Electrical Outlets: UK, Ireland............?
 

Just something that I have always been curious about is why there are no electrical outlets in the bathrooms for plugging in hairdryers, curling irons and such? The only outlets are for shavers. I know they do have blowdryers in hotel bathrooms(some) but I prefer to use my own. We do self-catering mostly(but usually do a b&b or hotel at the beginning and the end) and I usually wind up in a bedroom or something trying to make do. I also might add that I have a UK hairdryer since on one trip the one I brought from home melted after repeated use with a proper converter. It's not going to stop my trips, I'm just curious as to WHY? Anyone!

My guess has always been that it is a safety factor. If you've ever been shocked in a bathroom by your usual 110 volt hairdryer or anything else it was probably no big deal. But with 220 volts in UK you'd be in for quite a shock!

Yes, it's just a safety issue. You'll rarely find sockets in bathrooms in private homes either, unless someone's been up to some dodgy DIY. Similar rules apply in kitchen areas as well, where electrical sockets are supposed to be a certain distance from water supplies.

Thank-you Patrick and Kate!

It's actually illegal to have a power socket in a bathroom in the UK. This is for safety reasons - water and 240 don't mix!

Ok so this brings to my mind a question that I have been curious about. What is the history of electrical supplies in North America vs most of the rest of the world. I know that US, Canada, and Mexico use 110 volt as the standard, while most of the rest of the world uses 220. How did this come about back in the days when electric service was first being introduced. I know the story behind the use of AC vs DC and that makes sense, but what is the story on 110 and 220? Any Electrical Engineers out there with a knowledge of the history of this? Would be interesting to know.

tell us please why 220 over there?

Liz, water & 240 don't mix ? <BR>Next time you're in Istanbul please tell them that. In our hotel room there was a shaver outlet in the Shower !!! <BR>( Not just in the Bathroom - actually in the Shower itself..... ).