Just a little tip to avoid damaging Spanish wall sockets with UK plugs in adapters - if you have access to a file, just put a bit of a bevel on the top front edge of the earth pin on the UK plug - this lets it slide in to the socket without bending the earth contact in the wall socket and also stops the socket "grabbing" the adapter when you try to remove it.
Posted: Tue Aug 20, 2019 7:45am
Helpful member
Hi There. This is an excellent idea. The number of Spanish sockets that we have damaged over the years by using a UK adaptor. Could you possibly put a close-up picture of what way you filed the Earth pin. Many thanks in advance.
Posted: Tue Aug 20, 2019 9:12am
Helpful member
Yes please a before and after photo and a photo of the filing gadget! Really useful tip - thank you
Hi
The problem stems from some Spanish sockets not having enough of a void behind the earth contacts for them to sink into to allow the UK earth pin to pass over the top.
Where the void is very shallow, even putting a bevel on the leading edge of the pin is not enough to stop damage - you would have to reduce the height nearly all the way along the top, which is hardly practical
Just a regular metal file or if it's a plastic earth pin as pictured then one of those course ladies nail files will probably do the trick.
As I say, there are some socket this may not work on - you'd have to get technical, strip down the socket and trim the back off the curved earth contacts which is going to be a problem for many people!
Mark.
Advertisement - posts continue below
Posted: Tue Aug 20, 2019 1:41pm
Helpful member
Had to laugh at Mark's remark about 'corse ladies nail file. Think ladies' corse nail file might have been better! Made me laugh though!
Lol...didn't think of that.....
Posted: Tue Aug 20, 2019 3:10pm
Helpful member
My apologies for spelling coarse incorrectly also. Put it down to old age. !!!
UI
Well I also can't spell it seems - yes age related...!!
At 77 years Lyn ,no worries about your spelling ok!👍🏼
Find more General discussion topics from a particular area:
Or view all General discussion topics in all of Costa de Almería.
We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our website, to show you personalised content and targeted ads, to analyse our website traffic, and to understand where our visitors are coming from. Visit our Privacy Policy to learn how we and our partners collect and use data and how to change your settings.