Best Voltage Converters

Just in case for what? It is the just in case issue that kills packing light. Leave "just in case" at home. Any voltage converter can be a problem depending on the device being used. You don't need it if everything is dual voltage.

If your devices are dual voltage, just bring the adaptors! Too many possibilities for problems and too much weight for the converters.

If your electronics are dual voltage, there is no need for a voltage converter. The electronics themselves do it for you. All you will need is a plug adaptor.

I found one at Radio Shack. It's a transformer and good for up to 85W, but almost any electronics today will be dual voltage. If you use it for higher wattage appliances, it will probably burn up. Also, they don't show the "plug in" end. Even if it has the dual pins for Europe, it probably doesn't extend far enough to engage the recessed contacts in continental Europe receptacles, so you will have to use an adapter, anyway. One thing I noticed is that that the converter accepts a US "polarized" plug (one blade wider than the other). Required protection is provided in this country by a polarized plug, but European receptacles are not polarized, so you can lose that protection. Better to get 230V, high wattage appliances over there. They will be double insulated for protection. And, I entirely agree with Frank. Taking things along "in case" defeats light packing.

Sounds like a durable adapter is all we really need. Thanks to all of you for your input!

Mo, As the others have mentioned, if all your appliances are rated for "world operation" from 100-240 VAC, there's really no reason to pack along a Voltage Converter. I'd suggest packing along at least two Plug Adapters. This Adapter is the correct type for the countries you'll be visiting. This will work with grounded appliances but of course the grounding pin wouldn't be connected (there are "grounded" models also available). What type of "light electronics" will you be travelling with? Happy travels!

That Magellan adapter accepts polarized plugs without providing any of the protection that a polarized plug would provide in this country. Of course, it's pretty much the same as having a grounded plug and not having the ground connected to anything.

"That Magellan adapter accepts polarized plugs without providing any of the protection that a polarized plug would provide in this country" A few comments on that point..... The Magellans Type D (Euro) Plug Adapter is designed so that polarized North American plugs can only be connected one way (ie: one socket is wider than the other). I just checked mine to confirm that. However, since the "plug" side of the Adapter is not polarized, there's no way to ensure the two identical pins will be matched to the "hot and neutral" wires when connected in Europe. The same is true of other brands of Euro Plug Adapters. If travellers are concerned with having the protection afforded by a polarized plug, a grounding type Plug Adapter may work in some cases, since some of these can only be connected one way. This will vary according to the Plug Adapter and outlets. One other point to consider is that the wiring in buildings in Europe can be "old", so there's no guarantee that wiring in all buildings in all countries will follow the same conventions with respect to the position of the hot and neutral wires. Cheers!

Apparently, in Europe they don't use polarization to provide protection like we do. Their devices either have a ground, or they are what is called "double insulated" (we have double insulated, also). In both Europe and over here, devices that are double insulated are so designated by a square-in-a-square symbol. Double insulated devices may have a plug, called a Steckdose in German, with only two pins (no grounding means). The Schuko type receptacles that are used in most of Europe (Germany, Netherlands, Austria, Spain, etc, but not France or Belgium) are inherently not-polarized because the plug can be inserted either way. French receptacles, with their protruding ground pins, can only accept the plug one way, so could be polarized, but apparently there is nothing in their codes to require it. Someone on a different bulletin board pointed out that a certain brand of duplex receptacles sold in France actually has the left hand pin socket in one receptacle connected internally to the right hand socket in the other receptacle. To be perfectly safe, one should not use a high amperage device with a polarized plug in Europe. I think that polarized power supplies for low power electronic devices, as long as the case is not cracked, and you don't use them in the bathtub, should be alright.