Charger question

[Ben Z]

Actually, more of a general electrical question but the reason is chargers. I will be taking several of them (M8, D-Lux 3, portable HD, my wife's camera, 2 cell phones, all with their own dedicated chargers) to Europe. Rather than buy a bunch of plug adaptors and crawl under furniture plugging them in separately, I'm thinking of putting one Euro plug adaptor on the male end of an extension cord and then plugging the chargers into the triple female on the other end. All the extension cords I have say "rated for 125V"....but so does the cord on my 120-240V laptop charger...so I'm thinking there shouldn't be a problem. But I don't want the extension cord to heat up and catch fire, so I thought I'd ask if anyone has done this and if it's ok. Sorry if it's a stupid question but better to ask than burn down a hotel with me in it 😱

 

[saxshooter]

Hmm. If your extension cord has a fuse in it that may be an issue. I've done the opposite, used a 240v rated extension cord in the US. But I personally would be a little concerned with multiple items drawing current through a 125v power strip plugged into 240v mains. But perhaps electrical engineers amongst us can shed some light on this.

 

[Ben Z]

Just to clarify, it is not a power strip, no fuses, no switches, no surge protectors. Just a garden-variety 3-foot home extension cord with a 2-prong male on one end and three 2-prong females on the other. It appears to be the same thickness/guage cord as the one attached to my laptop's 120-240V charger, and it's cord is also marked "rated 125V". In the US, 220 cords have a different type of plug and a restricted to heavy-duty items with major current draw. Even the thick, heavy-duty grounded cords, so long as they have the US flat vertical prongs, are only rated 125V AFAIK.

 

[RichC]

<looks under desk with computer> 😱

That's eight live plugs on three extension leads, all going into one single-plug wall socket! (I'm in the UK, not that that'll make any difference.)

OK, I know, I know - but it's been like that for a decade, and nothing's overheated - except when the house got struck by lightning 😡. And if you think that's bad, you should see what's under my desk at my studio 😱 😱

OK, not recommended - but I think you'll be OK on your trip Ben...! 😀

 

[saxshooter]

Yeah. I think you should be OK, you're not running toasters or space heaters off of it. Have a good trip!

 

[Ben Z]

Hmm...yes I've done likewise but my cords are 120 cords and there's 120 in the wall...in UK you've got 240 in the wall but I assume your cords are rated 240.

I seem to remember from college physics that current=voltage times resistance (V=iR), and power=voltage times current (P=Vi). That would mean that if you double the voltage while the resistance (cord guage) remains constant, that the current doubles. That makes sense because one of my chargers says "Input 120V=0.14amp 240V=0.28amp". I suppose--and here's where I'm not sure I'm thinking correctly--that as long as the amperage rating of the cord isn't exceeded, it should be ok. My cord is rated maximum 10amp @ 125V (1250 watts), so that would mean it should handle up to a 5amp current draw @ 240V (the same 1250 watts). With chargers drawing less than an amp each, I should be well within the safety zone. But if there are any electrical engineers or electricians handy, please correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[jaapv]

Just a tip, Benson, if you go to the UK you won't need an UK adapter. If you push down the lug in the top aperture of the socket by a pen or something, that will free the two live lower apertures, which will then take a standard plug. A bit of a fiddle but it works.

 

[saxshooter]

jaapv: it will take a standard european (round two prongs) plug (which is what you have in Holland, right?), but in my experience this is wider than the standard flat two pronged US plug (without ground).

I'd use "something" non conductive too.

 

[Ben Z]

Just a tip, Benson, if you go to the UK you won't need an UK adapter. If you push down the lug in the top aperture of the socket by a pen or something, that will free the two live lower apertures, which will then take a standard plug. A bit of a fiddle but it works.

Hmm...you want me to stick a pen into a live electrical socket 😱 I prefer my hair straight and my internal organs uncooked 😀 Kidding, I do know what you mean. I'll remember it next time I go to the UK. This time I'll be on "the continent" however. I was also looking at the Euro-style (2 round) plug adaptor that comes with the M8 charger and wondering if it sticks out far enough to work if the socket was recessed into the wall, the way a lot of them are that I've seen.

 

[saxshooter]

If its a Bic pen I find the cap works well. Plastic too.

 

[Bébèrt]

Best to inform you where you're going to stay in Europe because standardization is not yet plugged in.😀



Take a look at :http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domestic_AC_power_plugs_and_sockets


I think your powercord is oke for 220V as long as you don't use a toaster with it.

 

[Ben Z]

Best to inform you where you're going to stay in Europe because standardization is not yet plugged in.😀



Take a look at :http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domestic_AC_power_plugs_and_sockets

Thanks, it's not my first trip to Europe, just the first one with any kind of digital camera, let alone two, a portable HD, and a second cellphone. Previously my Radio Shack plug adaptor set was fine for the one cellphone.

think your powercord is oke for 220V as long as you don't use a toaster with it.

Well the M8 charger is about the same size as a toaster 😀 Nevertheless my concern is that I don't accidentally make it into one.