Friday, November 4, 2011

Transformers

Shortly we are off to England for a short visit.  I'm hoping to manage a few postings while I'm away, but it may be difficult.  However, I'm now starting to think about what I need to take in order to sustain normal life.
To begin with there are a lot of electronics to go along.  And where there are electronics there are wires, and even more importantly charging devices to keep them running.  Even the standard camera needs batteries, usually of the rechargeable type, to make them work.
British Standard Plug
Years ago you needed to carry a transformer, which was a big box the size of a brick around to make sure everything worked.  So I've done a small round of the stores to check on whether or not I will blow the UK's grid by plugging in an iPhone to charge it up.  It seems that along with everything else today, huge improvements have been made. 
Nearly all charging chords into these modern devices convert the electricity from the 220/240 volts AC current, which is used in the UK, into the 5 or 6 DC needed to work with new devices.  Now if only we could convince the Brits to change their Neanderthal plugs to something approaching "normal." (See left!)

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