Hey folks, as I'm moving to the UK soon I'd like to know where to buy affordable adaptors here in Geneva, Swiss to UK.
Thanks in advance.
Hey folks, as I'm moving to the UK soon I'd like to know where to buy affordable adaptors here in Geneva, Swiss to UK.
Thanks in advance.
Hey folks, as I'm moving to the UK soon I'd like to know where to buy affordable adaptors here in Geneva, Swiss to UK.
Thanks in advance.
Probably much easier to get them in the UK (in any electronics / household equipment store), since no-one needs them here.
Probably much easier to get them in the UK (in any electronics / household equipment store), since no-one needs them here.
Just make them. Get a UK 4 way (in the uk obviously), cut the plug off and attach a swiss plug. My flat is full of these. You can get 2 ways as well which are quite neat.
Just make them. Get a UK 4 way (in the uk obviously), cut the plug off and attach a swiss plug. My flat is full of these. You can get 2 ways as well which are quite neat.
Hi Andy, your answer sounds interesting but I did not understand cutting the plug part...mind explaining a bit more...sorry if Im thick here..
Hi Andy, your answer sounds interesting but I did not understand cutting the plug part...mind explaining a bit more...sorry if Im thick here..
Yea Im also interested how its done.
It's a lot easier if someone shows you (once) how to do it, but here are the steps:
1. Cut the existing plug right at the end of the cable (so the cable remains as long as possible.
2. Strip the wires, i.e. remove the plastic around them, so you have around 1 cm of bare wire of each thread.
3. Get a UK plug that you can open and close with a small screwdriver, open it up, attach the wires in the right place (normally earth in the middle, neutral and power on the sides)
4. Make sure no bare wire sticks out anywhere. If necessary make the threads shorter and strip a bit more.
5. Close the plug, make sure everything is fixed properly.
It's a lot easier if someone shows you (once) how to do it, but here are the steps:
1. Cut the existing plug right at the end of the cable (so the cable remains as long as possible.
2. Strip the wires, i.e. remove the plastic around them, so you have around 1 cm of bare wire of each thread.
3. Get a UK plug that you can open and close with a small screwdriver, open it up, attach the wires in the right place (normally earth in the middle, neutral and power on the sides)
4. Make sure no bare wire sticks out anywhere. If necessary make the threads shorter and strip a bit more.
5. Close the plug, make sure everything is fixed properly.
Ok so I had some spare time to show you guys exactly what I mean. Basically it is as Edward states above, however these pictures will give you a visual idea. UK plugs are a lot messier inside than swiss ones. The key thing to remember is that the live wire (brown) must be cut about half the length of the earth (green or green/yellow stripe).
Start by unscrewing the back off the UK and cutting off the swiss moulded plug from the swiss adapter block. In this case it is a 3-way from IKEA. I also decided to cut the cable back to about 20cm since I don't need 1.5metres hanging around.
Lay the free end of the cable on top of the plug so that the end of the cable is slightly further than the furthest pin (which is the earth pin). Then mark with a pen the point where the cable passes the relief gland which is the white plastic strap on the left of the photo.
With a sharp knife, roll the cable over a table to make a circular cut all the way around the cable at the marked point. Ensure that you do NOT cut all the way through the white PVC covering because they chances are you will cut the inner cores. Instead use your hands and bend back and forth the PVC cover until it comes away. Use the knife to help you if there's a thick piece of PVC. You can see me holding the cable and exposing the inner cores in the last photo.
I'll continue in the next post because only 4 photos can be uploaded.
Ok so I had some spare time to show you guys exactly what I mean. Basically it is as Edward states above, however these pictures will give you a visual idea. UK plugs are a lot messier inside than swiss ones. The key thing to remember is that the live wire (brown) must be cut about half the length of the earth (green or green/yellow stripe).
Start by unscrewing the back off the UK and cutting off the swiss moulded plug from the swiss adapter block. In this case it is a 3-way from IKEA. I also decided to cut the cable back to about 20cm since I don't need 1.5metres hanging around.
Lay the free end of the cable on top of the plug so that the end of the cable is slightly further than the furthest pin (which is the earth pin). Then mark with a pen the point where the cable passes the relief gland which is the white plastic strap on the left of the photo.
With a sharp knife, roll the cable over a table to make a circular cut all the way around the cable at the marked point. Ensure that you do NOT cut all the way through the white PVC covering because they chances are you will cut the inner cores. Instead use your hands and bend back and forth the PVC cover until it comes away. Use the knife to help you if there's a thick piece of PVC. You can see me holding the cable and exposing the inner cores in the last photo.
I'll continue in the next post because only 4 photos can be uploaded.
First photo shows the removed PVC sleeve
In the 2nd photo I have overlayed the cable over the plug to see where I need to cut the live wire. (Brown). Cut slightly longer (a few mm) so that you have some extra legroom.
Cut the live wire so that it is shorter than the other two.
Then strip the ends of the wires. Best way of doing this is a dedicated wire stripper as pictured in my first post, however you can also do this is a sharp knife using the same method that you used to cut away the white PVC insulation above.
The last photo shows the coppers ends have been twisted. Don't omit this step, it will help massively when inserting the cables into the blocks.
First photo shows the removed PVC sleeve
In the 2nd photo I have overlayed the cable over the plug to see where I need to cut the live wire. (Brown). Cut slightly longer (a few mm) so that you have some extra legroom.
Cut the live wire so that it is shorter than the other two.
Then strip the ends of the wires. Best way of doing this is a dedicated wire stripper as pictured in my first post, however you can also do this is a sharp knife using the same method that you used to cut away the white PVC insulation above.
The last photo shows the coppers ends have been twisted. Don't omit this step, it will help massively when inserting the cables into the blocks.
Now release the cable gland on the UK plug using the two lower screws on the back of the plug. This allows us to insert the cable through.
Start by securing the live (brown) wire first since this is the shortest cable. You can lift up the terminal block to allow easier access.
Ensure that the cable is tightended SECURELY. There must be no stray copper strands coming out of the block.
Route the earth cable (green in this case, but sometimes green and yellow) to the upper terminal block, and the neutral (blue) to the left hand side. As I said you can raise the terminal blocks to allow for easier access.
Now release the cable gland on the UK plug using the two lower screws on the back of the plug. This allows us to insert the cable through.
Start by securing the live (brown) wire first since this is the shortest cable. You can lift up the terminal block to allow easier access.
Ensure that the cable is tightended SECURELY. There must be no stray copper strands coming out of the block.
Route the earth cable (green in this case, but sometimes green and yellow) to the upper terminal block, and the neutral (blue) to the left hand side. As I said you can raise the terminal blocks to allow for easier access.
Ok so the hard work is done now.
Now ensure everything is straight and in its correct place inside the plug and tighten the cable gland from the back of the plug. Ensure that the glad pulls pretty firmly against the white PVC cable. It's normal for the nylon gland to bend over the cable to provide a very secure anti-pull mechanism.
Then just screw the backing plate back on the plug and you're done.
Ok so the hard work is done now.
Now ensure everything is straight and in its correct place inside the plug and tighten the cable gland from the back of the plug. Ensure that the glad pulls pretty firmly against the white PVC cable. It's normal for the nylon gland to bend over the cable to provide a very secure anti-pull mechanism.
Then just screw the backing plate back on the plug and you're done.
Of course, you can do exactly the opposite with a UK 4-way and a swiss plug.
Below I'm using a UK 2-way, but exactly the same principal.
Of course, you can do exactly the opposite with a UK 4-way and a swiss plug.
Below I'm using a UK 2-way, but exactly the same principal.
Great idea folks, thanks a lot!
