From thread titled "Electrical outlets":
Those hotel outlets are specifically made for the hotel industry because foreign travelers have appliances (shavers, hairdryers) that run on higher voltage.
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most hotels cannot even use them due to the risk that someone will inadvertantly plug an 110v appliance into them when the outlet (or a plug in the outlet) is switched to 220 volts. (The plugs do have different shapes to prevent it from happening, but it is still possible).
Huh? Different shapes to prevent it, but it's still possible? Say what????
![[Linked Image]](https://www.electrical-contractor.net/ubb/confused.gif)
I have only seen the multi-voltage outlets in Europe where the voltage gets steeped down for American appliances or (in Britain) for shavers (many electric shavers in Britain run on 110v due to the customary proximity to water, so they have U.S.-style plug outlets near the bathroom mirror).
Well that's news to me!
Electric shavers sold here normally run on 240V, except for multi-voltage travel models. What we
do have in many hotels is shaver outlets which provide 120V as well as 240V for the benefit of tourists. They have either two separate receptacles or a single outlet and a 120/240 switch.
The receptacle(s) will often accept British, American, Continental, and often Australian plugs, so the user has to exercise a little caution when plugging in.
[This message has been edited by pauluk (edited 07-30-2002).]
