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Q: Why don't the plugs fit the electrical sockets properly?
My laptop's plug doesn't fit 4 of the 5 sockets in the house.
There is a rather antiquated looking air conditioner in my living room with a plug that does fit.
Did a bunch of companies start running off bad sockets and products to fit in a classic hare-brained Chinese scheme to get marketshare of electrical appliances or something?
Eat your heart out Apple, someone's even dafter than you!
9 years 4 weeks ago in Web & Technology - China
Yeah just buy a universal power bar, that should do the trick. I had the same issues.
Buy a universal adapter if you take your laptop on trips.
laowaigentleman:
I think I know the one. It has two standard sizes and two for the upper plug which doesn't earth.
I found an old one in the cupboard which was owned by the previous tenant but I'm using it for the wifi. I have one outlet in the kitchen which seems to be the correct size.
The other ones are out by about 3mm. They're too big. The holes themselves are the correct size, but they're too far apart from each other.
I think the one icnif is describing is the same one as you. Someone local told me there are ones I can get for 20rmb, but I think I'll take your advice and buy quality, assuming price is any indicator of such a thing here.
Scandinavian:
I have a powerbar from Ikea where my lamp from Ikea doesn't fit, unless using a fair bit of force
Get an extension with 'wide' 3 socket plug. I can't explain properly, but there are 2 different 3 holes/sockets plugs. I'll post pic. It cost around 50-70 Rmb.
I don't know, how to post pic out of my puter.
icnif77:
OK, the difference is smaller 3-holes plug one has actually 5 holes, 3 for one switch, and two for the regular Apple USA plug in the same socket. That's just an ordinary one.
Better/right one has only 3 holes, but they're larger. Look for the switch on extension to turn extension on/off. It's little more expensive than other one.
Yeah just buy a universal power bar, that should do the trick. I had the same issues.
Buy a universal adapter if you take your laptop on trips.
laowaigentleman:
I think I know the one. It has two standard sizes and two for the upper plug which doesn't earth.
I found an old one in the cupboard which was owned by the previous tenant but I'm using it for the wifi. I have one outlet in the kitchen which seems to be the correct size.
The other ones are out by about 3mm. They're too big. The holes themselves are the correct size, but they're too far apart from each other.
I think the one icnif is describing is the same one as you. Someone local told me there are ones I can get for 20rmb, but I think I'll take your advice and buy quality, assuming price is any indicator of such a thing here.
Scandinavian:
I have a powerbar from Ikea where my lamp from Ikea doesn't fit, unless using a fair bit of force
The strange thing is that if a western company makes electrical stuff for the Chinese market, then they have to meet really stringint safety standards. But these standards dont seem to apply to Chinese products.
The universal power bar that Robk mentions works ( most of the time), but it actually fails Chinas own electrical safety standards.
But can you buy a well made quality one? Of course not. Only the rubbish ones can be found.
laowaigentleman:
I mentioned this problem above. I was told you can get some kind of multi-adaptor for 20rmb ranging through to 70rmb. Back home, you get what you pay for.
Here, I think you do too, but there's no top of the range quality, just slightly superior shit.
The old thing I've found looks like it could start a fire. Living in a concrete bunker has some advantages.
I've been charging my computer in the kitchen, hahaStiggs:
I had a brand new power bar almost catch fire on me one night. Luckily I was home at the time. I smelled plastic burning and found the thing super hot, smoking and probably not far off bursting into flame.
Every time I buy a new one now I'm wary of the thing until it has lasted a couple of months without going up in flames.
ScotsAlan:
Yeah, there are all sorts of safety standards for electrical sockets and plugs, and the stuff you buy in China, made in China for the Chinese market, would fail almost all of them. For example, as you pull the plug out, can you fit your finger in the gap between the plug and socket and touch the conductor? You can in China, Most other countries demand an insulated band around the conductor to prevent this. Children should be kept away from Chinese plugs and sockets. And care should always be taken when plugging or unplugging. Make sure the aplliance is not under load when you connect or disconect. The spark you get on Chinese plugs can damage equipment.
Yes, 2 sizes, one is much bigger, it is for Aircon plug. other small ones, it is not that it does not fit well, mostly it is because there is "safety insole" in each power socket. I have dismantled and checked, it is made poorly and really you need to use a lot of power to push the plug in. the insole need to move down on the trails,pushed by spring and it is against small stopper, about 1mm high. the cause is that the plastic piece, acting as protection, during the pressure you use with the plug to push in, have to move above that stopper and rail smoothly back and open the way for plug. but, the way its made it is only pushed more down to the stopper, so actually you have to use brute force or moves there and back and try to find the position when its open finally.
And mostly, the Earthing wire is not connected in the wall sockets... only in bathroom and kitchen maybe, if you are lucky. don't let me talk about the full rainbow colored wires they use here. While I was connecting a light, who would think about that the yellow/green wire is directly connected in the switch to the red wire, as L (power)
ScotsAlan:
Ha ha yes. Wire colours. I used to buy Chinese made industrial electric motors. The same batch would have different colours for each phase. The motors were good, but the colour co-ordination was rubbish.
