How can I work with electrical outlets that don't “hold” plugs?
Sep 1, 2015, 9:42 am
#46
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SFO
Programs: TK *G, HHonors Gold, UA 0.547MM and ex-1K but we gave up on each other
Posts: 201
To cope with outlets that are either loose or distant, I travel with a few EU to US adapters with different diameter plugs, a universal travel adapter to cover odd cases, and this extension cord I made up with a very old non-polarized US plug and three-way socket:
The cord is 18' long and only weighs 4 1/2 oz. I forget the wire size, but it's no smaller than 22 gauge which can carry over 100 watts at 110v and up. It has brought power to my nighttable in almost every hotel room.
Whether it's plugged into 110v or 220v, I only use it for universal 100v-240v chargers with US prongs.
I've got to be careful to route it away from the maid's vacuum cleaner, though.
The cord is 18' long and only weighs 4 1/2 oz. I forget the wire size, but it's no smaller than 22 gauge which can carry over 100 watts at 110v and up. It has brought power to my nighttable in almost every hotel room.
Whether it's plugged into 110v or 220v, I only use it for universal 100v-240v chargers with US prongs.
I've got to be careful to route it away from the maid's vacuum cleaner, though.
Sep 1, 2015, 10:32 am
#47
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: The lower of the two Carolinas
Programs: Former AA Gold, SkyMiles, Hilton HHonors, SPG Gold, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 387
Seconded. I haven't used anything but an adapter for my electronics in Europe for the last ten years and haven't fried a computer, tablet, cell phone, GPS, or anything else. Through several sources, I've heard that hair dryers aren't so reliably protected, but I don't use one of those normally unless the hotel/B&B provides it and then, it's only to dry clothes, not my hair.
I have long hair and think the hotel hair dryers suck (or at the least have hit-or-miss quality/reliability), so long ago I just invested in a small and powerful 220V travel-size hair dryer. Best money I ever spent.
I haven't used a transformer since (literally) 1998.
Sep 1, 2015, 10:39 am
#48
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: MR,UR, UA, BA, AA, Hotels
Posts: 581
Hi MM.
A simple safe solution is to carry a large (2") paper clip. Bend one arm out 90 degrees (so you can hold it by the looped area). Make the extended wire parallel to one of the plug prongs (flat or round type, works for all). The extended wire should be shorter than the prong. If not bend it until it is. Insert in to plug so it makes one prong a tight squeeze. This method works on planes and trickier / sloppier plugs that you've described.
This makes a tight fit, isn't that fiddly and you won't end up with bits left inside the socket. As long as you don't try to do this with more than one prong it is safe to you (i.e. if you do this with clips on two prongs your body will complete the circuit and you will light up like a light bulb! - not really, but you get the picture)
A simple safe solution is to carry a large (2") paper clip. Bend one arm out 90 degrees (so you can hold it by the looped area). Make the extended wire parallel to one of the plug prongs (flat or round type, works for all). The extended wire should be shorter than the prong. If not bend it until it is. Insert in to plug so it makes one prong a tight squeeze. This method works on planes and trickier / sloppier plugs that you've described.
This makes a tight fit, isn't that fiddly and you won't end up with bits left inside the socket. As long as you don't try to do this with more than one prong it is safe to you (i.e. if you do this with clips on two prongs your body will complete the circuit and you will light up like a light bulb! - not really, but you get the picture)
Sep 1, 2015, 10:57 am
#49
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: ORF
Programs: Amex Plat, AA, BA Silver, Marriott Plat, Choice Gold, HHonors Gold, IHG Diamond
Posts: 3,749
Hi MM.
A simple safe solution is to carry a large (2") paper clip. Bend one arm out 90 degrees (so you can hold it by the looped area). Make the extended wire parallel to one of the plug prongs (flat or round type, works for all). The extended wire should be shorter than the prong. If not bend it until it is. Insert in to plug so it makes one prong a tight squeeze. This method works on planes and trickier / sloppier plugs that you've described.
This makes a tight fit, isn't that fiddly and you won't end up with bits left inside the socket. As long as you don't try to do this with more than one prong it is safe to you (i.e. if you do this with clips on two prongs your body will complete the circuit and you will light up like a light bulb! - not really, but you get the picture)
A simple safe solution is to carry a large (2") paper clip. Bend one arm out 90 degrees (so you can hold it by the looped area). Make the extended wire parallel to one of the plug prongs (flat or round type, works for all). The extended wire should be shorter than the prong. If not bend it until it is. Insert in to plug so it makes one prong a tight squeeze. This method works on planes and trickier / sloppier plugs that you've described.
This makes a tight fit, isn't that fiddly and you won't end up with bits left inside the socket. As long as you don't try to do this with more than one prong it is safe to you (i.e. if you do this with clips on two prongs your body will complete the circuit and you will light up like a light bulb! - not really, but you get the picture)
He's made several references to "kiddos" in this thread. If those kids are teens and above, maybe they'll understand the dangers if you express a warning to them. For children younger, we know they learn by imitation. We also know, however, that their imitations tend to go in directions that aren't always expected so that one metal object in an electrical socket can become two for an impressionable younger child.
I just wouldn't take that chance.
Sep 1, 2015, 11:21 am
#50
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: California
Posts: 2,731
Of course, hotel room outlets--and easily accessible airport ones--are going to get "vacuum pull" on a daily basis, plus pulling from other peoples' wall warts, power strips completely stretched out so people can sit comfortably elsewhere, etc.
While I haven't run into this problem myself, that doesn't mean I don't believe those of you who say it does! This is by coincidence, not something I select for, but almost all of the places I've stayed in the past few years have been new or recently remodeled, with decent numbers of outlets.
Sep 1, 2015, 11:49 am
#51
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: CDG
Posts: 205
Hi MM.
A simple safe solution is to carry a large (2") paper clip. Bend one arm out 90 degrees (so you can hold it by the looped area). Make the extended wire parallel to one of the plug prongs (flat or round type, works for all). The extended wire should be shorter than the prong. If not bend it until it is. Insert in to plug so it makes one prong a tight squeeze. This method works on planes and trickier / sloppier plugs that you've described.
This makes a tight fit, isn't that fiddly and you won't end up with bits left inside the socket. As long as you don't try to do this with more than one prong it is safe to you (i.e. if you do this with clips on two prongs your body will complete the circuit and you will light up like a light bulb! - not really, but you get the picture)
A simple safe solution is to carry a large (2") paper clip. Bend one arm out 90 degrees (so you can hold it by the looped area). Make the extended wire parallel to one of the plug prongs (flat or round type, works for all). The extended wire should be shorter than the prong. If not bend it until it is. Insert in to plug so it makes one prong a tight squeeze. This method works on planes and trickier / sloppier plugs that you've described.
This makes a tight fit, isn't that fiddly and you won't end up with bits left inside the socket. As long as you don't try to do this with more than one prong it is safe to you (i.e. if you do this with clips on two prongs your body will complete the circuit and you will light up like a light bulb! - not really, but you get the picture)
Last edited by ChangingNappies; Sep 1, 2015 at 12:08 pm
Sep 1, 2015, 4:15 pm
#52
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,303
I don't have the strongest hands/grip and can make the adjustments by hand.
Last edited by freecia; Sep 1, 2015 at 5:19 pm Reason: clarifications
Sep 1, 2015, 8:19 pm
#53
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: ORD
Posts: 14,230
Hi MM.
A simple safe solution is to carry a large (2") paper clip. Bend one arm out 90 degrees (so you can hold it by the looped area). Make the extended wire parallel to one of the plug prongs (flat or round type, works for all). The extended wire should be shorter than the prong. If not bend it until it is. Insert in to plug so it makes one prong a tight squeeze. This method works on planes and trickier / sloppier plugs that you've described.
This makes a tight fit, isn't that fiddly and you won't end up with bits left inside the socket. As long as you don't try to do this with more than one prong it is safe to you (i.e. if you do this with clips on two prongs your body will complete the circuit and you will light up like a light bulb! - not really, but you get the picture)
A simple safe solution is to carry a large (2") paper clip. Bend one arm out 90 degrees (so you can hold it by the looped area). Make the extended wire parallel to one of the plug prongs (flat or round type, works for all). The extended wire should be shorter than the prong. If not bend it until it is. Insert in to plug so it makes one prong a tight squeeze. This method works on planes and trickier / sloppier plugs that you've described.
This makes a tight fit, isn't that fiddly and you won't end up with bits left inside the socket. As long as you don't try to do this with more than one prong it is safe to you (i.e. if you do this with clips on two prongs your body will complete the circuit and you will light up like a light bulb! - not really, but you get the picture)