Prepare for your trip to Europe to avoid all surprises. Don’t land in France with your phone battery dead and no way to charge it.
Electricity and plug standards are different across the world. European plugs are fairly consistent but they might not be the same as what you have at home.
I will arm you with the information you need to make sure you can bring your electronics with you when you travel. Phones, hairdryers and cameras. Make sure you don’t run out out of juice when you need it.
Overview
- You need a plug adapter way more often than you need a voltage converter
- Modern Europe has a single plug type – very old places might still have a non standard one (unlikely)
- Plug adapters are simple and just allow you to plug your equipment in
- Lots of devices (most often electronics) are suitable for use in Europe and North America
- Hair dryers and the like are less likely to be dual voltage
- You need a converter if your appliance does not cover the range needed
- ALWAYS CHECK THE LABEL the device before you plug it in away from home
Adapter or Converter
Lets just get some terminology out of the way.
A Travel Adapter is a small device that changes the plug end of your appliance or charger so that it goes into the local wall socket away from home.
A Voltage Converter is a slightly larger device that changes the voltage from the wall socket to that which is compatible with your appliance.
Most people know that you need a plug adapter when you go to Europe. However what do you need? Where are you coming from? Do you need a converter as well?
These questions are often overlooked and can cause difficulties for some travelers, especially if you arrive unprepared
Europe Vs US – plug types
The first and most simple difference is the plugs in use around the world. Europe uses type C and type F
The US uses type A and B. Thailand uses their own type, So do Brazil and The US.
You all know what your plugs look like don’t you? In Europe they are two round pins about two centimeters apart.
If yours doesn’t fit into that you need a plug adapter.
These are easy to find on amazon or elsewhere, just make sure that it goes in the direction you want. an US/EU adapter could be for us Europeans going to America or for Americans coming to Europe.
Adapters are lightweight and easy to carry. If you travel a lot and head to multiple destinations consider a universal adapter – something a bit heavier that allows inputs from all countries and out puts from all countries.
Every plug you have, for your phone, toothbrush, camera, hairdryer and anything else you might travel with will need an adapter.
Consider bringing a power strip if you travel with a lot of electrics. Plug your power strip into the wall with an adapter and use your electrics like you would at home. Only one adapter would be needed.
Travel Adapter Or Converter
Ok that was the easy Part. Don’t plug anything in yet though!!!
There is one major difference between North American and European Electrical systems.
The EU and Britain use 230 Volts (often called 220V). It is in the range 220 – 240 to be exact. The US and Canada use 120 V, as do most of North America.
This difference can cause problems with overheating – but don’t worry there is a simple fix.
For the most part electronic items – phones computers and cameras are not effected.
Simple Electrical stuff, like hairdryers, hair straighteners – things with motors or heaters can over heat if used in the wrong region. More on this disctinction later.
The voltage difference means that the power will be too much North American machines when used in Europe and correspondingly foreign devices in North America won’t generate enough power to operate properly.
As mentioned above, an adapter will only change the plug connection allowing you to stick something into the wall socket. The converter will switch the voltage to what your device needs.
When do I need a Travel Converter?
So how do you know if your electrics need a converter?
Quite simply there is a little ticket, lable or something on the bottom of all electrics – Not on your phone but on th phone charger.
These will say something like 220-240 V 50 Hz. or 110-120 V 60 Hz.
Things like phone chargers, laptop chargers, camera battery chargers and so on all use a much lower voltage and so they need the electrics in thier charger to change things down to about 5 V.
Confusing? It can be a little.
The importing thing to note here though is that phones, laptops etc have a charger that does this for you. They are already voltage converters.
Read the lable on them. Apple likes to use embossed plastic rather than sticking on a label, but the information is still there.
Such equipement will say something like 100-250 Volts. This means it can be used in Europe or North America without a voltage converter, — Quite simply you can plug it straight in, well apart from the plug being different of course.
So again – electronics, phones computers etc are quite likely to have a high voltage range.
Simple Electrics and things that need more power like a hair dryer are unlikely to be dual voltage.
Always check the label before you travel.
There are hairdryers and hair straighteners that have a switch, allowing for use under both systems.
My advice is to leave them all at home. Travel light. Hair dryers are available in most 3* European hotels and airbnbs are similar.
What electrics need a travel converter
The most common travel electrics are:
- Phone
- Camera (battery charger)
- Laptop
- Hair dryer
- Hair straightener
- CPAP machine
Of this list it is the hair dryer and straightener that are most likely to need a converter. The others probably don’t. However check the voltage label.
On phones that might be on a the plug/charger
Once you have checked the label, look at the plug and see if you need an adapter.
How to Use a Travel Converter
To use, lets say a hair dryer, we need a voltage converter. This is just a little box with some electronics that changes the input voltage to the output needed. Say from 230 Volts from the wall socket to 120 Volts for the appliance.
Such converters are also easily available on Amazon or similar. Just be sure you get the direction correct.
For the vast majority of people Converters for Europe aren’t necessary – Australia, South Africa and Argentina all use the 220-240V standard.
It is North America, Japan and Taiwan that use the 120V standard so you are likely to need a voltage converter. though this, as mentioned depends on your appliance.
Summary
Do you need an adapter – most likely. Do you need a converter – probably not.
ALWAYS CHECK THE LABEL of the device before you plug it in away from home.
So what did we learn?
Electrics can be used world wide. We just need to make a few simple checks.
- One the voltage label – what range is it in.
- Two, the local voltage – does it match.
If not get a converter.
Just check the plug to make sure it fits and away we go.
Check before you travel if you need an adapter for the plug – you probably do, or a voltage converter – less likely. If you travel a lot, a universal adapter like the one pictured above is a great idea.
If you do burn out your hairdryer while travelling then heading to a local drugstore to buy a new one isn’t that much of a hassel. These things work the same in most of the world.
