BBuser: 0
Go Back   English Forum Switzerland > Help & tips > Housing in general
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 14.02.2009, 20:22
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Luzern
Posts: 54
Groaned at 7 Times in 1 Post
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
Neddles has slipped a little
Australia to Swiss Power Adaptors

Hi guys,

Recently moved from down under and have quite a large number of electronic appliances being shipped over...We have plenty of Aus-EU adaptors, which work on some of the plugs but not on others (flat ones yes, sunk diamond shaped ones no)...

Anyone know of where I can find some adaptors? I'm in Luzern but will travel of course if I have to!
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 14.02.2009, 20:32
irinastaxen's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Vevey
Posts: 310
Groaned at 6 Times in 2 Posts
Thanked 166 Times in 92 Posts
irinastaxen is considered knowledgeableirinastaxen is considered knowledgeableirinastaxen is considered knowledgeable
Re: Australia to Swiss Power Adaptors

Interdiscount, media markt and most other shops that sell electronic stuff...
I've moved around a lot of times and lived with adaptors for what seems all my life
I always whish there was a standsrd but no...
At least for some things one can buy new cables and not need adaptors that take space..
Welcome to CH
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 14.02.2009, 20:37
swisspea's Avatar
Forum Legend
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: From one side of lake Zurich to the other...
Posts: 4,511
Groaned at 18 Times in 13 Posts
Thanked 3,126 Times in 1,575 Posts
swisspea has a reputation beyond reputeswisspea has a reputation beyond reputeswisspea has a reputation beyond reputeswisspea has a reputation beyond reputeswisspea has a reputation beyond reputeswisspea has a reputation beyond repute
Re: Australia to Swiss Power Adaptors

We have also adapted by using a swiss power-board (multi-point) - and then the adapter onto the individual appliance.

My husband also took an Australian power-board and changed the plug on it - the bits were available at Migros in the 'home' section (near the lightglobes)...

For our laptop, it cost about $150 for a new adapter/cable from the Apple store (mac reseller near Zurich main train station)...and we needed one anyway because the old cable was not in good shape...

It's generally not advised to use the adapters for appliances that are going to be on for long periods of time (if they heat up, could be a fire hazard) - I wouldn't be comfortable having one on my refrigerator, for example...

hope that helps...
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 14.02.2009, 20:37
Newbie 1st class
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Vevey
Posts: 10
Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
echanyj has no particular reputation at present
Re: Australia to Swiss Power Adaptors

I moved from Sydney and had the same issue. Bought 4 adaptors and realised it was not the most cost efficient solution, esp since the ave price of an international adaptor here is about CHF30-40. So, what i did was change all my plugs. Its relatively simple and the swiss plug costs only CHF1.50. Hope that helps, cheers.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 15.02.2009, 07:12
Wibble's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Basel(ish)
Posts: 249
Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts
Thanked 95 Times in 62 Posts
Wibble has made some interesting contributions
Re: Australia to Swiss Power Adaptors

Did you bring a metric truckload of those flat board double-adapter things?

If so, just change the plug on the end of those to a Swiss one. You can get the plugs for 1 frank in Coop. Failing that, just replace the plugs on everything ... although this isn't an option for wall-mounted transformer bricks that simply have the prongs sticking out.

If you don't have any flat-packs, The easiest solution is to get someone to send you a bunch over. Changing plugs over bores me senseless.

cheers,
(Mr)Wibble
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 17.02.2009, 09:11
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Luzern
Posts: 54
Groaned at 7 Times in 1 Post
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
Neddles has slipped a little
Re: Australia to Swiss Power Adaptors

Guys thanks for the info -- am slightly confused though.

If I get an Australian power board I can simply change the chord to a swiss one and plug into the wall? My partner is still in Australia (leaving in 2 weeks) so if this is simple it's definitely an option!

Can somebody please clarify?
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 17.02.2009, 09:41
Newbie 1st class
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Vevey
Posts: 10
Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
echanyj has no particular reputation at present
Re: Australia to Swiss Power Adaptors

yes, this is right. you can just change the plug. the voltage of both countries are similar. hope that helps and good luck.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 17.02.2009, 10:07
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Luzern
Posts: 54
Groaned at 7 Times in 1 Post
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
Neddles has slipped a little
Re: Australia to Swiss Power Adaptors

Do any power adaptors have this possibility...I feel like a massive idiot, I had no idea you could just change a plug yourself like that!
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 17.02.2009, 10:17
Newbie 1st class
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Zurich
Posts: 18
Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts
Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts
rod_oz has no particular reputation at present
Re: Australia to Swiss Power Adaptors

yeah i had no idea either. I've just moved from aus and brought powerboards with me so that one adapter can be used for 5 aussie plugs, ive only got the need for laptop, phone/camera charger etc so its quite simple. Replacing the cord with a swiss one is a good idea but dont know how you'd do it. maybe u can just pull the cord out and replace it, bit dodge if its that easy tho!
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 17.02.2009, 10:30
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Luzern
Posts: 54
Groaned at 7 Times in 1 Post
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
Neddles has slipped a little
Re: Australia to Swiss Power Adaptors

Yes some clarity on this would be great!

Rod did you find your adaptor here or in Oz?
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 17.02.2009, 11:24
cremebrulee's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Zurich
Posts: 293
Groaned at 5 Times in 4 Posts
Thanked 142 Times in 75 Posts
cremebrulee is considered knowledgeablecremebrulee is considered knowledgeablecremebrulee is considered knowledgeable
Re: Australia to Swiss Power Adaptors

Coop sells plugs which comes with (very) basic instructions (in German, French or Italian) on how to change your plugs. They are pretty cheap. My boyfriend changed the plugs on most of my appliances from Australia, such as my hairdryer, lamps, etc. Though, we didn't change the plugs for some items like my laptop power adaptor. You have to check that there isn't a fuse in the power plug, or something like that ... (sorry, technical area for me!). You might also need a special cutting tool for the wires. Otherwise, it was a pretty straightforward exercise.

I do like the idea of just changing the plug on the power board. This would be handy if you happen to use all of these electrical appliances in the same area.

If you are going to buy some Swiss adaptors, just make sure that the Aussie power plug actually fits. I initially made the error of buying a few Swiss adaptors which don't fit the shape of most Aussie power plugs.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 19.02.2009, 09:38
Newbie 1st class
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Zurich
Posts: 18
Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts
Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts
rod_oz has no particular reputation at present
Re: Australia to Swiss Power Adaptors

yeah bought mine at sydney airport of 8 bucks. It converts grounded aussie plugs (3 prongs) to swiss plugs ungrounded plugs (2 prongs) so there are few sparks flying! You can get universal ones here but they are pretty expensive 20-30 francs and dont accept 3 pronged inputs, the one i found anyway.
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 20.02.2009, 15:26
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Luzern
Posts: 54
Groaned at 7 Times in 1 Post
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
Neddles has slipped a little
Re: Australia to Swiss Power Adaptors

I bought some of the same but issue is they are designed to fit in a non-indented swiss socket if that makes sense???
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 20.02.2009, 18:39
Newbie 1st class
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Zurich
Posts: 18
Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts
Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts
rod_oz has no particular reputation at present
Re: Australia to Swiss Power Adaptors

ah ****, i now exactly what you mean! Get your wire cutters out and have crack at replacing the cord/plug, i doubt you'd find any adapters that fit in the indented type of plug, not that ive seen anyway!
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 20.02.2009, 19:40
kosifantutti's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Horgen, ZH
Posts: 151
Groaned at 1 Time in 1 Post
Thanked 83 Times in 33 Posts
kosifantutti has made some interesting contributions
Re: Australia to Swiss Power Adaptors

When we first came here I found at Interdiscount at Zurich HB little two pin adpaters. They weren't designed for Australian plugs but you could squeeze them in there anyway. The guy actually told me they were designed for American appliances and didn't want to sell them to me. But it made no sense to me as there was no transformer.

They were a lot cheaper than the full blown all countries adapters.

Getting Australian power boards and changing the plug will work for a while but after some time you will find that half your electricals are Swiss and you need an adapter to change back from Australian to Swiss
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Wanted: swiss power cables xaphod Items wanted 5 06.01.2008 21:35
An alarming story ;-) [Swiss tourists lost in Australia] litespeed Jokes/funnies 6 27.02.2007 09:04
Mobile phone service and electrical adaptors MrWhereItsAt TV/internet/telephone 6 27.01.2007 09:54
Swiss/UK Electrical adaptors panamahat Items for sale 2 04.11.2006 19:16


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 15:48.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2013, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
LinkBacks Enabled by vBSEO 3.1.0