Electrical Adaptors in Europe

As long as your electronics are anything close to modern, they should run just fine on electricity anywhere in the world (check the input requirements, it's usually printed or embossed in plastic on your device or it's charging block, if it uses one). All you need is adapter plug(s).

I like to bring a compact power strip -- I plug that into an adapter, and that adapter into the wall socket. That gains me multiple outlets for the gizmos.

(Note: The above is generally not true for things that make heat: irons, blow dryers, space heaters, toasters, etc. But you don't want to be lugging those things across the world anyway.)

First place, in what countries are you traveling? Most counties on the continent (Germany, France, and a lot of others) use some form of Schuko plugs. And in almost all of them, for less than 2½ amp, non-grounded applications, need only a two pin, Euro-plug adapter.

But what about voltage? Most modern low power appliances, phones, tablets, some laptops, use USB power supplies, which are really multivoltage voltage converters (100V-240VAC to 5 VDC). They accept anywhere from 100V to 240V, 50-60 Hz AC power. You can identify them because they say "input voltage, 100V-240V.

The rest gets more complicated. It depends a lot on the device and the country. Look at your device. What does it say for "input voltage"? Then, in what countries will you be traveling. Then post again, and I'll tell you more.

If you are just traveling on the continent, just get a continental Europe adapter, not a universal one.

I'm not really concerned about the country because I have adaptors for all in Europe. Also, I'm 99% sure that I don't need voltage converters for my HP laptop, Motorola phone and Samsung tablet. My question primarily has to do with whether the adaptor needs to have a grounding plug on the US side. The one I have has two holes instead of the three which would indicate grounding. Some things I have read say that this is OK and others suggest having a grounding plug. My HP laptop is a three hole plug in but it does fit in the two hold adaptor.
Thanks!

Look up the purpose of the grounding plug. I think you will get your answer when you understand the purpose.

My sense ... if you will be leaving your laptop plugged in for hours at a time every day, i.e., for working or in places where electricity is uncertain, you should splurge.

But why buy online? Go to a few stores and see for yourself about the fitting.

To find out if you need a voltage converter for you laptop, look at the nameplate on the charger. If it says something like "Input 100/240VAC", then it is multi-voltage and doesn't need a voltage converter. However, if it just says 120VAC, then it will need a voltage converter.

I asked about country for several reason. One, although the countries on the continent mostly use forms of the Schuko receptacle, in the UK, receptacles are entirely different. But that is a different story.

I past years, I, myself, have used a two pin Europlug adapter in a Schuko receptacle in Germany with a grounding US plug. (Yes, Father, forgive me for I have sinned). The grounding pin just stuck out in the air beside the narrow adapter in the cylindrical Schuko receptacle. But recessed receptacles in Switzerland are narrow and will just barely fit your adapter, leaving no room for the grounding pin of your US plug. And the "regulation" Italian receptacle, if recessed, also doesn't have room for the grounding pin.

In most other countries, they use a form of the Schuko receptacle which has a cylindrical, recessed hole. Adapters like these are inexpensive and will allow you to use the available power without cheating, but they won't work in Switzerland. They also won't work in regulation Italian receptacles, but I understand that more modern building also have, in addition to Italian receptacles, Schuko receptacles, in which those adapters will works.

USB power supplies, which work on phones, a lot of tablets, and a few laptops, are double insulated so don't need a grounding pin, so you can use them all over the continent with only a Europlug adapter.

A bigger concern for me is that many US appliances are required by UL to have polarized plugs (one blade wider) for safety. Except for the UK and Switzerland, European power is not specifically polarized, so our devices that need polarized power are not certainly safe. I would advise against using polarized plug appliances in Europe.

My question primarily has to do with whether the adaptor needs to have
a grounding plug on the US side. The one I have has two holes instead
of the three which would indicate grounding. Some things I have read
say that this is OK and others suggest having a grounding plug.

Grounding is only a concern if you want to avoid the risk of being electrocuted.

But it's a small risk; hey, take the chance.

I like to bring a compact power strip -- I plug that into an adapter, and that adapter into the wall socket. That gains me multiple outlets for the gizmos.

Same for me, I have a US and an EU one. I'd recommend buying one that has some USB inputs as well although travelling with children I bring along a multi USB charger to deal with the many phones and tablets that require charging at any one time.

We are talking about maybe $12 for a couple of the correct adapters. Dont know why anyone would do less. https://www.amazon.com/6PKSCHUKO-Grounded-American-European-Adapter/dp/B0038L54ZO/ref=sr_1_15?crid=2VV3M5WCSYF5J&keywords=schuko+adapter&qid=1648455848&sprefix=schuko+adapter%2Caps%2C204&sr=8-15

As i sit here typing my lap top is plugged into one, my phone charger another and my phone back up battery charger yet another. I would be curious to see the power strip that is discussed above. I have one that I use in the apartment and because its got the recessed holes in it, its pretty large and bulky. Wouldn't travel with it.

I have used the generic Europlugs and found out that if the transformer is what plugs in the weight of the transformer often pulls the plug out; sometimes just the weight of a cord. Why mess with it.

And the big chunky universal adapters? As pointed out above, unless you are going to one of maybe 3 countries you dont need one. For the weight you can carry 6 of the ones you do need. And I once in a pinch had to buy one at the airport. Only to find out it didnt fit in the recessed hole. Junk.

One thing my daughter discovered that did not work on European current was the charger for her hand held game thingy. Smoked it. Looked like every other charger unit but upon inspection it only said 110v on it . So do read the writing on them.

For less than $8, you can have two adapters with an extra socket so you can plug two things in at once:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0924X86ZR/ref=sspa_dk_detail_4?psc=1&pf_rd_p=0c758152-61cd-452f-97a6-17f070f654b8&pd_rd_wg=WgGda&pf_rd_r=DAQ61Y5KH1EBP2E3QSD6&pd_rd_w=SKxtS&pd_rd_r=38340893-40f4-4edf-b9f8-790fb716549e&s=aht&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyVlhIUEM3WkJONzBHJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMTIxMDc4NDJYMlZLM1ZZVFZRJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA1NDQ4ODBRWllFVktSNldWQ0omd2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWwmYWN0aW9uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl

Lots of great advice; thank you!

You can purchase a set of adaptors that will cover you anywhere in the World. There are five different adaptors.

This website shows 15 plug configurations used in the world. Please tell me which are the 5 to which you refer. Maybe it's only 13 different configurations, since A is non-rounding subset of B and C is a non-grounding subset of E, F, J, and L.

Note, C is limited in most European countries by code to 2½ amps (less than 600W), but if you need a ground, you'll need E/F, J, and L adapters.

These are not an improvement over the standard US plug design since they attract dirt and get filthy.

I have to disagree with you analysis. First, it's not the Schuko plugs that get dirty, it's the receptacles. And, using a dirty, even filthy receptacle, which I have never seen, cannot be compared to getting electrocuted by touching a live plug component at 230V. The pins on Schuko plugs do not make contact with the live parts in the receptacles until the plug body is within the recess, so you can't touch a 230V part. With US plugs, the blades make contact with the live parts almost immediately, while the plug still has ¼" or more before closing to prevent contact. Of course, contact with live parts in the US only exposes you to 120V (approximately), while it would be about 230V in Europe. That's why European plugs are made safer.

I'm not an electrician but I play one on chat boards.

Lee, correct my ignorance, but the voltage doesn't matter (excepting maybe arcing), its the amperage.....

Simple math. Amperage = voltage/resistance. Until you vaporize, your resistance is the same. Twice the voltage means twice the amperage. Whether you're concerned with voltage or amperage, you're dead either way.

One piece of advice. Adapters don't change the voltage. When you plug your US device into European power, you are connecting it to 230V. (Hopefully your US device is dual voltage, with the switch in the correct position, or multi-voltage.) If you touch the blades while inserting or removing your US plug, you can get a serious or fatal shock. Always insert your US plug into the adapter fully before inserting the adapter into the European socket. Taping the two together is a good idea for more than preventing your leaving the adapter in the wall.

Lee, thank you. Thats shocking to learn

I am Shocked! Shocked to learn that amperage is going on here.

Like that 3rd rail on subway line ... don't touch the blades. That must be why I don't like to vacuum. Too hard to plug the darn thing into the wall.

This is an interesting thread. I am going to Europe in a few weeks and considering what I have used in the past for phones, iPads, and laptops. I have been using power adapters and simple extension cords with 3 outlets and concluded that I will continue that simple solution. I don’t need to convert power and have used a power strip in the past that had electronics that caused the circuit breakers to trip SO I just keep it simple.

https://www.amazon.com/Prong-Extension-Indoor-Female-Polarized/dp/B09B177CC6/ref=sr_1_3_sspa?keywords=18+awg+extension+cord&qid=1648909121&sr=8-3-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzNFJPUDIyNThYSlQ1JmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNDY1OTIwM1MxOEtKVFBITU9TRiZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwMjM0ODk0MzlIU0paVUtSRk5BQiZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

Also, here is another site for what adpator(s) are needed by country:

https://www.power-plugs-sockets.com/

most European countries by code to 2½ amps (less than 600W)

for precision, all western, northern and central Europe countries use 230v except Romania (220v), Gibraltar (240v) and Cyprus (240v). So the limit of 2 1/2 amps is actually 575 watts.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mainselectricityby_country