Coverter

Do you need a converter or an adapter? If you need an adapter I would recommend this one: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00Y6NXU18/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Leonard,

It would help if you could elaborate. What type of "converter" are you referring to, and what do you need it for?

Are you referring to a "voltage converter", a device that plugs into 230 VAC in Europe and produces approximately 115VAC for an American device?

For low wattage devices (<40W), like cell phones, battery chargers, and laptop power supplies, you probably don't need one. If the device has "Input: 100 to 240 VAC, 50/60 Hz" or something similar, it will accept European power; all you need is a plug adapter, a passive mechanical device that plugs into European receptacles and accepts American plugs. Most USB chargers for phones and tablets that accept 100 to 240VAC are actually voltage converter. They convert wall voltage to 5VDC.

If you have a high wattage device like a hair dryer, leave it at home. Many hotels in Europe today will provide a hair dryer or you can buy one over there.

DO NOT use any American device with a three-prong (grounding) plug with the "Loop" plug adapter above or with any two pin adapter. It does not produce grounded power. Don't ever use any American device with a "polarizing" plug (one blade wider) in Europe. (Exception: you can use a dual voltage American device with a polarizing plug in Switzerland IF you use it with a three-pin "grounding" Swiss adapter, not a two pin adapter.)

Hi Leonard,

have you read. https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/phones-tech/electric-adapters-converters?

If not, please do and then give us some more details of what you need.

Lee, thx for your easy-to-understand explanation. It took me a few burned out hair blower brushes to figure all of this out- plus knocking out the power of our wing of a very old Italian hotel.

Thanks for those who reply, have a medical device that I use. That why I need electrical converter. Sorry that I did not give more detail.

Leonard, the brand of the converter/adapter is irrelevant. There are three questions that always need answering in these cases:

Q1) What input voltage(s) does your "medical device" accept? It will say this on the data plate on the device. Possible answers are:
a) 110V 60 Hz only - I.e. North American standard
b) 230V 50 Hz only - I.e. Europe and most of the rest of the world standard.
c) Both, 110-230V 50/60 Hz - I.e. both. Most modern phone etc. chargers accept both.

If the answer is (a) you need a converter, and we need to ask more questions to find what sort, if it is (b) or (c) you don't need a converter.

Q2) What sort of plug does your "medical device" have?
2-pin or 3-pin?
North American type, European type or what?

Q3) Where are you going? I guess Italy, but anywhere else as well?

Answers to Q2 and Q3 determine what sort of plug adapter you need.

If you can supply this info, we can tell you the answer.

The Travel Smart (by Conair) adapter can handle hair dryers, flat irons and hot rollers that are dual voltage; if what you're looking to plug in isn't dual voltage, you'll need a converter.

First, any appliance with a US 3-prong (with a grounding pin) plug should not be plugged into the Travel Smart by Conair. Neither its Continental nor UK plug is grounding. Therefore, it cannot provide a ground, which is the UL mandated reason that the grounding pin is there in the first place. The plastic "grounding" pin on the UK plug is only there to open the shutters on the receptacles; it cannot ground the appliance.

Second, the Travel Smart should never be used on the Continent with a hair dryer, because the 2-pin plug is limited by codes to 2½ amps (less than 600W)..

Third, the Travel Smart can not be safely used on the Continent with an appliance with a polarizing (one blade wider) US plug, because Continental power is not (except in a few irrelevant cases) polarized.

So, even if the Travel Smart "can handle" those appliances, that doesn't mean it's legal (in compliance with codes) or safe. I'm not trying to pick on the Travel Smart particularly. There are many such adapters.

As far a medical device is concerned, it probably has a grounding plug. You can get grounding plug adapters for Italian receptacles. In many Italian installations, there are also German Schuko grounding receptacles.

First, any appliance with a US 3-prong (with a grounding pin) plug should not be plugged into the Travel Smart by Conair. Neither its Continental nor UK plug is grounding. Therefore, it cannot provide a ground, which is the UL mandated reason that the grounding pin is there in the first place. The plastic "grounding" pin on the UK plug is only there to open the shutters on the receptacles; it cannot ground the appliance.

First, all of my hair appliances are TWO prong, so no grounding pins, and they are DUAL VOLTAGE, thus the adapter works just fine.

Second, the Travel Smart should never be used on the Continent with a hair dryer, because the 2-pin plug is limited by codes to 2½ amps (less than 600W)..

Second, the hair appliances are DUAL VOLTAGE, manufactured to work around the world, and the adapter I have (Travel Smart) is rated to handle these appliances; and there have been no problems in my travels.

Third, the Travel Smart can not be safely used on the Continent with an appliance with a polarizing (one blade wider) US plug, because Continental power is not (except in a few irrelevant cases) polarized.

Third, the hair appliances are, again, DUAL VOLTAGE, and none have these 'one blade wider' plugs, so again, they work just fine with the adapter.

So, even if the Travel Smart "can handle" those appliances, that doesn't mean it's legal (in compliance with codes) or safe. I'm not trying to pick on the Travel Smart particularly. There are many such adapters.

The adpater I have - the Travel Smart - I purchased SPECIFICALLY so I could use my hair appliances with ease in Europe without worrying about fire, blowing a fuse, or ruining them. But thanks for your expert, detailed, opinion on why the adapter I mentioned shouldn't be used on everything - because you're right about 3-prong appliances and those with the one-wider blade - thankfully I don't travel with any of those type electrical items!