Gizmodo 
Enter your username and password.
-
posts about #worldwideelectricplugs more → 
Giz Explains: Why Every Country Has a Different F#$%ing Plug
Tip your editors:
Editorial Director:
Brian Lam | | Twitter
Editor:
Jason Chen
| AIM | Twitter
Features Editor:
Wilson Rothman
| Twitter
Senior Contributing Editors:
Jesus Diaz
| AIM | Twitter
Mark Wilson, Reviews
| AIM | Twitter
Contributing Editors:
Matt Buchanan
| AIM | Twitter
Adam Frucci
| Twitter
Sean Fallon
| Twitter
Jack Loftus
| Twitter
John Herrman
| Twitter
Dan Nosowitz
Chris Mascari
Danny Allen
| Twitter
Rosa Golijan
| Twitter
Chris Jacob
Columnist:
Brendan I. Koerner
Interns:
Don Nguyen
Kyle VanHemert
Comment Account Questions:
| posts about #worldwideelectricplugs more → |
Giz Explains: Why Every Country Has a Different F#$%ing Plug |
Original material is licensed under a Creative Commons License permitting non-commercial sharing with attribution.
10/30/09
10/29/09
"The voltage debate had been pared down to two, which made life a bit easier for power companies to set up shop across the world."
Not quite. Until the beginning of the 21st century, there were four distinct voltages: 100V (Japan), 240V (Great Britain and former colonies save Canada), 110/117/120 (whatever -- North America), and 220V (the rest of the world).
Then in the 80's, Europe and Britain began a "harmonization" process, and compromised on 230V. They are not there yet, it will take a while to switch everything over, but that's the plan.
Former colonies remain at 240V. North America still likes its 110/117/120V and Japan won't be leaving 100V behind for a while. So for someone designing products for international sales, one has to deal with 100/120/220/230/240 volts. For some products, like tungsten or halogen light bulbs, the difference between 220 and 230 volts is significant enough to result in significantly shortened lifetime. And, of course, 267V in some parts of the Australian Outback, and brownout conditions elsewhere just make the job even tougher.
(Lifetime of bulb is roughly inversely related to 12th power of the voltage. So a 220V bulb in a 230V application will only last 6/10ths as long as it would at 220v. That's why in the USA we use 130V bulbs in locations where we want the bulb to last a long time. Why that famous 100 year old firehouse bulb keeps burning -- it's undervoltaged.)
10/29/09
I used to think all those different power plugs were a hassle, then I found this. It has a socket for every type of plug, and a plug for every type of socket.
It's like some kind of electrical orgy just waiting to happen. #worldwideelectricplugs
10/30/09
But, if you have a "simple" power adapter it might just say 100-120v/60Hz. In those cases you would need an actual power converter as well as an adapter to make sure 240v doesn't rush into it and cause it to overload and explode in your face.
Still, that crazy thing does look cool and painful to use at the same time.
10/30/09
10/31/09
10/29/09
simply take a toothpick and stick it in the middle hole of the G socket so you can insert the two normal C, E and F plug bars.
Lived in England for three and a half years, never a problem with that solution. I plugged in all sorts of electrical stuff, from desktop pcs to lamps and even a washing machine. Fuck adapters. #worldwideelectricplugs
10/29/09
@ john Herrman:
"She means new stuff like USB, which is turning into the de facto gadget charging standard."
Which USB plug would that be?
A
B
Mini-A (4 pin)
Mini-B (4 pin)
Mini-A (5 pin)
Mini-B (5 pin)
Micro-A
Micro-B
I hope I got them all....
10/29/09
@aec007: image got screwed...this one's better #worldwideelectricplugs
10/29/09
For any one interested in doing the same it is outlined on my blog at...
[www.chriscameronphoto.blogspot.com]
10/29/09
At the moment my computer, two monitors and printer are connected with:
1 Type A
1 Type C
1 Type G
1 Type H.
All plugged into a power strip that has oddly shaped inputs to accept a variety of plugs. But not type A, I needed an adapter for that one.
I'm pretty sure our fridge uses a Type D but it's hard to tell with no reference for scale. The circular prongs are HUGE for that one.
All the wall sockets here are Type G, but the products you buy come with whatever.
10/30/09
what that means is, lower prices, better goods, just well a lota plugs. (which i mean, who cares... its cheap! it blows up, get another one...) #worldwideelectricplugs
10/30/09
I also know about the blowing up. I have had several power strips and wall adapters just start melting on me. It's not the blowing up I'm afriad of, it's the subsequent setting fire to my apartment!
I wish I could say the goods were better and cheaper, but sadly they are not. Cheaper compared to Europe, yes, but electronics tend to be 10%-20% more expensive here when compared with the US.
10/30/09
here in australia its worse because its 10-20% more expensive than middle eastern prices :D... so we're getting jibbed and yet we cant do anything about it.
and i do know what you mean about the fire, a mate of mine who lives in dubai had a multi-board melt into the top of his case, which overheated his psu and basically killed his computer. a good reason to upgrade but scary none the less. #worldwideelectricplugs
10/29/09
10/29/09
Since there's no provision to enforce the removal of old plugs, it's going to be a decade or two before they disappear completely, but in any case it's not planning anymore -- the standard has been adopted.
Now only if the rest of the world would follow... #worldwideelectricplugs
10/29/09
So there's only one plug despite different parts of the country using different voltages (usually, cities close to power generation facilities use 120V, while cities further afar use 240V).
Oh well. There will be only one plug.
10/29/09
10/29/09
10/29/09
Question: does anyone make a multi-adapter or something that covers several different types at once? Specifically, a special Euro-adapter that covered Britain, France, Germany, and the EU, would be awesome. #worldwideelectricplugs
10/29/09
10/29/09
10/30/09
10/31/09
It's what I use and it covers pretty much the entire world, you can plug anyting into it, and it itself plugs into any socket. It even has a tiny fuse in it to be fully UK compatible. #worldwideelectricplugs
10/29/09
10/29/09
Doesn't the palm pre already use induction charging on the touchstone base?
10/29/09
10/29/09