Anyone know where to get decently priced adapters for US electrical plugs for use here in Suisse?

Something that looks a bit like this one



I picked up one of these in some random shop in the Alps a few years back but can never find ones like this

Media Markt often have these.

Be sure to make sure the US equipment you are plugging in is switching mode and able to work on 220/230/240v 50Hz... it will be written on each bit of equipment... either 90v-240vac or if older might have a switch.

Thanks, yeah

Media Markt, eh?...Kewl

interdiscount has the 3 prong variety too.

Yeah, I don't really like those...Too bulky and if you use strip plugs, it starts to look like some 3rd world electrical mish mash that is bound to explode or catch on fire with all those adapters

Well it will be third-world if you are plugging in equipment that is designed to be earthed (via the 3rd prong) but not using the correct adaptor.

Seriously though... most important ensure that the device you're plugging in is designed to work at higher voltages as stated by the poster above. Otherwise you could even get a third-world electrical fire to top it off (doubtful but definitely a 'pop')

I apologise in advance using the third-world reference.

HAHAHAHA!!! I wonder 'tho at what point does a fire become "Third world"... <--- muses

reopening this thread. is it possible to find *reliable* small form-factor adapters like this *now* in switzerland (preferably zurich)? all the stores have overpriced (compared to the states) adapters that are so big and wind up taking up too much space on your power strips. i'm just looking for the pared down style like this without all the extra garbage / plastic / size i do NOT want! as i said they need to work and not be junk either.


thx!

I made my own with a Swiss male and a US female and a short wire in between.

Take a US powerstrip, cut it’s plug off and replace it with a three pin Swiss one. Ike’s your Uncle.

Home depot, credit card, DHL

I use this one for several items works great, looks great

https://www.digitec.ch/en/s1/product...apters-7499899

I actually never found the same one I found in a little shop in the Alps but I did find some cheaply made ones off of AliExpress but have done the job for years since - they are bulky but work fine

i can't tell from the pic. does this NOT block the rest of the jacks on the power strip or wall outlet from being used effectively? it looks smaller than some of the bigger ones but maybe not small enough to be truly "low-profile". i guess 10chf is good for ch? thanks for reply!


i checked a bunch of places online but i skipped HD for whatever reason. might be worth a shot. the problem with these small adapters is you can't try them until they're actually here and many of them apparently are absolute crap.


someone from back home was going to send me a small xmas pkg via post office this past season from back home and decided not to b/c the price was astronomical. every time i've checked dhl they've been more expensive than uspo so i'm not sure sending is going to be practical. next time i'm back home though i'll perhaps visit the HD and bring a few back if i can find some. thanks!


i'm not sure i'm visualizing this as low-profile? thanks for reply

Someone is selling them on Ricardo.ch for 3.90 a piece.

You'll have to contact them to find out whether they have them here or they are a dropshop and they ship from China which will probably take weeks.

Re: US Electrical adapter for Suisse

in many ways this is probably the best way to go IF you have most of your devices all plugged into the same strip in the same room / outlet. that often is the case.



it's nice to have the flexibility, convenience and smaller size reqs that comes with having a few extra small single adapters on hand though whether at home or when traveling:


regarding the cut plug method:


do i have to *solder* the wires of the respective ends or simply splice and *twist* the respective wires (perhaps cap too) together and then wrap well in tape? i always assumed powerstrips were a little more heavy duty and needed a little more care and attention vs rewiring the basic lamp plug but maybe that's not the case. thanks for the reply!

Do not solder.

Stranded wire should have a metal sleeve (ferrule) crimped onto the strands, which helps spread the mechanical load on the strands. Because the higher voltage allows for smaller conductors you end up with higher mechanical point loadings at the screw terminals. You can get the ferrules, and a pair of crimper pliers for little money at any DIY place.

I've seen a lot more hot joints here than I ever saw in Canada. The difference is the difference in the size of the contact area under the terminal screw.

i just checked a video online. if i got this right:

1) you crimp the ferrules onto the individual cut wires with the tool
2) then you buy a *separate* terminal to "join" the ferruled wires at the terminal screw contacts

sound right?

if so, i'm probably going to have a terminal box "thinga ma jig" between the *original* power strip cable and the *new* plug right? ie it's not going to look anything like the original and integrated cable and plug on the original powerstrip? it will be more of a frankensteined contraption?

No. The Swiss plug has screw terminals built in:

You're going to strip the ends of the cable on the US outlet bar, put ferrules on them, then insert those into the CH plug.

Judging by your questions you might be well advised to get someone qualified to do this for you.

I think Pusterla has these too.