Adapter vs converter

No, no,no That could be a disaster. Since your flat iron indicates an input of 110-240V all you need is a plug adapter. DO NOT RUN IT THROUGH A CONVERTER. A plug adapter does not care how current is running through it. Double check to make sure all of your devices read exactly the same way (except for wattage) as your flat iron for voltage input.

The answer is pretty simple: If your electronic devise has a "wall wort" a big block of a thingie on it then you only need an adapter.
If your cord on the electronic has no square thing "wall wort" then you need an adapter.

Yes all our chargers read either 100-240 or 110-240V with 50/60Hz. I thought wattage mattered. From what I read irons and blow driers use up a lot of wattage? I have a mini travel flat iron not more then 6 inches for travel purposes in case I did ruin it, at least it's not expensive. If the devices indicate 100-240V and 50/60Hz does that mean its dual and runs universally with adapters? Just trying to understand the lingo and make sure we take the proper devices.

>If the devices indicate 100-240V and 50/60Hz does that mean its dual and runs universally with adapters?< There are two possibilities. One is that it is multi-voltage, and will automatically work with any input in the range listed. This is the common story these days with camera chargers, phone chargers, laptop computers, and other electronic devices. These devices only need a plug adapter, and will auto-sense the voltage and work properly with no other adjustment. The other is that it is really 100 OR 240V, and you have to flip a switch. These devices are technically "dual voltage" rather than multi-voltage, and are NOT auto-sensing. You must remember to flip the switch correctly, and flip it back for North American use. This is common for things that get hot, like flat irons and hair dryers. It is not true that if a device has a charging block ("wall wort"), it is dual or multi-voltage. You must look at each device (often with a magnifying glass). If a device is dual voltage or multi-voltage, do NOT use it with a converter, as these can cause trouble. Use ONLY a plug adapter. So, for Shirley's gadgets: all but the flat iron should work with just a plug adapter, and the flat iron will probably need to flipped to the correct voltage, and then will work with a plug adapter. No converter needed, and none should be used.

I am sorry, Tracy doesn't make any sense either. Wall worts have nothing to do with it. Lots of things that are dual voltage don't have wall worts. That is an indicator of nothing. From the beginning - the ONLY thing that maters is what is written on the plug. IF the plug is input range is 100-250V or something very close to that then you are good to go anywhere as long as you have the correct wall plug adapter. Now the device could have a manual switch for changing from 100v to 240v input so make sure that is set correctly if available. That is less common today on most appliances. Most have an internal (called soft switch) switch the detects the voltage and makes the appropriate change. NOW - if the input was to say 100V then it can only be used with 100v input. So that device would need a voltage converter to convert 240 to 100. And this where it gets a little tricky and more complicated. If the device used less than 50 watts then you could get by with a low wattage converter. But hair dryers, irons, often need upwards to 2,000 watts which means you would need a high wattage converter which are expensive and heavy. That is the only time that wattage use becomes a part of the conversation. If everything you have is 100-240v, you have dual voltage and good to go. PS It looks like Harold and I were composing at the same time and giving the same information. You now have it from two good sources so disregard what else you have read or heard.

Another issue is the cycles per second (Hz). If an appliance rated at 60 Hz (the US standard) is run on a 50 Hz circuit (the European standard), it may overheat. In the OP's case, her flatiron is rated for 50/60 Hz, so I agree with Frank & Harold that she is good to go with an adapter only.

Shirley, Before commenting on the electrical issues, I'm curious on why you're travelling with both an iPhone and Android phones? Have you determined that they're compatible with GSM networks in Europe? Be VERY CAREFUL using cellular data as that comes with HUGE roaming costs. Regarding the electrical questions, I'm assuming you've checked EACH device or it's Charger to ensure that the "Input Voltage" is specified as 100-240 VAC, 50/60 Hz? That's likely true with all of your electronic products, and apparently also with your Mini Flat Iron. If that's the case, you'll only need inexpensive Plug Adaptors. I'd suggest taking several, as they're easy to misplace. They're cheap so that won't be a huge expense. Check www.magellans.com/magellan-s-european-style-adaptor-plug for good quality Plug Adaptors. I normally pack along a grounded model as well (also shown on the Magellans website). Based on what you've said, you DON'T need a Voltage Converter, and in fact using one could cause damage to some of your appliances. There are two principles used in travel Voltage Converters, and it's important to use the correct type with each appliance. What brand is your Mini Flat Iron. 35-watts seems a bit "light" for a heating appliance. At 230 volts, it will only be drawing about 150 milliamps, which seems low? The frequency (50/60 Hz) is only a concern with devices that are designed for a specific frequency (ie: motors) or devices which use line frequency for reference (ie: clocks). That's not the case with any of the devices you'll be using, so not a concern. Happy travels!

If it reads 110-240v all you need is an adapter. Most electronics are made that way now. I found a powerstrip on line that plugs into a European socket and then allows you to plug in up to 6 items with American plugs. Many hotels over there do not have enough sockets. Found it at www.europeanbestbuy.com.

Thanks all for the responses, it was helpful. I think my husband and I will get couple more adapters or power strip to accommodate all of our devices we plan to take.

Shirley, DO NOT buy a Power Bar that contains surge protection or RFI filtering. I'd suggest having a look at the three-outlet model on the Magellan's website, as it's designed for use on 220 VAC electrical systems.