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Extension cords in Germany

Posted by on

Greetings. I hope to return to Germany later this year. I am now on a BiPap at night and it needs to be plugged in.

For electricity and adapters, I am fine. What I need is an extension cord. I can buy a CEE7/7 European extension cord in the US and place it in my checked luggage, but I've had issues with cables in my luggage before causing TSA to tear everything apart and break things (they once felt the need to cut of my TSA locks rather than use their keys). I used to travel a lot with cables for some timing work I did for a US Olympic team and it became quite clear that whatever bag had my extra-long ethernet cable would be opened.

So I would rather just buy a cable there. Where do I get one? In the US I could buy one at a "drug store" but searching the large chain DM (dm-drogerie markt) with my limited German with no success. What sort of chain store would have them that I could find in various parts of Germany (Berlin, Munich, Augsburg)?

Posted by
8366 posts

I suppose a Saturn or a Mediamarkt might work, I have also run into hardware type stores, or home stores. like Bauhaus that carry basic electrics.

Posted by
3527 posts

Search for "[city] elektronikmarkt" (e. g. Saturn, Media Markt) or "[city] baumarkt" (e. g. OBI, bauhaus, toom, Hellweg, ...).

In German "Drogerien" you will likely not get those.

Or ring at any household door - German households have in average 2-3 of them available. ;-)

Posted by
49 posts

My several trips to Europe with 110V extension cords and a HDMI cord in my luggage, and also in my carry-on backpack, have not been a problem with security. Quite often the older hotel rooms are very short on available power outlets, and it's nice to have the option to plug into the only available outlet behind the desk and then have 2 outlets at the end of the cord for chargers that are compatible with 110V or 220V. Your voltage converter for any other use could be plugged into the cord as well, as long as it's not a high amperage. Just be careful not to leave the converter plug behind in the outlet, as I have done on more than one occasion.

Posted by
9334 posts

Saturn or perhaps Woolworth.
If you are in a hotel, I bet they would have one you could use. Every hotel does.

Posted by
1305 posts

I routinely carry a small (2m) extension cord with multiple outlets into which I can plug everything I need—even if the room outlet is somewhere inconvenient. I have never had an issue. I used to travel with electronics that may have looked unusual under radar (skydiving camera helmets, with multiple cameras, indicators and shutter wiring; plus a weight belt filled with lead shot). I would put a note of explanation on the top of my luggage which they could read upon opening. I even had them leave a "thanks" message on the note once.

Posted by
21503 posts

It is much easier to find super lightweight extension cords in the US than it is in Europe. I've carried one a few times with no problem. The European cords come in two flavors, one large and bulky and easy to find and one that is much smaller but does not accept a Schuklo plug (uses what I call a lamp cord plug ... fairly common here). I prefer a multi port USB charger and a couple of 2m USB cables. Lighter and more compact and acheives the same end. You just got to find quality stuff or it will charge really slow. I'm no expert on this (I know we have one on the forum) I just got the highest wattage I could find (60w) and bought a handful of the more expensive thicker looking cable and hoped for the best ... works fine. All fits in the palm of my hand and weighs next to nothing.

Posted by
3527 posts

Schuklo

Funny typer - no wc at all. It is Schuko - from "Schutzkontakt".

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