Electrical safety in the sun

How to use electricity while abroad

The sun is finally here again; and for many of us, that means packing our suitcases for our summer holidays.

In this increasingly interconnected world, many holidaymakers will also be bringing along the gadgets and electronics that we just can’t seem to live without.

But watch out; different countries and their mains electricity systems can throw up some unwanted surprises and hidden dangers for UK-rated appliances

We’ve put together this quick guide on how to stay safe when using electricity abroad.

Research your destination before you go

When it comes to packing your suitcase, do a quick Google search and find out the voltage, frequency and socket type used in your destination country.

Plugging the wrong appliance into the wrong mains supply – particularly one with a different voltage – could end up causing damage to the appliance and even create a shock/fire hazard.

As a general rule, most of the world uses mains electricity at around 230 volts; the same voltage as the UK.

However, in North America (including Canada and Alaska), Central America, parts of South America and Japan, the voltage is around 120 volts.

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Check if your devices are dual-voltage

Many modern appliances – particularly electronics like phones and laptops – will feature ‘dual-voltage’ technology (also known as ‘multi-voltage’ or ‘worldwide-voltage’).

This means that the device will work whether you plug it into a 120-volt socket or a 230-volt socket.

Check the sticker label on your appliance. You might find this on the body of the appliance itself, or on the power plug or charger that comes with it.

If the ‘input’ is listed as ‘100v-240v’ or similar, good news; your appliance is safe to use with your destination country’s voltage.

Leave single-voltage devices at home

What if you’re travelling to a country that uses 120 volts, but your appliance only supports 230 volts?

It’s best to just leave it at home. As mentioned earlier, using an appliance with the wrong voltage can be dangerous; if not deadly.

And a travel adaptor probably won’t help you here. Despite the fact they’re often labelled as ‘travel converters’ by retailers, most adaptors won’t convert the voltage for you. (More info on travel adaptors coming up in a minute…)

If you can’t live without a single-voltage device, you can pack a voltage converter; a separate piece of kit which will convert the voltage from the outlet into the correct voltage for your device.

Converters are generally big, bulky, expensive to buy, and they’re not always guaranteed to work without frying your device and/or blowing a fuse in your hotel. In short, you’re better off not bringing the device in the first place.

What about the frequency?

Your holiday destination might also use a different mains frequency than the electricity at home. In the UK and throughout most of the world, the frequency is 50hz; while most of the Americas and Japan uses 60hz.

Unlike voltage, however, the mains frequency can mostly be ignored. If you check the label again, most modern devices will list a dual ‘50hz/60hz’ rating; but even if they’re only rated for 50hz, they’ll probably be safe to use on a 60hz mains supply.

You might notice your device runs a little faster at 60hz, though. This can be a problem for things like clocks, which rely on their native frequency to run on time.

The faster frequency can also affect white goods like fridges and freezers; but we doubt you’ll be attempting to load a fridge into your holiday hand luggage anyway!

Electrical safety in the sun: how to use electricity while abroad

Choosing a travel adaptor

Ok, so you’ve checked the labels and all your appliances support dual voltage and mains frequencies.

But unless you’re holidaying in Ireland, Cyprus, Malta, Malaysia, Hong Kong or Singapore (which all use the same ‘type G’ sockets as the UK), you’re going to need a travel adaptor in order to plug it into the wall.

Personally, we’d recommend getting a multi-region or universal travel adaptor. These are designed with multiple sets of prongs to fit different international socket standards; plus they also often accept multiple types of appliance plugs too.

The difference is, while multi-region adapters usually only offer compatibility with a few of the more common plug/socket types around the world, universal adaptors are designed to fit the vast majority of international plugs/sockets (if not all of them).

You can get single-region travel adapters, which are handy if you’re short on money and luggage space and you’re only planning on visiting a single country during your trip.

But keep in mind, this adaptor won’t necessarily fit the sockets in other holiday destinations; which means you might find yourself paying out for additional adaptors in the future.

Which adaptor type will I need?

There’s a whopping 15 types of power sockets/plugs (from ‘type A’ through to ‘type O’) used in different regions across the globe. How do you find an adaptor that will definitely fit the sockets in your destination country?

We could list all of them here, but thankfully, for most destinations you can simply follow the labelling on travel adaptor products. Most of them will helpfully show you the regions they’re designed for on the packaging.

Be sure to buy a safe adaptor

All adaptors sold in the UK are required to meet stringent BS 5733 standards for electrical accessory safety; but that hasn’t stopped the likes of Amazon and Wish selling unsafe adaptors for bargain prices.

Thinking of buying your adaptor abroad to save on luggage space? Unfortunately, the products at your holiday destination may not meet the same safety standards; so you could potentially be putting yourself in danger by using them.

Before you leave home, be sure to buy a BS 5733 compliant adaptor from a reputable brand and retailer.

Look out for warning signs

Besides the differences in voltage, frequency and socket types, different countries also have differing safety standards for domestic electricity.

We’re not going to name any names, but be sure to follow good electrical safety practice when using the electricity at your holiday accommodation:

Make sure any plugs are inserted fully into the socket; they should always be flush with the socket panel.
If a device or adaptor doesn’t seem to fit the socket, don’t try to force it into the socket; just take it out and leave it alone.
Take care when removing plugs from sockets, and be sure to avoid touching any part of the plug’s prongs.
Don’t use or touch any electrical equipment which shows signs of damage; such as cracked light switches, missing socket covers or taped-up cables.
Be on the lookout for any sparks, arcing, burning smells, buzzing sounds, overheating, scorch marks and cable discolouration; they’re signs that you should stop using that outlet or appliance immediately.
Never use wet hands near light switches and sockets.
As with appliances back home, never overload a circuit. Make sure the combined amp/wattage of appliances connected to a single outlet doesn’t exceed the maximum rating for the socket, and be aware that some regions may have higher or lower max ratings than the general 13A/3000W max for UK sockets.

And finally; don’t forget to have fun on your holiday!

JC Electrical UK are professional electricians in London; helping homeowners and commercial clients alike with electrical installation, testing and repairs. Find out how we can help you; drop us a line on 0208 839 9561 or email info@jcelectric.co.uk today.