, earth to the metal bit at the side.

jdr Jan 31st 2009 9:36 pm

Re: Using travel adapters for big items????
 
Fire insurance ?
All electrical work is supposed to be done by a qualified electrician now, hence the moulded on plugs on all electrical equipment nowdays.

Fred James Jan 31st 2009 10:21 pm

Re: Using travel adapters for big items????
 

Originally Posted by jdr (Post 7235539)
Fire insurance ?
All electrical work is supposed to be done by a qualified electrician now, hence the moulded on plugs on all electrical equipment nowdays.

So why do they sell plugs in every supermarket?

I think that rule only applies to the wiring in the house, not to what you connect to it.


All times are GMT -12. The time now is 10:02 am.

Powered by vBulletin: ©2000 - 2026, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.