Just got back from England... (electric, kitchens, money)
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getting 110 to boil a kettle of water takes much more time than using a stovetop kettle. Hubby was amazed how fast mums old Tefal kettle boiled when we visited the UK.
I've been watching this thread with interest, lots of generalisations being made. I've lived in homes in both the UK and the US where the water pressure has been questionable (worst I've ever come across was the Sheraton in Chicago where the shower barely had enough pressure to get the shampoo out of my hair) I have also lived and visited places where the pressure was enough to take the skin off your back! hotel in Scotland where when we turned the power shower on the water shot across the bathroom making quite a decent waterfall on the wall 8 ft away.
As for outlets in bathrooms, Brits are of the impression that water and electricity, especially 240v, don't mix well. So we dry our hair in our bedrooms, something I did when I lived in the UK and also do here in the US.
Another thing hubby noticed was the use of 'continental quilts' that is covered down quilts on beds with no top sheet. Here in the US homes and hotels are firmly stuck in the top and bottom sheet with a blanket and sometimes a quilt over the top mode. Even my old mum favoured her quilt over top/bottom sheets and blankets.
I lived in the UK in the 80's and still return regularly. Getting back to the electricity issue, UK current is twice as high as in the U.S., so the measures already mentioned are for safety. What I had to learn was how to put a plug on a new electric appliance. At the time, but less so recently, appliances were sold without the plug because there were so many different kinds of wall sockets. This way the customer could get whichever plug matched what they had at home. I learned how to unscrew the plug, insert the wires of the appliance into each part of the plug, and the reassemble the plug. Even for small items like hair dryers. Or for a new washing machine. Nowadays it is not as common, but was certainly a learning curve for me then. My friends who would visit the US then were amazed to see electric appliances actually sold with plugs!
I've never know any other type of wall socket apart from the 3 pronged??? Unless of course you include the bathroom 2 pronged socket. I remember when electrical appliances were sold without a plug too, but it doesn't seem to be the case anymore.
I've never know any other type of wall socket apart from the 3 pronged??? Unless of course you include the bathroom 2 pronged socket. I remember when electrical appliances were sold without a plug too, but it doesn't seem to be the case anymore.
We used to have two and three prong plugs in the UK... two were for like lamps..electric clocks, things that didnt use too much power.. they had roung prongs and not square..and were stopped in use in 1970
Last edited by dizzybint; 06-08-2015 at 12:46 PM..
getting 110 to boil a kettle of water takes much more time than using a stovetop kettle. Hubby was amazed how fast mums old Tefal kettle boiled when we visited the UK.
I've been watching this thread with interest, lots of generalisations being made. I've lived in homes in both the UK and the US where the water pressure has been questionable (worst I've ever come across was the Sheraton in Chicago where the shower barely had enough pressure to get the shampoo out of my hair) I have also lived and visited places where the pressure was enough to take the skin off your back! hotel in Scotland where when we turned the power shower on the water shot across the bathroom making quite a decent waterfall on the wall 8 ft away.
As for outlets in bathrooms, Brits are of the impression that water and electricity, especially 240v, don't mix well. So we dry our hair in our bedrooms, something I did when I lived in the UK and also do here in the US.
Another thing hubby noticed was the use of 'continental quilts' that is covered down quilts on beds with no top sheet. Here in the US homes and hotels are firmly stuck in the top and bottom sheet with a blanket and sometimes a quilt over the top mode. Even my old mum favoured her quilt over top/bottom sheets and blankets.
I've never know any other type of wall socket apart from the 3 pronged??? Unless of course you include the bathroom 2 pronged socket. I remember when electrical appliances were sold without a plug too, but it doesn't seem to be the case anymore.
Europe and the UK have a wide and differing set of plugs and electrical arrangements. If one wants a view there is a reasonable Wiki section on the subject.
Y'all don't have electric kettles? How do you boil water quickly for your Earl Gray tea?
We can't. I love your electric kettles but with the lower voltage over here it would take ages. People have ordinary tea kettles for boiling the water. It still takes too long.
(and most of us do not say "Y'all.)
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I love your electric kettles but with the lower voltage over here it would take ages. People have ordinary tea kettles for boiling the water. It still takes too long.
