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Adapters/Plug In

Posted by (Oregon, WI) on

In a month my wife and I will be traveling to the following destinations:
1) Iceland
2) London
3) Rome
4) Cinque Terre
5) Paris
6) Amsterdam

We will have to the following items that to charge along the trip:
1) Cell Phone
2) IPAD
3) Camera Battery
4) Hair Dryer
5) Hair Straightener

If we just buy the "British" and "Continental" adapters is that all we will need? Or are there others I am missing to make sure our items will be able to charge in each location? Thanks!

Posted by
16240 posts

Continental Europe and Iceland use the same type of 2 round prong plug (Europlug). UK uses the 3 flat prong type.
So you need those adapters.
Voltage is higher than in the US: 220V for all. The frequency is lower in Europe: 50Hz instead of 60Hz.
Cell phone, Ipad, Cameras are almost certainly all multi voltage/multi frequency, therefore they'll handle the 220V/50Hz.
However your hair tools may not. You must look at the label and make sure it says 110-240V/50-60Hz, which would indicate it should work on a 220V/50Hz voltage. If you don't and plug a 110V appliance to a 220V it will explode in your hands and your hair will have a different (smoking) look. A transformer would solve that problem, but those are kind of heavy to pack. If your hair appliances are not multi-voltage, you are better off purchasing a travel multi voltage hair dryer, or buy one in Europe.
Whatever you use for your hair, if you start seeing the lights flickering, turn it off or you'll burn a fuse.
Also be careful with the high European voltage (220V). It can be fatal.

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