Sockets and plugs around the world. A trip to England - what to take with you What sockets in England for the network

TBUULBSCH FKHTYUFPCH

20 years ago
we could travel almost light. Now our suitcase is filling up
a bunch of electronics, which simply cannot be done without a modern
tourist. But, going to another country, you need to understand that not
always and not everywhere you will be able to find a suitable socket for connection
your appliance. Knowledge of accepted electrical standards,
will definitely come in handy when traveling.

So. There are two types of voltage and frequency most often found in the world.

The first is the American standard 100-127 Volts / 60 Hertz, in conjunction with
plugs A and B. Another standard is European, 220-240 Volts / 50 Hertz,
plugs types C - M.

There are many ways to connect to the electrical network, types of plugs and sockets, as well as different voltages and
frequency. All this becomes a serious problem for tourists.

For connecting electrical appliances to networks with unsuitable outlets
format, various adapters and adapters are used. Better to buy here in Russia, for example. About the types of outlets and the voltage in
We will describe the most popular tourist countries below.

IN Of Russia mains voltage 220 volts, frequency 50 hertz. The socket types are C and F (grounded).

Great Britain (England)

Mains voltage 230 volts, frequency 50 hertz. Sockets type G, less often D.

Greece

Mains voltage 220 volts, frequency 50 hertz. Socket type - European standard (type C), less often - type D.

Israel

Mains voltage 230 volts, frequency 50 hertz. Socket types C, N.

India
Mains voltage 230 volts, frequency 50 hertz. Type C and D sockets.

Italy

Mains voltage 230 volts, frequency 50 hertz. Most often installed euro sockets (type C and F, as in Russia),
but also type L socket can be found.

Egypt

Mains voltage 230 volts, frequency 50 hertz. Socket types C (as in Russia) and D.

Cuba

Mains voltage 110/220 volts, frequency 60 hertz. Types of sockets A, B, C, L, F. It is better to purchase an adapter locally, everything will depend on what type of outlet will be installed in your hotel.

Mexico

Voltage 127 volts, frequency 60 hertz. Socket types A, B.

Voltage 120 volts, frequency 60 hertz. Socket types A, B.

Switzerland

Voltage 230 volts, frequency 50 hertz. Socket types C and J.

Japan

Voltage 100 volts, frequency 50/60 hertz. Socket types A, B.

Turkey, Tunisia, Finland, France, Spain, Germany - no adapters required.

Socket types:

When going on a trip abroad, we are unlikely to part with our favorite gadgets, which today can replace us with a road map, travel guides, telephone directory and even organize our leisure time. However, no matter how many useful gadgets we would take with us, they will turn out to be unnecessary luggage without a small, but absolutely necessary in some countries adapter for recharging.

There are a huge number of ways to connect to the mains, a huge number of plugs and sockets, as well as different voltages and frequencies.

And so, a little physics.

In the world, only two levels of electrical voltage in the household network are used - European - 220-240 V and American - 100-127 V and two values \u200b\u200bof the frequency of alternating current - 50 and 60 Hz. Lower voltage and higher frequency are considered less hazardous to human health and life, higher voltage and lower frequency are easier and cheaper to implement technically.

A voltage of 100-127 V at a frequency of 60 Hz is used in USAcountries Northern, Central and, in part, South America, Japan etc.

The rest of the world, with rare exceptions, uses 220-240 V at 50 Hz.

In order for your electrical appliances to be connected to networks with outlets of the wrong format, and our gadgets work in any country, adapters and adapters are used.

Let's see what adapters we need in the UK and USA.

UK socket

In Great Britain mains voltage 230 volts, frequency 50 hertz. Sockets of type G are used, less often D and M. Russian electrical appliances require an adapter for all types of English sockets.

IN THE USA voltage 120 volts, frequency 60 hertz. The types of sockets are A, B, and you can't do without an adapter.

US socket

You can certainly buy adapters upon arrival in the country, but it is better to do this at home in Russia. First, at airports and train stations, the prices for adapters are quite high. Secondly, if you arrived in the country in the evening, shops may already be closed, and in a small hotel there may be no adapters at all. From our own experience we can say that having arrived in England one evening in the evening, we were left without communication until the morning and could not even call home. The shops were closed, and at the hotel no one could sell us or borrow an adapter. It just wasn't there. The absence of such seemingly trifles as an adapter spoiled our first day in England.

Since then, the adapter has become a constant companion on all our trips. Our favorite is the universal adapter. You do not have to think about which adapter to take with you - the universal adapter is suitable for all types of power outlets in all countries of the world.

In this article, I would like to collect useful tips to help you navigate the preparation. What to take with you for your trip to England and what you won't need. If you have anything to add based on your experience, please comment.

Socket adapter

First of all, you need adapter (adapter for sockets). UK sockets are 3-pin grounded. Our forks do not fit them.
You can buy an adapter in stores like Svyaznoy, but most likely they will offer you a universal (and not cheap) adapter that can be used for almost all types of sockets existing on the globe. Therefore, if you plan to travel a lot, then feel free to purchase it. Such an adapter often has a USB connector, which is convenient for recharging, for example, an iPhone.

But if your only goal is the UK, it's best to try to find a regular UK plug adapter to a EU plug. It is both cheaper and lighter in weight. If you live in Moscow, then it is optimal to go to buy it at Gorbushka.
Important: be sure to check before the trip - whether the plugs of all your electrical appliances that you want to take with you on the trip are included in this adapter. Alas, it has been personally verified in practice that it is necessary to clarify this in advance.

There is a way on the Internet how to "do" without an adapter - how to insert "our" plug into "their" socket without an adapter. Its essence boils down to the fact that you must first "push the protective curtains by pushing a suitable (better dielectric) object into the central" earthen "hole" (as they write on the forums). Tried it - something didn't work out. Maybe they didn't try hard, since the adapter was available.

And one more little trick. In English hotels in the bathroom, the razor socket is usually with normal round holes that fit our plug. As a last resort, you can use it (thus charging the laptop battery).

If you have not purchased the adapter ahead of time, you can usually get it (for a fee) at the hotel reception. They can be sold in airport shops, in "computer" shops or in souvenir shops from the "everything for tourists" series.

A trip to England - what not to take?
One of the things that you definitely don't need to take with you is a boiler, an eternal companion of a Russian tourist, especially a family with a child. Good old England is a tea lover and almost every hotel room has a small electric kettle, tea and coffee bags. We can’t only vouch for the presence of a kettle in "cheap" hotels - we didn’t, we don’t know.

The item traditionally associated with England is the umbrella. Yes, the weather here is changeable, the forecast is given for every 3 hours, and even if the morning was sunny, no one can guarantee that in a couple of hours everything will not be covered with clouds. But you can not take it with you - it is more convenient to provide waterproof clothing with a hood. And if necessary, you can quickly buy an umbrella on the spot, they are sold everywhere - and you will have such “the most English souvenir” in memory of your trip to England.

Don't take a lot of things with you - it's better to buy them on the spot. Do not take shoes with heels at all - it is rather kitsch, unless you are invited to some social event. Warm light clothes for the season are required - it may be chilly.

Things to remember when going on a trip to the UK
You may be advised to take a large suitcase or plan to buy it in the UK - decent, you can buy a lot of things. And it makes sense to bring tea from England - and it is light, but voluminous, it will take up a lot of space.

If you are planning a meeting with a "local aborigine" - a resident of the UK, please bring a small souvenir (at least a Russian postcard) - here such signs of attention are very much appreciated.

Cigarettes are expensive in the UK, so it is best for a smoker to take care of himself in advance.

For the rest - the list is traditional... Booking confirmation, medication you need, camera. The main thing is credit cards and cash, and you can always buy everything on the spot without any problems.

And finally, let's add. If you are traveling with children, be sure to write the child's name, UK address and your telephone number on the sheet. And put this piece of paper in the pocket of his jacket. Just in case, although we have no doubt - you will be fine!

Charging electrical appliances brought with you just won't work. Outlets in England are different!

Without knowing this little secret, it will be very problematic - even a mobile phone, if necessary, will not be able to charge.

First, a little about sockets in England:

The modern English socket has a three-pin design with a safety valve. And in very ancient buildings you can still find old English sockets. They have two thin and one thick round pins. But this is in the houses of the time of Queen Victoria and old hotels. It is unlikely that you will get there. Although, if warned, then armed!

Also, most UK electrical plugs are fitted with a fuse. If you are bringing an electrical engineer from England, do not forget to also purchase an adapter from an English to a European outlet. If the socket is Soviet, then you need one more adapter :)

By the way, if you are planning to purchase a used one. technique in England, we advise you to read

Where can I get an adapter?

In our countries, usually an adapter from a European to an English outlet can be bought at Duty Free at the airport, ordered on the Internet, or purchased at your nearest electrical store.

In England, go to any nearby supermarket Tesco, Asda, or whatever. Adapters are also sold in Boots pharmacies.
Cheap, priced at just one pound, the adapter can be purchased at Poundland or 99p stores.

Also, first ask the hotel staff or the owners of the house where you are going to live. Perhaps they have a couple of adapters for an English outlet.

The European to UK plug adapter is called "European to UK Plug Adapter", or "Travel adapter European to UK".

Caution - an inquiring Russian mind! Do not repeat!

Ours also invented a universal Russian adapter here. ;)
It is necessary to insert a stick (cotton swabs, matches, disposable forks, etc.) into the upper middle hole of the socket, then the rest of the holes will open and you can push the plug into them!

Do not do this, as you can spend an evening without electricity!

We wish you a successful connection to an English outlet!