Electric plug adapters

Magellan's website has a conversion chart and so does Packing Light. Europe uses a two round prong converter. Great Britain uses tow angled rectangular prongs. The grounded converters always have a third prong shaped like the other two.

"The grounded converters always have a third prong shaped like the other two." In Italy, the grounding pin is the same size as the other pins and inline between the two current carrying pins. In Switzerland, the grounding pin is similar to Italy's but offset to one side. The rest of the countries in Europe (western, at least) have the receptacle recessed and the plug has a 31mm diameter x 23mm long cylindrical body that fits into the recess. The conducting pins are on the end of the cylinder. In France and Belgium, grounding is accomplished by a pin sticking out in the recess and a corresponding hole in the cylinder. In Germany, for the Schuko plug, grounding is through metal "clips" on the side of the cylinder. Today, all countries except IT & CH use a modified Schuko plug with a hole for France and Belgium and clips for everyone else. For an non-grounding plug, the Europlug has two pins (5/32" diam) that will fit into the two conductor holes everywhere. In Switzerland, for newer construction, the receptacle has a flattened hexagon shape that might no allow some Europlugs to engage. (I have three Europlugs, I think only one would work in Switzerland.) If you buy a two-pin plug adapters here, they might be labeled No Europe and So Europe. Get the So Europe one, as the pins on the No Europe one are 3/16 diam and too fat for Italy and Switzerland.

By the way, in Europe the two pin non-grounding configuration is limited to 2½ amps (about 600 watts) and technically should not be used with hair dryers, curling irons, etc. In Europe many of these appliance still use the two pin configuration, but have shock protection provided by "double insulation" (square inside square symbol) In North AMerica, many of these appliance have shock protection provided by a polarized receptacle (one blade is wider and neutral). Most, if not all, European receptacles are not polarized, so you are defeating the protection built into them by using them over there. You can buy modified Schuko plug adapters on Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/VCT-VP-11B-Grounded-Adapter/dp/B003C1MFYI/ref=pd_cp_e_0) for around $5, but shipping will be as much as the plug. See here for more information.

Dang, Luddite that I am, I didn't know it was so confusing! Now I'm not sure what to buy! In fact, since I will be wandering all over Europe, incl, for example, Czech, Hungary, Romania, possibly elsewhere in SE Europe, for sure Germany, France, and Spain, probably not Italy or Switzerland long enough for those countries to affect the decision, and maybe even up as far as Norway, maybe I should just fuggedaboutit! To be honest, I don't use a hair dryer (not enough to dry) or an electric shaver; I don't own a laptop; I plan to use a GSM phone I acquire once I'm over there, and at the moment, about all I can think of that might even need to be plugged in at all is the SD card charger for my little almost-idiotproof camera, which I may not even use that much! I've been known to put multiple years' vacation pictures on one roll of film! I may not even use the camera enough to run down the battery!

Okay, Tom. March your tail down to Walmart. Buy a set of international plug adapters for ten bucks. That'll cover almost everywhere but Southeast Asia and parts of China. You can fit the tinker toys together when you get somewhere. Do not use a hammer. The chances of your needing a power converter are slim to none for any recently-bought electronic crap. And take a spare camera battery. If you need more help, the Walmart is somewhere past the big, round church. Go find something else to worry about.

Sorry for the confusing detail. I wanted to be complete. If you're not using high power appliances, or using them in Switzerland, just get the simple Europlug. Rick sells the continental Europlug for $1 in his Travel Store (index tab at top of page). Of course you'll pay $6 for delivery. For the same delivery charge, you might as well get the UK one too or several continental ones in case you leave one in the wall somewhere. Or go to ACE Hardware. Last I checked, adapters were less than $5. Get the one for So. Europe. See my webpage.

Who names this stuff? Europlug? Good grief!

What else would you call a plug that fits all over Europe?

Semiuniversal

Thanks guys. My wife'd tell you, if I can think about it I can worry about it! I'll try not to from now on! :)

Since we're talking about adapters and not a "Europlug" molded to the end of an appliance's electrical cord, just call it an adapter. But really, naming it anything that doesn't sound like something Gold Member from Austin Powers would say would be better. The typical tourist just needs to know there's one adapter for the UK and another for pretty much most of the rest of Europe. They probably don't need to overwhelm themselves with a bunch of superfluous information about electricity. If you're worried about the two-pronged adapter possibly not working in every last corner, buy the universal adapter. Done...simple. It's really not that complicated.

My husband and I bought a Samsonite set of travel plugs at Bed, Bath & Beyond. We have used them in Italy, England, Denmark, France, Turkey, Greece, Australia, Tahiti, etc. We did use both the plug and the converter in all of the place. No problem with the Samsonite plugs. They worked everywhere. They only cost $20. The ones at Target and Wal-mart didn't inlcude the converter, that is why they were cheaper there. I would fill better about having all the parts with me.

You don't need a converter if your appliances are all dual-voltage or designed for world operation.