Electric Supply Pins Plugs Adapter etc explained

hmm..whatcanthisbe

I have been here for not too long and have seen several Q regarding Pins plugs adapter and power supplies and "will my XXX device from XXX county with XXX pin pattern work in india"

I am trying to put together a one stop answer page for all


here goes

ELECTRIC SUPPLY

Europe and most other countries in the world use a voltage which is twice that of the US. It is between 220 and 240 volts, whereas in Japan and in most of the Americas the voltage is between 100 and 127 volts. In INDIA it is 220-240 volts.

PLUGS


TYPE D




India has standardised on a plug which was originally defined in British Standard 546 (the standard in Great Britain before 1962). Although type D is now almost exclusively used in India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Namibia, it can still occasionally be found in specialist applications such as hotels and theatres in the UK. This plug has three large round pins in a triangular pattern. It is rated at 5 amps. Type M, which has larger pins and is rated at 15 amps, is used alongside type D for larger appliances in India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Namibia. Some sockets can take both type M and type D plugs


TYPE M



This plug resembles the Indian type D plug, but its pins are much larger. Type M is rated at 15 amps. Although type D is standard in India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Namibia, type M is also used for larger appliances. Some sockets over there can take both type M and type D plugs


Plug Adapters

They do not convert electricity. They simply allow a dual-voltage appliance, a transformer or a converter from one country to be plugged into the wall outlet of another country. The plug of a Continental European appliance will not fit into an outlet in a foreign country without an adapter.

Converters

Converters and transformers both step up or down the voltage, but there is a difference in use between them. Converters should be used only with "electric" products. Electric products are simple heating devices or have mechanical motors. Examples are hair dryers, steam irons, shavers, toothbrushes or small fans. Converters are not designed for "continuous duty" and should only be used for short periods of time (1 to 2 hours). Additionally, most converters can only be used for ungrounded appliances (2 pins on the plug). Converters must be unplugged from the wall when not in use.

Transformers

Transformers also step up or down the voltage, but they are more expensive than converters and are used with "electronic" products. Electronic products have a chip or circuit. Examples are radios, CD or DVD players, shavers, camcorder battery rechargers, computers, computer printers, fax machines, televisions and answering machines. Transformers can also be used with electric appliances and may be operated continually for many days. The advantage of converters, however, is that they are lighter and less expensive.

Computers are electronic devices and therefore they must be used with a transformer, unless they are dual voltage. Fortunately, most laptop battery chargers and AC adapters are dual voltage, so they can be used with only a plug adapter for the country you will be visiting.

Transformers are sold in various sizes based on how much wattage they can support. Therefore one must pay careful attention to the wattage ratings of the appliances to be plugged into a transformer. The wattage rating of the transformer must always be larger than the wattage rating of the appliance to be plugged into it (plus a 25% buffer to allow for heat build-up in the transformer or converter). When plugging multiple items into a power strip, then into the transformer, you must calculate the combined wattage of all appliances and the power strip, then add an additional 25% to that total.

The appliance’s voltage and wattage requirements are listed on the manufacturer's label located on the back or at the bottom of the appliance. In some cases, the voltage and amperage will be listed, but not the wattage. If this is the case, simply multiply the voltage by the amperage rating to find the wattage rating (e.g. 230 V * 1 A = 230 W).

Below is a list that gives an idea what the wattage of common appliances is. Use this as a guide only. Always check your appliance first !

75 watts: small, low-wattage appliances such as radios, CD players, heating pads, and some televisions.
300 watts: larger radios, stereo consoles, electric blankets, sewing machines, hand mixers, small fans and most TV sets.
500 watts: refrigerators, hair dryers, stand mixers, blenders and some stereo equipment.
750 watts: projectors, some sewing machines and small electric broom type vacuums.
1000 watts: washing machines, small heaters, some coffee makers and vacuums.
1600 – 2000 watts: dishwashers, most appliances that have heating elements such as toasters, electric deep-frying pans, irons, and grills.
3000 watts: heaters and air conditioners.
Transformers only convert the voltage, not the frequency. The difference in cycles may cause the motor in a 50 Hz appliance to operate slightly faster when used on 60 Hz electricity. This cycle difference will cause electric clocks and timing circuits to keep incorrect time: European alarm clocks will run faster on 60 Hz electricity and American clocks will lose some 10 minutes every hour when used in Europe. However, most modern electronic equipment like battery chargers, computers, printers, stereos, DVD players, etc. are usually not affected by the difference in cycles and adjust themselves accordingly the slower cycles.




ALL CONVERTS ADAPTERS AND TRANSFORMERS CAN BE BOUGHT IN INDIA AT A MUCH CHEAPER RATE THAT ABROAD.

Nick-H

Nice work! An often-addressed topic, and I think you are the first to give us photos.

Any chance of adding the 2-pin plug, and a pic of the combined 3-pin/2-pin 5-amp socket?

Mods: this post, addressing a FAQ, deserves wider exposure than the Geek Speek forum, and maybe even Sticky status? please?

__________________
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IndiaMike Mod Team (The Grumpy One)

Dr Funkenstein

Thanks for that, hmmmm,whatcanthisbe ...

Very helpful info, thanks.

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Out There Somewhere : My Travel Blog.

Sama

you know how sometimes the more info you have, the more confused you become? Well, I'm confused!

The only electrical device I am bringing to India is my Canon digital camera battery charger. On the back it states:

Input: 100V--240V AC 50/60Hz
14VA (100V)
-19VA (240V)
Output: 8.4V DC 0.5A
Input: 0.14A(100V)-0.08A (240V)

so what do I need? A plug adapter, converter, both, or.......?

thanks!

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My India, 2005-2008

"a clear conscience is the sign of a bad memory"

vistet

100-240 V : will run on any wall outlet , anywhere
The A´s I guess is the drain, which together with output I can´t see any practical use for knowing.

I have a (Canon) cam-charger myself, plan to bring the plug adapter and a surgeprotector, wouldn´t feel safe without it.

shere

http://users.pandora.be/worldstandards/electricity.htm

has most the answers you need.

Sama

this is the same info that hmm...whatcanthisbe posted.

so I only need a plug adapter (which I can get in India), no converter, since as vistet states, my camera battery re-charger will run on any wall outlet, anywhere?

Anders

Yes,
all you need is a plug adapter.

Sama

thank you! A nice, simple answer!

mira4bai4

I would just add here that if one should purchase a 4 way multiboard in your own country and take that to India and have the plug changed to suit India then it is easy to plug a number of appliances that you have into the system if it is dual voltage 100-240V.

As a single Surge Protection device for power and phone lines, the Belkin MasterCube is possibly the most compact and cheapest with an insurance guarantee for burn outs of appliances.

hmm..whatcanthisbe

Converter will convert the electric supply to work with yr device
but since yr device says 240V it will work but the pins may not be the same hence all you will need is a plug adapter

Wazen

Do they make adapters that also act as converters?
Do they make adapters that also act as transformers?

would a converter be okay to just charge batteries and Ipod's

Seems that means I may need in order: Adapter-converter-surge protector and then my ac/dc camera charger?

Also, what price range in India am I looking at for each one of these individual items?


-Man its 2006, there needs to be an all-in-one adapter-converter-surge protector-

Nick-H

Nope! There needs to be an Interational agreement on voltage and plugs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wazen

So I guess I will need the

Adapter+Converter+Surge protector just to plug something in? haha, oh man, this means one less pair of jeans...

Yildiz

I'm also more confused by all this info. My guidebook had said that 2 pin plugs would work in 3 pin sockets ..... is that correct? I have (Turkish) 2 pin plugs (I think these are probably the same as most of main continental Europe).

I dont think the voltage will be any problem ... items are labelled 230V or 230-240V. But will 2 round pins work in a 3 pin socket?

And if they will work, is it safe to use them? For the itms themselves (eg mobile phone charger) or for the person holding them (eg hairdrier?).

Advice will be very much appreciated

Yıldız