Power converters/plug adapters

Germany and Spain both use the Schuko plug for grounding plugs. France uses a similar one with a grounding post in the recess. A Europlug adapter (the one with the two 5/32 diam pins) will work there. The Europlug adapter should also work in Switzerland. Depending on the diameter of the rounded ends, it might or might not fit in the pointed end recess in Swiss receptacles (mine will). This one should work everywhere.

Small electronics (cell phones, cameras, even computers), if they say 120/240VAC on the body, will work on European voltage. As for heating appliances (hair dryers, curling irons, etc), you're better off getting them over there. Most require a voltage converter, but probably don't have the protection provided over here. American appliances that have polarized plugs (one blade wider) will work, but from a safety standpoint are not suitable for use in Europe.

Those that Lee posted are the ones I've used for several trips through several different countries. Buy the maximum of 5; you can't have too many. If an outlet is very recessed into the wall, you may need to plug two adapters into each other to be long enough to reach the holes. You may accidentally leave an adapter behind, or one may fall behind a headboard or (immovable) chest of drawers and goes bye-bye :-(

If you're only bringing dual-voltage appliances, you'll only need the cheapo adapters...check your appliances and chargers.

You're on the right track with the advice above. See also http://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/phones-tech/electric-adapters-converters.

PLUG ADAPTERS: Sorry Laura, I love Ricks bags but not his adapters. They don't provide a ground and my computer has a ground plug so I figure I ought to use it. Also the style that RS sells don't fit rigidly and snuggly into the outlet. If you are plugging a power supply directly into the wall the weight of the power supply often tends to make the adapter sag in the outlet. The Shucko outlet was intended to have a plug of equal diameter fit into it snuggly and with a ground. I bought a handful of these and I think they do the job the best: http://www.amazon.com/American-European-Germany-Adapters-Certified/dp/B00EOI2N2M/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1407802788&sr=8-10&keywords=schuko+adapter

POWER CONVERTERS: Check your power supplies if they say 110-240v or something similar as long as the larger number is greater than 230v then all is well without a converter. For hairdryers and curling irons, if you must, they you can buy dual voltage appliances on Amazon or similar. But leave the power converters at home.

Thank you all very much for your help. It looks like I just need the adapters.
I'm assuming that that one type won't do it for all the different countries we are visiting. Not a big deal though they are inexpensive.
Thank you all again.
Tom

thomas,

It would help to have some idea on what type of electrical appliances you plan on travelling with. As the others have mentioned, you'll need to check the Input Voltage specifications of EACH device to determine whether they're designed for "world operation" from 100-240 VAC. It's impossible to answer the question about voltage converters unless you can provide more information.

You can buy Plug Adaptors at Magellans, the travel store on this website or at local travel stores. Wal Mart or Target may also have them? I'm not a big fan of those goofy universal "all-in-one" models, and prefer the cheap and simple versions such as the Euro model shown on the website link for $1.48 each. I'd suggest taking several as they're easy to misplace.

Thanks for the newest post. I have checked what we are taking, 2 iPads, a Kindle, camera battery charger and a GPS. They are all 240v.

In addition to what was already written...

Switzerland uses a different, diamond-shaped outlet than the others. If you can't find the correct adaptor before your trip, don't worry. Your hotel can probably provide one upon request, or failing that, a grocery store in any heavily-touristed area should carry them.

In my single week of experience in Italy, we stayed in a chalet that had a strange looking three-hole outlet that I've never seen anywhere else, but I'm told is typical for older buildings in Italy. We were able to find adaptors at a local grocery store. From what I understand, though, a Shucko-type outlet is the norm for more modern buildings in Italy.

PS- If your camera uses normal batteries, leave the charger at home and just buy batteries as needed over here. I have heard stories about problems using US-spec chargers in Europe. Of course, if your camera uses special batteries, then that's a different story.

Someday you're going to go somewhere else. Why not get the whole job done now and get it over with?

Trot yourself down to Radio Shack or a travel store and pick up a package of six or so individual adapters that will do for just about any place in the world. Toss them in a ditty bag along with a small outlet multiplier and you'll be set for life. I've been using the same ones for at least thirty years. Stay away from anything that's multi-purpose or has moving parts.

I use the adapters mentioned by James...great.

For most of my travels in Europe over the last 15 years, I have used one of the adapters like the one Laura recommended with only one problem. I pulled my US plug out of the adapter and left it in the wall in Germany. After that I taped them together so that would not happen.

When I got my latest netbook, it had a three-prong, grounding plug. At first I just put the adapter on the two blades with the round, grounding pin outside, and the whole assembly fit into the recess for the Schuko plug. But the ground wasn't connected. Later I bought some of the Schuko type adapters recommended by James and have used them ever since. I would really recommend them, but they won't fit into receptacles in Switzerland or some in Italy.

Looking at your list of appliances, I think all but the battery chargers (maybe) are linked to their charger by a USB cord of some type. For those, I would recommend this charger. Of course, you will need to also get the appropriate USB cords (some of your appliance probably also have a separate USB cord linking them to their chargers, use it). It will fit into the receptacles in Italy and Switzerland, as well as Germany, France, and Spain. It doesn't need a ground; it's double insulated, and it has the CE mark.

BTW, all the adapters will accept an American polarized plug (one blade wider than the other), but that doesn't mean you should use an appliance with that kind of plug in Europe. Some UL required safety features depend on the receptacle being polarized, but European receptacles are not polarized, so the safety features can be lost. That's why I recommend leaving any appliance with a polarized plug at home and getting one in Europe. If you do get it here, make sure it has a European plug on it, or that it is double insulated (square in square symbol).

Thank you very much to all of you who posted. I really appreciate you taking the time to help.
I'm all set now.
Tom