Remote Controlled mains sockets x 4 Aldi @ £15.99 17/11+ WSL

barginunter

I have a disabled friend living in Spain - does anyone think these'll work with a UK to Spain adaptor?

Stabilo

barginunter wrote:

I have a disabled friend living in Spain - does anyone think these'll work with a UK to Spain adaptor?

Yes but you would need 2 Spanish / UK adaptors per socket i.e. wall socket converted from Spanish TO UK then add 'Aldi' unit and then UK TO Spanish adaptor.

All sounds a bit messy but I'm sure it would work.

gromituk

Yes, it would work, but I wouldn't recommend it on safety grounds - all that stuff hanging out of the wall is going to be very unstable, and may easily come loose and cause arcing. If you get a UK extension lead and put a Schuko (Spanish) plug on it, then plug the remote switch(es) into that, it might be workable. But make sure it is an extension lead rated for 13 amps - Schuko plugs do not have fuses, so there is nothing to protect the cable from overcurrent. (Edit: extension leads tend to have their own fuses, don't they? That's a thing to look out for.)

Stabilo

gromituk wrote:

Yes, it would work, but I wouldn't recommend it on safety grounds - all that stuff hanging out of the wall is going to be very unstable, and may easily come loose and cause arcing. If you get a UK extension lead and put a Schuko (Spanish) plug on it, then plug the remote switch(es) into that, it might be workable. But make sure it is an extension lead rated for 13 amps - Schuko plugs do not have fuses, so there is nothing to protect the cable from overcurrent. (Edit: extension leads tend to have their own fuses, don't they? That's a thing to look out for.)

You would still need a UK to Spanish adaptor in each of the remote switches plugged into the extension.

gromituk

Of course, but it would be a lot better than having a Spanish to UK adaptor before the heavy remote switch, and the whole caboodle hanging off the wall.

smokieUK

Well I happened by Aldi in Cardiff at the weekend (I was miles from home with an hour to waste) and I got a set.

I have to say they are fantastic, and do exactly what it says on the tin. Good range too.

Even Mrs S was impressed.

But they have sat on the cabinet all weekend cos we still can't think of anything to do with them! (I use timer sockets, which are cheaper, to control lights, indoor and out - and you don't have to find the remote control for them!!)

Thanks anyway to OP

michaels

I seem to remeber various posts about how much it costs to leave tvs, videos etc on standby - this seems like an ideal way to switch them all off at once.

Say 15w x 4 appliances x 20 hours a day and electricity at 8p/kwh seems to work out as 35 quid per annum for an outlay 17 quid sounds like a winner to me.

bleugh

.....the units are rated at 13A, and the switching device inside is rated at 16A, so they're fine for kettles, etc

gromituk

michaels wrote:

I seem to remeber various posts about how much it costs to leave tvs, videos etc on standby - this seems like an ideal way to switch them all off at once.

Yes, but you have to take into account that these devices themselves consume a small amount of power continuously - whether their outlets are switched on or off.

What is guaranteed not to consume power when switched off is a good old mains socket!

bigbadgoggs

Was in Aldi in Livingston, Scotland on Sunday. They had 17 left - in amongst the Christmas Lights and decorations. Bought two so loads left.
BBG