Where do buy cheap adaptors for US plugs?

Discuss about computers & Internet. Including mobile phones, home appliances & other gadgets. Read about Windows security risks or virus updates.
Post Reply
screns
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 18
Joined: Wed, 14 Mar 2012 9:22 pm

Where do buy cheap adaptors for US plugs?

Post by screns » Thu, 02 Aug 2012 8:07 am

Does anyone know where to buy cheap adaptors for US plugs? We have a bunch of appliances (computers, phone chargers, etc) that will work on 220v, but they have the US plugs on them (two prong and three prong). Anyone know where I can get cheap adaptors (I need to buy a bunch of them) that I can use? I don't need voltage converter/transformer, just the plug adaptors, and am near the Orchard Road MRT. Thanks.

User avatar
the lynx
Governor
Governor
Posts: 5281
Joined: Thu, 09 Dec 2010 6:29 pm
Location: Location: Location: Location: Location: Location: Location: Location: Location: Location: Location:

Re: Where do buy cheap adaptors for US plugs?

Post by the lynx » Thu, 02 Aug 2012 8:48 am

screns wrote:Does anyone know where to buy cheap adaptors for US plugs? We have a bunch of appliances (computers, phone chargers, etc) that will work on 220v, but they have the US plugs on them (two prong and three prong). Anyone know where I can get cheap adaptors (I need to buy a bunch of them) that I can use? I don't need voltage converter/transformer, just the plug adaptors, and am near the Orchard Road MRT. Thanks.
Your best bet is Home Fix at Tanglin Mall which is about 10 mins' walk to Orchard MRT station.

Home Fix
Tanglin Mall
163 Tanglin Road
#B1-16 Tanglin Mall
Singapore 247933
Tel: 6738-6086 Fax: 6738-8247
Opening Hours: 9am-9pm daily

User avatar
nakatago
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 8363
Joined: Tue, 01 Sep 2009 11:23 pm
Location: Sister Margaret’s School for Wayward Children

Re: Where do buy cheap adaptors for US plugs?

Post by nakatago » Thu, 02 Aug 2012 8:51 am

screns wrote:Does anyone know where to buy cheap adaptors for US plugs? We have a bunch of appliances (computers, phone chargers, etc) that will work on 220v, but they have the US plugs on them (two prong and three prong). Anyone know where I can get cheap adaptors (I need to buy a bunch of them) that I can use? I don't need voltage converter/transformer, just the plug adaptors, and am near the Orchard Road MRT. Thanks.
Take your pick:

http://search.insing.com/s/Home-fix:+th ... ds=Orchard
"A quokka is what would happen if there was an anime about kangaroos."

Hidy Ho
Chatter
Chatter
Posts: 176
Joined: Fri, 07 Oct 2011 7:40 am

Post by Hidy Ho » Thu, 02 Aug 2012 5:29 pm

I found them cheapest at Mustafa. Buy a bunch ... if they short out you will know. I had one that shorted out and kept tripping the fusebox .. took me a bit of time to figure out it was that bad cheap adopter.

User avatar
zzm9980
Governor
Governor
Posts: 6869
Joined: Wed, 06 Jul 2011 1:35 pm
Location: Once more unto the breach

Post by zzm9980 » Thu, 02 Aug 2012 9:55 pm

That Japanese home place that's pretty much everywhere in the Heartland has them for under $2 each.

日本の家 Is the name

edisrjm
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 3
Joined: Tue, 14 Aug 2012 9:55 am
Location: Bukit Timah

China Town (around South Bridge) is cheap for most things

Post by edisrjm » Tue, 14 Aug 2012 10:00 am

I found cheap adapters and plug boards in China Town. Beware that most adapters are only the USA two pring type so if you have a three prong (earth pin) that may be harder to find. I picked up a compact fused adapter that has two Singapore and two USA receptors for under $5.
Bob Edis

SingLaw
Member
Member
Posts: 47
Joined: Thu, 01 Mar 2012 12:30 am

Post by SingLaw » Mon, 08 Oct 2012 4:08 am

What's the difference in price between an expensive place and a cheap place on a plug adapter? $8 vs $2? Or is it even more? Once we land, I'll need to find several adapters for US to Singapore and Europe to Singapore plugs. I'm just trying to figure out if it's worth it to go across the island to price hunt or not.

User avatar
sundaymorningstaple
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 40007
Joined: Thu, 11 Nov 2004 1:26 pm
Answers: 11
Location: Retired on the Little Red Dot

Post by sundaymorningstaple » Mon, 08 Oct 2012 6:49 am

The cheap adapter may not be approved by the Singapore "S" Mark which is the equivalent of the Underwriters Laboratory (UL). The certification mark, means, should a fire break out and it could be traced to the substandard adaptor, you may or may not have Insurance coverage.

http://www.tuv-sud-psb.sg/safetymark.aspx
SOME PEOPLE TRY TO TURN BACK THEIR ODOMETERS. NOT ME. I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW WHY I LOOK THIS WAY. I'VE TRAVELED A LONG WAY, AND SOME OF THE ROADS WEREN'T PAVED. ~ Will Rogers

SingLaw
Member
Member
Posts: 47
Joined: Thu, 01 Mar 2012 12:30 am

Post by SingLaw » Fri, 12 Oct 2012 9:50 pm

sundaymorningstaple wrote:The cheap adapter may not be approved by the Singapore "S" Mark which is the equivalent of the Underwriters Laboratory (UL). The certification mark, means, should a fire break out and it could be traced to the substandard adaptor, you may or may not have Insurance coverage.

http://www.tuv-sud-psb.sg/safetymark.aspx
Thanks SMS. Any idea how much an approved adapter might cost and where would be the best spot to find them? I don't care to risk insurance coverage for a few dollars.

SingLaw
Member
Member
Posts: 47
Joined: Thu, 01 Mar 2012 12:30 am

Post by SingLaw » Tue, 30 Oct 2012 6:32 pm

I ended up buying some at Home Fix...not particularly cheap, but I feel like I won't lie awake at night wondering if my adapters will burn the house down.

User avatar
kgsh
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 1
Joined: Mon, 07 Jul 2014 8:55 pm

Post by kgsh » Mon, 07 Jul 2014 8:58 pm

just got it for 1.8 SGD at Mustafa Electronic

User avatar
ecureilx
Immortal
Immortal
Posts: 9817
Joined: Fri, 20 Aug 2010 5:18 pm

Post by ecureilx » Mon, 07 Jul 2014 9:04 pm

kgsh wrote:just got it for 1.8 SGD at Mustafa Electronic
yeah, mustafa it is ... cheap and PSB approved

User avatar
rajagainstthemachine
Manager
Manager
Posts: 2856
Joined: Sat, 24 Nov 2012 10:45 am
Location: Singapore

Post by rajagainstthemachine » Mon, 07 Jul 2014 9:33 pm

ecureilx wrote:
kgsh wrote:just got it for 1.8 SGD at Mustafa Electronic
yeah, mustafa it is ... cheap and PSB approved
.
To get there early is on time and showing up on time is late

User avatar
PNGMK
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 8897
Joined: Thu, 21 Mar 2013 9:06 pm
Answers: 2
Location: Sinkapore

Post by PNGMK » Tue, 08 Jul 2014 12:50 am

As a practicing engineer I would not recommend using plug adapters.

They are a significant cause of fire and shock and equipment damage. You only have to notice the smoke marks above a lot of power points where these are used to realize how common this is. Even the S marked units are prone to this problem. We have recently purged our company of adapters and offered employees free plugs to discourage the use of adapters.

I would suggest that you cut off and change the plugs to the correct BS approved plug (3 pin). Saving a few dollars is just not worth it. A local handyman can do it for you. If these equipment you are bringing in has removable IEC plugs leads you can buy those here with prewired 3 pin BS standard plugs.

x9200
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 9997
Joined: Mon, 07 Sep 2009 4:06 pm
Location: Singapore

Post by x9200 » Tue, 08 Jul 2014 7:37 am

Mechanical adapters are safe as long as they are not used for current demanding (high power) appliances (ovens, vacuum cleaners, irons, washing machines, dryers etc). Power cord extenders suffer exactly the same problem: particularly in this climate all the metal, contact parts oxidize creating a resistive layer on top of the metals surface. This eventually makes them to act as heaters, especially if the current is on a high side.
The marks on the wall are seldom from smoke (nothing burns yet), but more frequently from dust particles circulating with air (such heating part works as a local air pump), but this indicates indeed that something is wrong.
What is important is to examine from time to time during their operation all the extenders, adapters etc. If they are hot, they should be removed. Also all the wall plugs for high power appliances should be monitored.

Post Reply
  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post

Return to “Computer, Internet, Phone & Electronics”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 0 guests