anyone used UK electronics in SA plugs?

waterprism

waterprism

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Hi,

Has anyone successfully used UK electronics equipment in South Africa?

I really want an Acer X203H monitor but can't seem to find anyone in SA who have got any in stock. I'm thinking about getting one online from the UK. I think the voltage setup in the UK is similar to ours (although I know their plugs are different and I guess I'd have to change the plug), but would just like to know if anyone has successfully used UK electronics gear in SA.

Thanks a lot.
 
All the time. Just change the plug or better still use a local power cord and save the original cord.
 
No problems at all. Same voltage. Brought a lot of stuff from the UK without any troubles. Just change the plug or use an adapter.
 
bwana said:
All the time. Just change the plug or better still use a local power cord and save the original cord.
Click to expand...

+1

Stuff is also more international nowadays.

I recently imported a Viewsonic 3D monitor from the USA and it works fine on 220 volts.

And I have never had a problem with camera chargers, etc from the USA, they are all 110v and 220v.
 
Apart from the plug, you'll need to ensure that the rated voltage matches ours. Not referring specifically to your monitor, but to foreign electronics in general. If it doesn't, you'll need to get a voltage converter as well.
 
Jola said:
+1

Stuff is also more international nowadays.

I recently imported a Viewsonic 3D monitor from the USA and it works fine on 220 volts.

And I have never had a problem with camera chargers, etc from the USA, they are all 110v and 220v.
Click to expand...

Portable equipment is usually multi-voltage. That's because they use the same Chinese OEMs to manufacture the transformers/chargers and that also makes it easy for export, not to mention that portable equipment may be used while traveling between internationally.
 
waterprism said:
Hi,

Has anyone successfully used UK electronics equipment in South Africa?

I really want an Acer X203H monitor but can't seem to find anyone in SA who have got any in stock. I'm thinking about getting one online from the UK. I think the voltage setup in the UK is similar to ours (although I know their plugs are different and I guess I'd have to change the plug), but would just like to know if anyone has successfully used UK electronics gear in SA.

Thanks a lot.
Click to expand...

South Africa uses the same plug type as Iran, but you can also get the UK plug to fit into the SA socket by sanding down the square pegs to make them rounder.
 
Thanks, PeterCH, Jola. But regarding US electronics, don't they use 2 pin plugs there? Actually don't know if that's a big deal or not, but it's always seemed less safe to me somehow. I also see a lot places in the US that have the product I want, but I'm a bit wary of the different voltages and the 2 pin plug thing. Can one just use a local power cord with a US product?
 
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The 2 pin plug is not an issue, you get adapters at local hardware stores for about R30 (eg at Mica).

Just make sure that the power supply supports 220v - it usually mentions that in the product specs.
 
waterprism said:
Thanks, PeterCH, Jola. But regarding US electronics, don't they use 2 pin plugs there? Actually don't know if that's a big deal or not, but it's always seemed less safe to me somehow. I also see a lot places in the US that have the product I want, but I'm a bit wary of the different voltages and the 2 pin plug thing. Can one just use a local power cord with a US product?
Click to expand...

I checked my monitors here - Dell, HP and Samsung and all have multi-voltage adaptors - i.e. 100v-240v auto-switchable. So yes you can, you can either remove the US plug and fit an SA plug at it's end, use a standard computer/kettle cord you can buy from a local PC shop or use an adapter - like those for travelers - hardware shops have them the cheapest - R50.

Yeah, check the specs. I think you'll find most monitors have those cheap Chinese multi-voltage power bricks - it would make little sense for manufacturers to source different power bricks for different country models - it would be more expensive.
 
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The only products sourced from the USA that I have had problems with were Netgear routers - the USA models came with 110 volt only power supplies. But I just ordered 220v power bricks on eBay, wasn't a hassle.

The other stuff was fine - but you must always do a final check before you plug it in.
 
Its only stuff sold in America and Japan that you need to worry about. Anything else is likely to be 230V & safe.

Laptops generally auto-switch, so those are always safe.

Jola said:
Just make sure that the power supply supports 220v
Click to expand...
Its usually listed as 230v or 240v afaik, not 220.
 
PeterCH said:
South Africa uses the same plug type as Iran, but you can also get the UK plug to fit into the SA socket by sanding down the square pegs to make them rounder.
Click to expand...

Actually our plug is called a M-plug and was used in the UK for heavy amp devices. (Was interesting reading a UK electrical engineers manual from the '70s one day). They use to install both M-plug and BS 1363 sockets so as to seperate the different lines even in houses.
 
cbrunsdonza said:
Actually our plug is called a M-plug and was used in the UK for heavy amp devices. (Was interesting reading a UK electrical engineers manual from the '70s one day). They use to install both M-plug and BS 1363 sockets so as to seperate the different lines even in houses.
Click to expand...

Iran uses the M Plug too then. If you look at the UK plugs, they're one better, because while they are just as thick, and have ground, they also have a fuse.
 
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