Electrical adapter/connector requirements for Switzerland

Hi mc,

I purchased this adapter based on comments from other RS travelers:

OREI Grounded Universal 2 in 1 Plug Adapter Type J for Switzerland & more - High Quality - CE Certified - RoHS Compliant WP-J-GN
(http:///www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004SY6AHG?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00)

In the past, I used the two pronged adapter for both France and Switzerland. It worked, but I thought I'd try this one which should be a better match!

The sockets in Switzerland are a diamond shape that doesn't fit the standard round European plug. If you're staying at a hotel, just ask the front desk for the appropriate adapter.

My new, ungrounded, two-pin Europlug adapters will fit in Swiss receptacles; however, I have an older two-pin adapter, with large round ends, that will not fit.

A lot of US appliances are protect by what is called polarization. One blade of the US plug is wider than the other. (Or is one blade narrower than the other? Oh well.) The point is that important protection, as identified by UL, is not provided without the polarization. In Europe, very few power supply systems are polarized (In Germany, it can't be; in France, it could be but isn't), so that protection is lost. You really should not use US polarized appliances (like hair dryers, curling irons, etc in Europe. A lot of European appliances are double insulated, so they do not use polarization for safety.

The Swiss system is, however, polarized, and their receptacles and the plug shown above, assure that polarization.

That plug, however, will not work in any receptacles outside of Switzerland.

Your iJunk will be double insulated, so it's not a problem in Europe.

Thanks to all for the responses. Donna, I've ordered the OREI adapter. Thanks!

if you look in Rick's Swiss guidebook he not only discusses adapters, there's a photo of an outlet! Looks like a cloverleaf, very attractive.

Make sure you bring several of each country's style because you will be amazed how many things you need to plug in when travelling. Also consider two-fers and perhaps even a small outlet strip. And most hotels will have loaners. Amazon is your friend.

Another thing to consider now is to have charging cables on you at all times. And perhaps an actual adapter or two. When you're on a plane or train you can usually find charging opportunities, as well as airports and train stations.

Ordered and received the OREI adapter plug. The adapter plug fits my 230v iron with Central Europe/Continental plug (two round conductors with the ground conductor in the insulated section of the plug). However, the OREI doesn't complete the grounding circuit. Looks like the OREI will get power to my iron but without grounding protection.

Ironic that my iron is a Swiss designed and branded (but made in China) 230v iron but set up for the non-Swiss continental Europe.

All Swiss power sockets are designed for grounding - earthing - because Swiss grounding plugs use a pin offset slightly from the ine of the other two pins.

I get my Swiss adapters in Switzerland and all have the three pins.