The spelling of the subject line is as Eva Gabor used to pronounce the word in the tv show Greenacres. I thought this post might be of interest to those overseas who haven't experienced our power plugs and outlets.
Our sockets and plugs are known as Type 1, and used in Australia, New Zealand, PNG and some Pacific Islands. Oddly, they are also used in China and Argentina. These are to carry 240 volts, unlike the North American standard 110 volts, and Japan's 100 volts. The history of the use of 110v versus 240v is very interesting, and 110v seems problematic as at times things need a higher voltage. 240v is much more dangerous than 110v. You'll be very quickly fritzed.
These are the original overhead lights in my apartment. I have two incandescent 100 watt bulbs in each, which totals 400 watts of electricity when they are on. That is an extreme amount, and worse, they don't actually light up the room that well. They are probably only used if one drops an earing and needs to find it. As they are so rarely used, it makes no sense to change to LED.
I am thinking of replacing them with fan lights. At times all you need is a bit of breeze, rather than air conditioning.
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The lights are on a dimmer though, which we had installed.
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I was going to use my own photos but there has to be as mix. This is the typical Australia socket. Generally people do use the on/off switch. I always turn power points off. I don't want the the electricical leaking out. The angled plug outlets are for the positive and neutral and the vertical for the earth plug. Tourists who aren't accustomed to turning switches on and off can find their phone has no juice when it should be fully charged.
You can get very fancy power sockets but I think they look rather gauche.
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The prongs are partly plastic coated and once the full plastic is shown as you remove a plug, the prongs are no longer in contact with the socket. That is really the only safety aspect to our plugs, unlike English plugs that are incredibly safe but very bulky.
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As you can see the normal plugs is not very bulky.
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I love fan lights. Great call. We have them in the living room and bedroom. Interesting post.
ReplyDeleteIn the States the "earth" plugs are called GFIs, meaning "ground fault interrupters".
ReplyDeleteIt’s a pity you can’t get solar panels and simply switch over to LED lights
ReplyDeleteIt is cost effective and nicely bright
We finally replaced an ugly, outdated light fixture with a lighted ceiling fan. I was thrilled to find the same model (and color!) chosen for another room over a decade earlier. Be well, my dear.
ReplyDeleteNever knew different countries had different voltages, or that the U.S., which acts so immoderately about everything else, seems to play it somewhat safe where electricity is concerned.
ReplyDeleteYour voltage makes it a very long time to boil a kettle, hence you never boil a kettle.
DeleteSome of our lights are LED ones which we changed over sometime back. We wanted a ceiling fan in the family room, so we chose one with a light like you are talking about. I love dimmers like yours, but you can't have them with the LED lights unfortunately.
ReplyDeleteSilly boy, the electricical does not leak out! All of my regular plugs are earthed but the ones used to charge a usb device are not. I imagine those 100 watt globes would be far brighter without the shade on the fitting. I have four LEDs and two regular globes in places that don't get lit often.
ReplyDeleteThis house was already fitted with LED overhead lights when we moved in. Unfortunately all the lights in the "big" room at the end have multicoloured disco type bulbs that change colour every few seconds. We haven't yet got around to replacing them so just use table lamps in there.
ReplyDeleteChanging multi coloured lamps in a home like yours JayCee just sound absurd.
DeleteI agree! What a strange amenity!
DeleteI don't like overhead lights and rarely use them.
ReplyDeleteI have not seen that outlet style. I was packing plug adaptors yesterday.
ReplyDeleteWe use ceiling fans all summer to cool off even with the a/c on. We reverse the ceiling fans in winter to push the warmer air down.
ReplyDeleteI still possess my universal plugin which can be adapted to any type of outlet system. Razors hair dryers etc for travelmust be able to run on different currents.
ReplyDeleteyup we have the same sockets and plugs here but a light with air conditioning sounds cool (get it)
ReplyDeleteWe don't have AC. We will see how that works this summer.
ReplyDeletein the us dryers and ovens run on 240, most else on the 110. Its my assessment that 110 is much slower for youre kettle and toaster and i would suspect items like electric coffee makers too, tho im not prone to using one and am only theorizing there
ReplyDeleteI don't understand how you get 240v. Is it some kind of separate wiring?
Deletetheres a separate fuse in the fuse box, and the plug is different
ReplyDeleteIan is right. 240 uses two breakers, 110 uses one (single pole vs double pole). When you are building a house, you set a designated spot for your washer and dryer, refrigerator and dishwasher and the like. Heavier wiring and plugs are used. You couldn't for instance decide to move the refrigerator to your bedroom without rewiring. The amount of electricity is controlled at the breaker box.
ReplyDeleteI did look it up Debby, and I remember looking up before why North America has 110v and not the normal 240v. I can't remember now. In our fuse boxes, well circuit breakers now, we have a separate 30 amp circuit for the air con, and another for the electric oven, instead of the normal 20 amps. Volts and amps are quite different of course.
DeleteAdding further, some homes need three phase power, perhaps for induction cooktops. It all gives me a headache.