Accessories Guidelines (pdf)

Every Earthing purchase is provided complete with a cable and either rod or mains connection. Accessories are also available separately, to enable a different connection approach or use in Europe.

Travelling?

If you travel worldwide then the earthing rod is universal. It is however difficult in some hotels and locations. There are power socket adapters available for all countries in the world. Specific ones are made for the UK, Europe (Shuko), Australasia and specific ones for Italy and Switzerland. The power socket earth connection in the USA and Canada accepts a 4mm probe and the cable end is made this size: thus it goes directly into the earth connection and no adapter is needed. In Italy all 3 connectors (live, neutral, earth) are 4 mm and thus it is possible to connect to the wrong socket! The cable contains protection to ensure no harm even in this situation. In principle you can use a USA to country adapter- BUT is must be earthed! (Some only have live and neutral). You can buy universal adapters for most countries that accept the UK tester and the earthing cable and have an earth path. We stock some but you can buy separately also.

There is a universal kit that allows you to travel to most countries available from

Cable Universe Ltd (opens in new window), 01803 731031

Item 00149815 Travel Plug Set at ~£17 delivered.This is based on UK main socket with slide in adapters for other countries. It needs the UK tester and connector.

If you need a converter just for other countries then Roaming Fox Travel (0845 6525 314) offers them at a good price.

Roaming Fox (opens in new window)

(We do stock a few for emergencies but buying direct will save you money.)

Checking the mains connection

By law in the UK all sockets have an earth connection. In four years we have found only several cases where there was a problem of faulty wiring. In two cases there was a loose wire in a plug, in another a faulty circuit on one floor and in another council conversion to bedsits no earth was found. John Kelsey has stayed in two UK hotels where he found no earth found in his room. However it is unlikely that you will not have an earth. However you may care to be sure. The tester just plugs in like a normal plug and displays a set of correct/faulty lamps. It is a useful tool to be comfortable with earth present in your house/office and for UK travel.

Some countries do not have an earth connection in the power socket. Most European countries do, but in some (e.g. Romania) there is only one earthed location, either in the kitchen or bathroom. In Asia some are earthed and some are not. Often there is an earthing system in modern apartments and hotels. Different countries have different connections and either a specific tester or an adapter is needed.

The post office charge for a tester on its own is high at £4.92 for a £6.45 item. If you wish to purchase a tester or adapter for another country then buying with a sheet/mat makes sense as it does not increase the postage band.

Testing for effectiveness

It is easy to check that there is conductive continuity in the cables, sheet/mat etc. You can use a multi-meter or the specific continuity tester. This usually but does not always means that the whole system is working. Not often but sometimes the earth is not conductive. The best way is to check total effectiveness by measuring the drop in induced body voltage when you are earthed. There is a kit (System Testers) that you can buy or call us (0121 243 6318) to hire. Full instructions are available with the kit. The instructions also include a check list to use for when you feel results are slower or less that your wish!