Power strip for UK socket with US plugs?

Does something like this exist?

Basically, I'm looking for a power strip that would have US plugs on it (to plug in all my US electronics), but that can then be plugged directly into the wall in the UK without an adapter. 

Someone over on LJ said that they just plugged in their US power strip into a $4 "converter" while they were in Ireland and they didn't have problems....but I'm looking at my US power strips, and NONE of them say on them 110-240V, they all just say 120V.  So I'm thinking the LJer is doing something rather dangerous, as I assume "$4 converter" means just the plug adapter and no transformer (like what you'd use on a laptop or mobile).

I also saw at B&Q you could buy the components to "build your own" power strip, and I'm sure they have the same components at Home Depot. Would it be possible to combine the components and make one on our own? (Tim is familiar with electronics so he'd be able to do it)

It's not absolutely necessary, as most of my electronics are rated for both (laptop, mobile, portable wifi device, ipod, external HD), but if it were possible, that would be pretty nice. 

In my limited knowledge of things I would hazard a guess at saying something like this does not exist for the simple reasons of voltage requirements.

In my experiences, I've always taken on the school of thought that, when in doubt, it's best to just shell out the simoleons and buy UK chargers.  You'll spend more money, but you can rest safe knowing your electronics... and you... are not going to fry the next time you plug it in.

Something like this?

http://international-electrical-supplies.com/powerstrip1.html

Something like this?

http://international-electrical-supplies.com/powerstrip1.html

I stand corrected, that thing is cool!

Something like this?

http://international-electrical-supplies.com/powerstrip1.html

The wording of that page all went over my head. Possibly because I'm sick, though.

In my limited knowledge of things I would hazard a guess at saying something like this does not exist for the simple reasons of voltage requirements.

In my experiences, I've always taken on the school of thought that, when in doubt, it's best to just shell out the simoleons and buy UK chargers.  You'll spend more money, but you can rest safe knowing your electronics... and you... are not going to fry the next time you plug it in.

Yeah, it would just be nice if it was possible, you know? 

Search for 'universal power strip'.  And ask Tim to read the wording. 

Search for 'universal power strip'.  And ask Tim to read the wording. 

LOL! I like that idea!


It'd be nice if there was one that was UK for US, too!  We kept having to swap his things around to get them all charged with the adapters while he was here and I really was kind of nervous about his shaver being plugged into the UK plug and then the US adapter. 

found this:  

http://www.110220volts.com/SS-503.html

http://www.lightinthebox.com/5-Outlet-Universal-Power-Strip-with-Surge-Protector_p47903.html

actually knowing what search term to look for helped

One problem with these universal-outlet strips, or with taking a U.S. power strip and just changing the plug for a U.K. one is the risk of accidentally plugging in a 120V-only device at some point in the future.   It's easy to think that you know that strip is providing 240V rather than 120, and that you'll only ever use dual-voltage equipment with it, but if you do also have 120V-only devices in the house it's all too easy to slip up and accidentally plug one into 240 volts.

And whatever you do with a 120V American power strip, do not try to use it directly on 240V if it has integral surge suppression.  The suppressors will not take kindly to the higher voltage.

One problem with these universal-outlet strips, or with taking a U.S. power strip and just changing the plug for a U.K. one is the risk of accidentally plugging in a 120V-only device at some point in the future.   It's easy to think that you know that strip is providing 240V rather than 120, and that you'll only ever use dual-voltage equipment with it, but if you do also have 120V-only devices in the house it's all too easy to slip up and accidentally plug one into 240 volts.

That's a good point. Is there anyway to bring the voltage down to 120 on the strip?

And whatever you do with a 120V American power strip, do not try to use it directly on 240V if it has integral surge suppression.  The suppressors will not take kindly to the higher voltage.

So the guy who said he did that was playing electrical roulette.

That's a good point. Is there anyway to bring the voltage down to 120 on the strip?

Only by plugging it into a suitable step-down transformer.

So the guy who said he did that was playing electrical roulette.

If there were surge suppressors in the power strip, yes.   They are designed to clamp voltage spikes which exceed a certain threshold.   A typical 120V power strip might have suppressors which start to clamp at around 300V, which is well in excess of the peak value of the supply which will be approx. 170V.^*   The peak value of 240V RMS supply is around 340V, so those suppressors will be trying to clamp what they see as excessive incoming voltage all the time.


* Technical explanation:  We generally measure A.C. voltage as the RMS (Root Mean Square) value, a kind of electrical average.  These are the values being referred to for 120V and 240V supplies.  But if you can picture a sinewave, you'll realize that the positive and negative peaks are considerably higher than the RMS value.   

Peak voltage = RMS voltage x 1.414, hence:

120V RMS = 170V peak approx.
240V RMS = 340V peak approx.

Paul, what do you recommend to do to charge multiple US plug devices? Just purchase the small converters and swap them around? Get one of those universal strips I posted?

I have 5 devices that I'd intend to charge/use, including my external HD. But I assume I'll be able to easily pick up a UK cord for it the same as I did for my laptop. 

What power rating are the five devices?   I'm guessing that none of them is particularly large.   If we're talking about the typical chargers for phones and similar devices, you could probably the run the whole lot (plus your external disk drive) on a 200VA transformer, into which you could just plug a standard American power strip. 

The universal strip would be all right if all the units will accept 240V, but you'd just have to be careful not to accidentally plug a 120V-only device into the strip at some point.

Given the price of some of those universal strips though (at least the halfway decent ones - the very cheap ones are of dubious quality), coupled with the fact that you probably already have a few standard U.S. power strips laying around, it probably wouldn't cost much more to get a small transformer which would have the added benefit of providing 120V should you ever need it for some other device in the future.