I found that the UK adapters weren’t working in most of the outlets in my hotel room in Belfast. I tried unplugging a hotel appliance and using that outlet. My adapter worked fine in that outlet!
Lesson: Hotel outlets get lots of use and may become loose. Look for an outlet that gets less use and try an adapter in that outlet.
Posted by
SE Pennsylvania
3392 posts
I've run into loose outlets here in the US, too.
The UK has an added issue in that outlets have on/off switches. I assume that was not the problem?
Posted by
West Michigan
904 posts
Switches: Also note that what's "on" to my brain, is actually "off".
Posted by
Eastern Iowa, USA
9593 posts
Yeah, I was going to mention the switches. If you were not getting any current, then the outlet was probably off. Items the hotel leaves plugged in (a lamp, a kettle) they likely leave the switch on.
Posted by
Maryland
1294 posts
Another reason to use a travel adaptor with multiple ports for your tech - Not all hotel outlets work, or many older hotels have limited numbers of outlets.
Posted by
Angleterre
2908 posts
Regardless of however many adaptors/devices you bring, make sure the socket is switched on; otherwise, all will be in vain.
Posted by
anyplace picturesque
148 posts
We each have a 1,5m N.American extension cord with triple-tap female. We secure the appropriate single european male adapter to the male end with tape. This allows us to access power outlets behind furniture but keep our devices and chargers at hand and within sight (in the interest of both convenience and not forgetfully leaving them behind).
As for using loose public or airplane outlets we keep a dab of bluetac (think of chewing gum that pulls off cleanly) wrapped in cello in our RS tech pouches.
Posted by
Mid-Atlantic area
8841 posts
My guess is the outlet was switched off and you only needed to flip the switch beside the outlet. Easy fix.
Posted by
Penzance
349 posts
Turn the switch on the socket on.
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19786 posts
BTW, per our electrical code, where you plug things in is a receptacle. Technically, anywhere that the wiring is accessible from the surface IS an outlet. An outlet can be a light fixture, a switch, or a receptacle. A receptacle is an outlet; an outlet is not necessarily a receptacle.
But yeah. Unless the OP comes back and says he knew about the switch, and he tried it in both positions, and it still didn't work, that does sound like the problem.
Posted by
Freedonia
19553 posts
Another trick I have found with airplane/train/bus "receptacles"--if your US plug isn't working or falls out, try the UK or EU adapter plug. That sometimes works instead.
Posted by
Virginia, USA
6862 posts
BTW, per our electrical code, where you plug things in is a receptacle.
Sorry to be pedantic, but that term would not be used in the UK. It would usually be called a “socket”.