The UK was 240, and in fact still is, as 240 is within the 230 +10-6%. (things only changed on paper, they didn't modify the equipment)
Tom
Actually, the US nominal is 120 +- 5%, EU/Switzerland 230 +- 10%, UK 230 +10-6%
Yes, the house I grew up in (1920s semi) had a mixture of small round pin 5 amp sockets and more modern square pin fused 13 amp ring main sockets. They were all ~ 230 volts. It was always a PITA, especially as we only had one adapter.
I believe that even earlier there were large round pin 15 amp sockets as well. These are still used in India - another unfortunate hangover from imperial days.
Pre-1960 possibly, in some spots. There never was a "change over" to 240V. But standards 50 years ago are not really relevant to the original question. Been indulging in your priest's wines again?
I grew up with round pin plugs and sockets, and yes, there were 2 sizes - small and large - with the need for many adapters plugged into each other, which was a fire waiting to happen (they sometimes overheated, with many plugs). The wall socket tended to be large size, but many appliances had small plugs and some large (normally high wattage stuff).
Then square pin plugs, already attached to new appliances, started appearing, which meant even more plug-in adapters.
Fortunately, my father eventually had to have some re-wiring done and changed all the plugs to square pin, before the house burnt down.
He was really complacent with electrical stuff, as he had a background in electrics/-tronics from his National Service days in the RAF - a real case of familiarity breeds contempt.
My father was an electrician for several years, having trained as one as part of his de-mobbing process.
I've vivid memories from the sixties of him standing on the dining-room table to plug in the adaptor for his new electric shaver to the light-fitting in the ceiling!
Ah yes, those were the days. Wobbly wall-sockets and cables with cracked rubber insulation and cloth sheathing. Ah, the gentle crackling noise of domestic wiring and the subtle scent of sizzling bakelite as the three-way adaptor block dangled precariously from its socket...
Ooops.
Going back to the original question, not only will you have difficulty locating bulbs with bayonet fittings, you will find it virtually impossible to buy incandescent light bulbs in Switzerland and will have to use the horrible dull and flickering low voltage bulbs.
While the import and manufacture of normal incandescent bulbs has been illegal in the UK for several years, it is still quite easy to buy them there. Switzerland, while not a member of the EU, has bowed to the EU rules on these bulbs and also banned them.
I always bring over a supply from the UK. I expect I am breaking the law.
I have no problems buying incandescent bulbs here. I bought 5 yesterday.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mains_electricity
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electri...r_distribution
useful table for exotic travel, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mains_electricity_by_country
LED, dear boy ...... low wattage (not voltage), bright and non-flickering.
More shapes and sizes appearing in both E14 and E27 fittings, most providing equivalent of +60W light for actual power usage of under 10W (3/4W, 7W being typical).
A bit more expensive to buy, but will (should) last considerably longer than other types of bulbs.
Exactly. They cost ten times the price, use a tenth of the power and last ten times as long. It's a no-brainer. I haven't changed a light bulb in years.
There are also halogen ones, giving an instant light so none of that tedious waiting for the earlier eco-thingies to warm up.
The Migros sell them in twin packs;
OSRAM classic ECO star, 46w=60w, about four francs a pair, so cheaper than the LED ones and with a two year guarantee.
If the OP can get to France he'll find similar bulbs but for bayonet fittings in any supermarket or DIY shop.
Just thought I'd metion that Osram ring/circular bulbs cost 30 frcs , hardly cheap.
Simon Hotel, 68 Westbourne Terrace, London W2
the Hotel has given way to an Apartment block (same building, but re-built) in the meantime
Paddington ..... say no more.
'72, was about the time when rail electrification was taking over from diesel locomotives.
The voltage would have still been 220V, but Paddington mainline station was diluting the supply with all the diesel-electrics coming in and out, so it probably did reduce it down by half.
I did not realize that my razor was 220 V and shocked when it simply failed to work in my room. When I asked the manager, he calmly told me that these Brits (he was a Spaniard) have it with 110 V so you have to get another adapter at Dixons -- I finally found out that my razor had a well hidden switch to turn it to 110V
Where?
I have tried Co-Op, Migros, Bau und Hobby, and Do It +Garden, without success.
Possibly, but I'm not talking about the ring/circular ones, but these;
https://produits.migros.ch/offres/di...b2&tokenPos=15
Four bulbs for 11.80.... or 7.90 if you can find this offer isn't bad at all!
Yep, those are the halogen models. Ordinary incandescent is illegal to distribute (but shops were allowed to sell through their existing stock, but it's long gone now).
But the way I see it is this: compact fluorescents are dead to me now. I still have many of them in my apartment, but I won't buy any more. The ones I have light instantly, but still take time to warm up before they reach their maximum brightness (the color of the light also doesn't stabilize for a few minutes).
Meanwhile, LED works great. They use 1/2 the electricity of compact fluorescent, come in a zillion shapes, from big globes down to replacements for the tiny halogen bulbs in desk lamps, and they reach full brightness and stable color instantly. The newest, best LED bulbs actually mimic the filaments of incandescent bulbs, allowing them to be identical replacements for unfrosted incandescent bulbs where sparkle is desired.
The halogen bulbs still have a purpose, if you want bulbs that go orange on a dimmer, or for situations that are extremely demanding of the color quality of the light.
The halogen bulbs I'm refering to don't go orange... under any circumstances.
And they don't have the same problems as compact fluorescents either, they reach their maximum brightness instantly, no warming up time required.
http://homeguides.sfgate.com/energye...ent-78832.html
They might not be as power/eco-friendly as the LED ones, but they are an interesting option in certain types of light fittings.