[chocolate cake]

Hi,
Can anyone pls advise where I can buy some cheap plugs. Currently managing with an adaptor, but when my main gear gets out here, I'll be needing several.

I asked in the supermarket (think it was Foodtown), seemed to stock most other things (lightbulbs, double adaptors etc.) but they didn't and suggested Dick Smith's, which was closed when I passed and seemed to be the equivalent of Dixons. In the UK, the likes of B&Q, Homebase etc. would sell 'em cheaply, is there an NZ equivalent?

[zardell]

Bunnings or the Warehouse should see you right.

Julie

xx

[wiki]

We got ours at Mitre 10 -about $5 each. Placemakers should also have them.

[peebles16]

Yep just bought a load at warehouse :) Even got got the hairdryer working although don't need it in this heat :D

Karenx

[Jo Jo]

We got ours in Mitre 10. There are two different types of plugs that you can buy, and one is easier to wire than the other. This thread explains it well (with pics): http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=12294&highlight=plugs

[Leccy-Lee]

Not sure on DIY chain prices, but try the prices at an Electrical Wholesalers, there open to Public as well as us Sparkies..

http://www.corys.co.nz
http://www.advanceelectrical.co.nz
http://www.mastertrade.co.nz/
http://www.rexel.co.nz/

(theres more than these guys, but these 4 who we use at work)

[Red Devil]

Yep just bought a load at warehouse :) Even got got the hairdryer working although don't need it in this heat :D

Karenx

Yeah, yeah... rub it in why don't you ;)

Just hold that weather for a little longer... depart for our NZ 'recce' trip this Sunday :D

[BoroCraig]

Hi,

Sorry if this has been discussed before but can you get adaptors in the UK from anywhere?

[JandM]

I got one from Boots (large store in Oxford Street - don't think the little local one would have anything similar) before our visit. We plugged into that a UK (4-socket) gang plug, and that took care of phone- and camera-chargers, and the laptop, for the holiday.

There's probably somewhere you can get adaptors cheaper, or in bulk, though.

[JandM]

Eureka!

http://www.roamingfox.co.uk/NZ-AUS-Earthed-Travel-Adapter-pr-16238.html

They also have a non-earthed one for only £2.99.

[Georgebulldog]

We bought a load of plugs from New World & they were less than $3 each, only trouble is they were side entry, 3 pin, ones which although I like don't fit into all our sockets as we have sockets on top of each other & not side by side (this may be the norm in NZ not sure) but it has meant that if we wanted to then plug a mobile phone charger aswell we couldn't as it wouldn't fit, otherwise cheap as chips :clap

[peebles16]

Just thought I'd add that we brought a load of plug boards with us from the UK so just had to buy NZ plugs for them and plug UK appliances in that way... Saved a wee bit of cash plus we don't seem to have nearly as many electrical sockets in our rental as we did in our house in the UK for some strange reason...

Karenx

[nickydwuk]

Can you use multi adpaters with travel plugs? This is for when we first srrive and need to charge pgones, cameras and use ahirdyers & laptops.

[Georgebulldog]

I would be a bit careful about what you plug into a travel adapter, OH plugged the washing machine into a travel one & it was live, he got a shock off the drum :uhoh something about no fuse or something like that, I'm sure someone who knows about electrics can say more

[marcia]

Yep be careful with the travel adaptors - we made a potentially huge error, had an electric heater plugged into a travel adaptor, plugged into an NZ timer, down the hallway, came on in the evenings and early mornings, kev got up one morning to a horrible smell (no it wasn't me! :D ) the whole lot had gone black and started to melt and stick together, could have had a fire if it had been left any longer. :no I found some really good adaptors in bunnings, a bit more expensive but much better quality, its black and has a selection of different 'holes', made by 'korjo' iuse them for those things you can't change the plugs on like mobile phone chargers etc.

[IanW99]

Most travel adapters don't handle as much power as a standard plug e.g. 7.5A instead of 10A which is approx 1800W instead of 2400W. Of course some may be rated more and others less, you need to check what is printed on the adapter.

So, yes you can use them with multi-way adapters but you have to be a bit more careful with what you plug into them e.g. phone charges will be fine but electrical heaters will not.

As recommended by Marcia (and me :nice1 ) the Korjo adapters that you can get from Dick Smith Electronics, Bunnings, Mitre 10 etc are great and rated at the full 10A so no problems with them.

Ian

[Jon&Candy]

We got ours at Mitre 10 -about $5 each. Placemakers should also have them.

After much hunting around, New World supermarkets appear to be the cheapest source for plugs. Most places charge $3 or $5, but they're only $2.50 in New World. The only problem is that they only seem to stock three at a time. I've cleared out the Porirua and Whitby stores!

I'm getting pretty fed up with changing plugs. You don't realise how many you have until you have to start changing them. NZ plugs are also unbelievably fiddly. The UK plugs are so much easier to work with. With one particular brand, I keep unscrewing the clamp too far, and then it falls off. It's a nightmare to put it back on again.

[Farfields]

word of warning...
I recently bought 15 new plugs to fit onto UK applicances. 6 of them did not have the screw for holding down the cable strain relief. These were PDL 901 10A white plugs. You can see the screw if you look in the cable hole of the plug on the right side. Check for this if you buy some, as they will become dangerous if used without the strain relief tighended.

I did inform Energy Safety and the manufacturer, and they are investigating why this happened. I'm sure there will be others in circulation as when I went to get replacements I found more the same.

I got mine from Rexel in Chch, which were $6 each, but I had a staff discount from work that knocked 40% off.

cheers,
FF