PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-681
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 681
AUGUST 2009
40
PS 681
AUG 09
41
Dear Editor,
It’s a must that Soldiers and civilian
workers know the good, bad and ugly
when it comes to electrical plugs,
adapters and outlets in Southwest
Asia (SWA). Injuries and damage are
the result if a Soldier uses the wrong
combination of plug-to-outlet.
Here are a few pointers which will
help educate Soldiers and civilians who
are already in SWA and those who are
heading here:
1.
Know the voltage! The electrical generation here on Camp Taji conforms
to the International Electrical Code, which means that outlet in your wall is
providing 220 volts. If you plug in a piece of equipment designed to run at
110 volts, go ahead and order a replacement, because the one you plugged
in is now fried! To run at 110, you need an adapter or transformer that
“steps down” the 220V to 110V. Other installations and countries may
have different combinations of voltage and outlets. It is important to check
what is used at each location when you arrive.
2.
There’s a good chance that the outlet on your wall is designed to British
Standard (BS) 1363. That means it can carry 250 volts of AC at 50 Hz.
These outlets are fused at 3, 5, 10 or 13 amps.
However, most of the equipment plugs are designed to European Standard
CEE 7/7 or 7/16. This leads to a compatibility problem since the British
outlet has a “safety gate” that must be triggered open by the plug before
the outlet is hot. But the European plugs don’t have a pole to open the
gate! Forcing the plug into the outlet damages the outlet and makes it
useless for different plugs and also makes it a safety hazard.
3.
Adapters from the European plugs
to the British outlets are available,
but not all of them are created equal.
Choosing the right adapter is critical.
Unlike US or British plugs, the
European plugs don’t have a male
ground lead. The grounding on these
plugs is provided by a small metal strip
which must contact a corresponding
ground in the adapter or outlet. If
you’re plugging a device into a power
strip, the power strip must be properly
grounded.
4.
Universal adapters for US style plugs are not universally safe or
universally designed and manufactured the same. One important difference
is how well the adapter stays plugged in. Make sure the plug fits snugly into
the outlet. A loose fit leads to arcing and overheating.
5.
Finally, I’ve put together a chart that shows safe and unsafe plugs,
outlets and adapters I have encountered here at Taji.
William S. Shirley
RMS/AFCAP
Camp Taji, Iraq
Electrical Outlet
and Plug Safety in
SWA
Electrical Outlet
and Plug Safety in
SWA
Replace
damaged
outlets,
plugs and
adapters
Replace
adapters
that
can’t be
grounded
Never force a Ft and
check if a Ft is loose
NOT SAFE
forced ±t and ungrounded
SAFE
proper ±t and grounded
DAMAGED
NO GROUND
bill shirley has
done a great service
to all of us with this
critical advice and
excellent chart.
if you have
information to add,
write us and we’ll
put the word out.
now turn the page
and take a look at
mr. shirley’s chart…
boy howdy, there
shore are lotsa
plugs in these
here parts!
how shall
vee all feet
to-geth-air?
I say, old
chaps, we’re
in quite a
pickle, wOt?
681.40-41.indd
1-2
7/7/09
3:07:34 PM
Mr. W.S.S.
Mr. W.S.S.
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