Damm American's!!!

[XTR]

Today I received a product to review from Nashville!

When I opened the package I discovered it had a 2 pin american style plug. I've scouted around the house hunting the various travel converters and we dont have one suitable. I looked at my dad's shaver plug but the plug is physically too big to fit, since 1 of the prongs on the 2 pin plug is larger than the other.

Is it possible to just chop the end off the wire and wire a 3 pin UK style plug on? The cable is 2 wires, how do i know which is which? (assuming the cables have no other colours underneath the black insulation cable).

[kryptonic]

roflmfao

0wned

[malfunction]

Originally posted by XTR
Today I received a product to review from Nashville!

When I opened the package I discovered it had a 2 pin american style plug. I've scouted around the house hunting the various travel converters and we dont have one suitable. I looked at my dad's shaver plug but the plug is physically too big to fit, since 1 of the prongs on the 2 pin plug is larger than the other.

Is it possible to just chop the end off the wire and wire a 3 pin UK style plug on? The cable is 2 wires, how do i know which is which? (assuming the cables have no other colours underneath the black insulation cable).

IIRC the US is on 110V not 220 so unless it has a PSU that can cope you'll kill it. I'm sure someone here will actually know though!


Edit: LOL - your picture's just come up. I'm assuming you do have a cable that can plug into the PSU? It *should* say what it expects as input on the PSU. It *looks* like a laptop PSU and they *usually* cope with either voltage.

[Agent]

The other end of the cable looks like the double rounded 2 holes. If so you can get a lead for it easily, will only cost a few quid.

But you need to know 100% that the transformer will take a 230 voltage supply !!!

[XTR]

Thanks I've emailed the company now asking them the best solution.

[ReDOcToBeR]

Looks like maplins have some converters for around £30.
If that's any use to yer?

[malfunction]

The other option would be to get a UK PSU that can output a range of voltages - and has a range of heads / plugs for it's output. I've got one here that can do 3, 4.5, 6, 7.5, 9 and 12V (but only 1200mA). Anything with a beefier output won't be cheap but it's good if you find yourself needing to test something and great for seeing the lowest voltage a fan will spin up at (not that I'm bored or anything but I've just got 2 40mm fans and they'll spin up at 3V)

[Areku]

Just check on the bottom of the transformer and see if it says what voltage it takes. if it says 100~240v it should be fine to just use something like a plug from your playstation, or something similar. most stuff for computers is usually dual voltage.

[SHARKMEAT]

The reason the plug has a bigger side pin than the other is to keep it in correct grounded condition to work properly with out burning up.
I suggest you get a PS with a extra adapter plug (recommend Vantec Ion 400 w ) that way you can use it for alot of other things; Like a exterior CD rom or HD.

[windog]

Convertors are readyly available - Curry's, Comet etc but as previosly mentioned it is important to check the supply voltage

(have you checked mum's razor! Joke!)

[CrapshoT]

im sure i seen one of those adapter things in poundland in eldon square lol in amongst all the other electrical stuff

[SilentDeath]

look to see what out put voltage it uses sjhould say on the bottom of the psu in the pic...

if its 12v, 5v, or unlikely, 3.3v, you can use a spare pc psu instead, i cant recommend to use the pc psu for a pc at the same time, ull need to trick it with a wire going in pin14 to ground, should be brown to black, or sommin, please google and check first cos i cant remember and u might see big flames if u try thise 2 wires on atx conenctor.

[Big RICHARD]

Originally posted by SHARKMEAT
The reason the plug has a bigger side pin than the other is to keep it in correct grounded condition to work properly with out burning up.
I suggest you get a PS with a extra adapter plug (recommend Vantec Ion 400 w ) that way you can use it for alot of other things; Like a exterior CD rom or HD.

Actuallt the reason that it has one bigger than the other is so that in the event of a fault (particularly earth fault) the fuse blows and the LIVE line is disconnected from the mains. This prevents anyone from getting an electric shock. If it was connected the wrong way round the NEUTRAL line would be disconnected from the mains, leaving the live connected to the equipment and possibly still causing a hazard.

[XTR]

All sorted... stole the cable from the video camera!

[Big RICHARD]

Originally posted by XTR
All sorted... stole the cable from the video camera!

Is the transformer capable of dealing with 230v as well as 110v?

[XTR]

yup