changing UK plug for Portugese

[LICY]

Does anyone have any experience of swapping over a UK electrical item plug for Portugese. If so is it a problem?

Could I bring over a bedside lamp for example and change that plug? What about light bulbs are they universal?

Thanks. LICY

[laserblazer]

The voltage is the same, so no problem. The easiest way is to get adapters. I got a load from our Pound Shop for a pound each. Portugal has Edison Screw (ES) fittings not bayonet like us. You may struggle to find a bayonet bulb in Portugal.

[EMM]

Changing a plug is simples and safer than using adaptors as you have one less connection involved.

You can buy 2 pin ,3 wire plugs with an earthing strip at any DIY or large supermarket and of course 2 wire. 2pin.

Appiances in Portugal are not fused , unlike the UK.

We are changing all our adaptors as with a modern main board it is so sensitive to any faulty connections that we were finding the power tripping when we switched on some UK plugged appliances.

Agree about bayonets we too stocked up, long life bulbs are also much cheaper in the UK and you will find it really hard to find incandesent bulbs in Portugal.
They are further ahead than the UK in taking these off the market.

[LICY]

That is really helpful. So I will simply go to Merlin or another to get plugs. Also at least I know if I buy something that needs bulbs it is better for me to NIH the screw type. se have those in our home here as well as usual type. of course I could also stock up in my hand luggage. helpful to know the energy saving ones are cheaper here. shat about spot light type bulbs?

[sam]

Do not try and take long life light bulbs in your hand luggage. I tried this as I could see nothing in regs to prohibit this, but they were confiscated at the airport. I was told I could put them in the hold (for a fee), but they were not allowed in hand luggage in case they broke, as contents are toxic. They were cheap at Asda, about £5 worth, and tranport would have cost more, so did not bother. Presumably if you pack them in a bag destined for the hold you should be OK.

[maccasa]

I found that plug sockets are rather flimsy and using the converters does not always make a good connection. So when you have a collection of plugs - ie for a TV+DVD+Sat box, Coffee machine + toaster + blender+grinder+chip pan, or computer system or multiple Hifi system etc. I found it easier to buy a 4/5 way block with on/off switch from UK and just change the plug on that unit. This way you still use the UK plug but can switch everything off in one go when you leave. You can also convert an extension lead the same way - a UK three pin socket on the one end and PT plug on the other- so you can use your drills, strimmer, ghetto blaster?? outside.

Low energy light bulbs are extremely expensive here - I bought 30 in UK at one of the supermarkets when they were 10p each - 11,14 and 17w size. In one well made cardboard box and packaging it cost less than the price of two bulbs over here to send them by FedEx.

[EMM]

An Extension lead with a on off switch sounds like a good idea.
We have taken long life bulbs on numerous trips in hand luggage , never a problem, we fly easy jet.

[sam]

An Extension lead with a on off switch sounds like a good idea.
We have taken long life bulbs on numerous trips in hand luggage , never a problem, we fly easy jet.

We fly Ryanair, but ours were confiscated by airport staff - picked up when scanned. So perhaps it is the airport. I fly from a small airport, Bournemouth, so they have plenty of time to scan & check. My son had 3 golf balls in his hand luggage once and they confiscated them - sports equipment not allowed, whilst happily allowing people to buy large glass bottles of spirits, spray perfume etc at duty free.

[EMM]

NOTE, don,t fly from Bournemouth land of the jobsworths. we usually have at least dozen golf balls ( to replace those we lose )
plus probably other items that you would get confiscated.
Maybe its no co incidence its ryan air.

Bristol is red hot on liquids and the type of " plastic bag " that you have your 100ml containers in but otherwise they use their common sense.

[Michael Crane]

From the FAQ. CLICK HERE

[LICY]

Do not try and take long life light bulbs in your hand luggage. I tried this as I could see nothing in regs to prohibit this, but they were confiscated at the airport. I was told I could put them in the hold (for a fee), but they were not allowed in hand luggage in case they broke, as contents are toxic. They were cheap at Asda, about £5 worth, and tranport would have cost more, so did not bother. Presumably if you pack them in a bag destined for the hold you should be OK.

oh gosh did not even think I would have problems like that. we always take hand luggage but rarely pay the extra for hold luggage. also had no idea they were toxic. Any idea if the normal bulbs are toxic? of course could smuggle a few in between the furniture if we transport it out.

[LICY]

I found that plug sockets are rather flimsy and using the converters does not always make a good connection. So when you have a collection of plugs - ie for a TV+DVD+Sat box, Coffee machine + toaster + blender+grinder+chip pan, or computer system or multiple Hifi system etc. I found it easier to buy a 4/5 way block with on/off switch from UK and just change the plug on that unit. This way you still use the UK plug but can switch everything off in one go when you leave. You can also convert an extension lead the same way - a UK three pin socket on the one end and PT plug on the other- so you can use your drills, strimmer, ghetto blaster?? outside.

Low energy light bulbs are extremely expensive here - I bought 30 in UK at one of the supermarkets when they were 10p each - 11,14 and 17w size. In one well made cardboard box and packaging it cost less than the price of two bulbs over here to send them by FedEx.

Another helpful point! this forum is a wealth of information, but who knows how many posts before you get 3 oranges?

[Michael Crane]

.....but who knows how many posts before you get 3 oranges?

CLICK HERE.