Common questions about plugs and plates, with the words on a plate explained
Short answers first, then a glossary of plate terms, the money lines that come with any 100buy order, and where to go for help.
Answers to the plug questions we get most
These questions organise the main decisions for a plug-in item: rating, pins, inspection limits and delivery. They are editorial questions rather than a measured record of what shoppers ask most often.
Can I use a mainland phone charger at home?
Usually, yes. Most phone chargers have a wide input range, printed as 100–240V~ 50/60Hz, so they work on any household supply. You only need a plug adaptor for the pins. Check the input line on the charger before relying on it.
Will a mainland hair dryer work in North America?
Not on its own. A plug adaptor does not convert the 120 V supply into the input required by a 220 V hair dryer. Do not select a converter from wattage alone; obtain manufacturer advice or choose a dryer rated for the local supply.
Is a mainland kettle fine on a 230 volt supply?
Do not assume so from those numbers alone. Confirm that the manufacturer permits the local supply voltage and frequency, and that the plug, earthing and load rating are suitable. An adaptor does not change the supply voltage.
Does a plug adaptor make a mainland item safe to use?
No. An adaptor only changes the pin shape. The voltage and the frequency pass straight through, so the plate still has to suit your supply.
Why does 100buy not test the item before posting it?
Its inspection is visual. 100buy’s help pages say electrical goods are checked for the state of the casing and for missing accessories, and are not powered up. What the warehouse sees has the detail.
Can I order the cordless version instead?
Not through this route. 100buy’s mailing note does not accept items with built-in batteries, batteries packed with an item or loose batteries. Look for a version with a mains lead only.
Does a CE or UKCA mark mean the item is legal to use here?
Not by itself. Both are the maker’s own declaration, and on a mainland item nobody you can reach has checked the paperwork behind it. Casing marks explains each one.
The plate is all in Chinese. Can I still read it?
Yes. The numbers and units are universal: look for a figure followed by V and the wavy line, then a figure followed by Hz, then W or A. That is the input line and the power.
Can I swap the mainland plug for one that fits my socket?
We do not cover rewiring or changing plugs. Use an adaptor that takes every pin, or ask a qualified electrician.
The listing offers two versions. Which one do I want?
Compare the full permitted input range and frequency with the actual local supply, then check the plug standard, current rating, earthing and manufacturer instructions. Similar-looking plugs or a matching nominal voltage alone do not establish compatibility. Ask for clarification before buying if the permitted use is not clear.
Will the app work outside the mainland?
Often not without effort. Apps for mainland appliances may be listed only in mainland stores and may want a mainland phone number. Ask the seller whether the item works without its app. Mainland menus and accounts covers the rest.
Will a 50 Hz fan run properly on 60 Hz?
It will usually run faster and may run warmer. Chargers and most electronics do not mind the frequency; motors and mains-timed clocks do.
Plate words, a short glossary
A glossary of the terms printed on plates, or used about them on this site.
- Input
- What the item takes from the wall: voltage, frequency and sometimes current.
- Output
- What a charger or adaptor gives the device, usually low-voltage direct current.
- V~
- Volts of alternating current, the kind every home socket supplies.
- Hz
- Hertz, the number of times a second the current alternates: 50 on the mainland and in Britain, 60 in North America.
- W and A
- Watts and amps. Watts measure the power drawn; volts times amps gives a rough figure if only amps are shown.
- Wide input
- A range such as 100–240V~, meaning the item accepts any supply in it.
- Single voltage
- One figure only, such as 220V~. The supply has to be close to it.
- Plug adaptor
- A shape changer for the pins. It never changes the voltage or frequency.
- Converter or transformer
- A device that changes the voltage, step up or step down, within a maximum power rating.
- Earth
- The third pin, giving a fault a safe path away from a metal casing.
- Double insulated
- A square inside a square: built so that no earth is needed.
- CCC, CE, UKCA, FCC
- Market marks. Each is a claim under one market’s rules; see the casing marks page.
Exchange rate and fees on a mains order
For mains goods, compare only a version whose input specification is established and whose contents are accepted by the route. Record the current converted debit and parcel quote, then include any relevant destination costs. The delivered-cost checklist does not treat a low price as evidence of electrical suitability.
On fees, 100buy’s Service & Fees page says orders from common shopping platforms carry no handling fee, and the order summary is the place to confirm the final lines before paying. Its PayPal page lists a charge of 4.5 per cent plus 30 US cents for topping up by PayPal.
The shipping cost for the parcel is worked out when you ask 100buy to post your goods, and an appliance adds weight like anything else. Customs duty and VAT, where they apply in your country, are the buyer’s to pay, and the parcel should be declared at its real value. Plug adaptors or converters you buy locally are a separate cost to add when comparing with a local appliance.
Help when a mains order goes sideways
If you need help, the right place depends on the problem. Order, parcel and refund questions belong with 100buy, whose contact details are on our about page and on its own site. Its after-sales pages set short deadlines, so contact it promptly and with photos.
For help with a purchase, contact 100buy through your official account. This guide cannot access orders.
If an item seems unsafe, for example it overheats, smells of burning or gives a tingle, stop using it, unplug it at the wall and do not try it again.
Notices, community and the date on these notes
100buy posts official announcements on its notice board, such as holiday schedules for order handling around Chinese New Year, alongside coupon campaigns. Coupon values change week to week, so we do not print them. 100buy also runs a Discord server, where announcements and giveaways appear; we do not quote its member count.
This site keeps a short change log rather than a news feed. The pages were last updated on 19 October 2026, when every 100buy page we refer to was re-read, the exchange-rate check was run again and the public rule pages were opened. When a figure changes we re-date it where it appears.