Are there no limits to the stupidity of this country?
How can a country have electrical sockets in three different sizes? Do they not understand the idea of standardisation? Why is it seen preferable to have to buy half a dozen adaptors rather than change the bloody sockets?
Today I went to a bar which offers free wi-fi. It was quiet in there, in fact I was the only customer - this is very unusual in an Italian bar around midday but the reason will probably become clear.
My first problem was being able to plug my computer into the mains (it's so old that it can't run on battery). My standard adaptor (three pin British to two pin Italian) didn't work as the pins were too big. The adaptor they lent me (two pin Italian to three pin Italian) didn't work as the pins were too widely spaced. The second adaptor (two pin Italian to three pin Italian) did work - as long as you were prepared to give it an almighty shove to get it into the socket.
The second problem was connecting to the wi-fi. In theory, you make the link, put in the password and, hey presto!, you're connected. Not so much in this case. According to the woman in charge the password was nine numbers. This was instantly rejected by the network as being the wrong configuration for the password. I tried adding some spaces, still the wrong configuration. I tried typing in some of the other things written on the piece of paper she had given me. Ohhhh, it looks like it's connecting, but NOOOOO, my laptop is connected to the network but yet it is not connected to the network.
I gave up.
I would have liked to sit in the cafe drinking tea and surfing the net, updating my stuff and generally chilling out. Much as I appreciate the internet cafe, I prefer using my own laptop.
I won't be going back.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Infinitely flexible or stupidly varied - you choose.
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1 comment:
infact,the plugs/sokets ARE actually standardized if you KNOW about....
basically is one with 3 big pins =rated for 16 amp.
The one with 3 small pins is rated for 10 amp.
The one small with 2 pins is rated for 10 amp no earthed(unprotected) rather old standard not allowed in new contruction (still tolerated if existant).
The wole thing is that in theory the 16 amp soket is connected with the main 16 amp circuit and have a protection in the wall main switchboard rated for 16 amp.
The 10 amp or ligth duty is then connected with the correct protection into the main switchboard.
And the circuits are different also in the cable diameter -if you remember when I pulled the cables from floor to floor in my house was one set 4 mm = 16 amp circuit one set 2,5 mm=10 amp circuit and one set 2,5 mm =ligths.
In my case I use the 16 amp for all the sokets by using a two way soket wich can receive the 16 and the 10 amp plug (so not to go mad...)and the 10 amp in practice for electronics such as computers and related things (in case I will then need,is easier to add filters or additional protections or UPS to this circuit).
Another good point is wenewer I need to do any work in one circuit (say change a bulb) I can switch the appropriate one and have power into the others.
By the way , one specific circuit is in place for the heating system (same maintenance reasons) and one will be for the freezers once the new storage room will be build...
Anyway I do remember in UK there is different plugs but since seems the circuit theory a little confused-or they don't trust the electrician's ability-they put a FUSE into the plug!shame!I have a special mauro set with 25 amp fuse so then I'm sure it will not blow....
MR jam
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