Summary

The table below summarises the plug types, voltage and frequency of electrical current in both South Africa and Montserrat (Leeward Islands).

	South Africa	Montserrat (Leeward Islands)
Plug Types	M, N	A, B
Voltage	220V, 230V	230V
Frequency of electrical current	50Hz	60Hz

Plug Adaptors

In South Africa there's more than one plug type in use.

What type of plug does your appliance have?

• Type M
• Type N

Considerations

Voltage

The voltages found in South Africa (220V and 230V) are the same as those found in Montserrat (Leeward Islands). As there are multiple voltages present, care should be taken to ensure your appliance is compatible with the power outlet you are using.

Frequency of Electrical Current

The frequency of electrical current found in South Africa (50Hz) differs to that found in Montserrat (Leeward Islands) (60Hz).

Most equipment is not affected by differences in frequencies. Some exceptions are:

• Electric clocks: Some electric clocks use the frequency of electrical current to measure time. If the clock is designed for one frequency, but used with another, time shifts could be experienced.
• Appliances using motors: If there is a motor load associated with an appliance, the frequency governs the speed in revolutions of the motor. This could mean that the motor will spin faster, or slower than intended and could have a detrimental effect in the appliance's operation. This is of particular concern in power tools and other machinery that uses motors, so if you must use these, you should seek access to a frequency converter.