We are traveling to Venice, Florence & Rome - as well as Paris.
My local travel store says I won't need a converter - just the adapters.
I wrote to our hotels and only one seemed to understand the difference. Should I pack the converter?
We are staying hotel fenice in Venice, Silas in Florence & Aberdeen in Rome.
In Paris it's the Les Jardins in the Invalides district.
Thx
Nobody can tell you that but you :-)
It would depend on what you intend to plug in. Outlets in Italy are 220-240VAC where in the US we're 110-120VAC. You would need to look on the device(s) you intend to plug in and see what inputs it can take. Most modern cell and tablet chargers will take 120V or 240V, but better double check.
Check the appliances you will take with you. If they say something like "110-220 (or 240) volts" they are considered "dual voltage" and you will not need a converter -- just a plug adapter. If they only say "110 volts" you will need a converter. Most chargers for cameras, phones, ebooks, tablets, and hair dryers are all now dual voltage. Just check to be sure. Oh, most hotels have hair dryers so you can leave that at home. Take several adapters as they are easy to lose.
Most modern electronic devices (phone, tablets, computers) are multi voltage so you will need only adapters to recharge those.
High wattage appliances such as pumps, hair dryers, irons, etc, may require the converter but I would avoid taking them with me nevertheless. I have burned several appliances at my parents' house thinking the converter would do the job before they blew up and cause the house fuses to reset. If you need high wattage appliances such as hair dryers, buy them locally. They are not that expensive. I don't even trust them when they say dual voltage.
Thanks for the input.
My moto x I will use with a USB cable plugged into a Belkin travel 3 outlet plus 2 USB port - so will check to see if that accessory shows the dual numbers.
Thx.
You need to check EACH appliance that you'll be travelling with to determine the Input Voltage, and that will be listed somewhere on the charger. If this states "Input 100-240 VAC", then the product will work fine with a simple Plug Adaptor. Aside from your Moto, what other devices will you be taking?
Try to avoid using a Voltage Convertor, as they can cause significant problems with some appliances.
My first look into my devices was my phone.
It seems that it's not just phone itself but using the wall plug that the USB cable connects to.
So hoping my little Belkin power strip I mentioned above has the dual voltage.
I have a Moto X. I used the charger that came with it in Istanbul, Greece and Italy last fall. It has a US plug to which I attached a plug adapter.
Assuming that your multi charger will handle dual voltage and that it has a US plug, you should be able to plug it into the outlet with an adapter. Assuming that the outlets on the multi charger are also US, you should be able to plug your devices into it without adapters.
You need to verify all that, and I'd take enough adapters for all the dual voltage things you plan to plug in just in case something weird happens. They're small and cheap.
Be safe, take converter they are inexpensive and small to carry.
https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/phones-tech/electric-adapters-converters
If you device is rated for something like 110-240v and 50/60 Hz adapter only needed and you are good to go.
Cheap and light "converters" can fry your high amperage heating devices.
.....take converter they are inexpensive and small to carry......
Bad advice. I hoping she meant adapters which are small and easy to carry. DO NOT take or more importantly use a converter IF it is not required. Using a converter for something that does NOT need a converter can cause serious problems.
Don't ask the hotels because ALL hotels will be on 220-240 volt system. All of Europe is on the same voltage system. They have no idea if you need a converter or not. Only you know that. You absolutely must check the input plug on every electrical item you are taking to see if the input is 120-240 volts. If not leave it home. The power strip you are using will not serve as a converter. It is strictly a pass through of what goes in one end comes out the other.
Sometimes, but infrequent, you might see a 120v outlet in the bathroom near the mirror for electric razors ONLY. Pull a hair dryer into that and you will get smoke and probably a call from the front disk. Don't treat this subject lightly because it can led to a shocking surprise.
RE: Sometimes, but infrequent, you might see a 120v outlet in the bathroom near the mirror for electric razors ONLY.
Think in terms of the Dirty Harry line: "Do you feel lucky"?
http://blog.fosketts.net/2013/02/03/shavers-electrical-outlet/
The explanation and use case for the “Shavers Only” electrical outlets found at many hotels.
....“shavers only” sockets share another common feature: They severely
restrict power output using a fuse or modern GFCI device. UK sockets
are supposed to limit output to just 200 mA, while other standards
allow a range of 20 to 40 Watts (which is pretty much the same thing
in different units). Either way, we’re talking pretty limited power –
an iPad charger can draw twice this much, and a laptop far more!One more thing: Although these outlets step the voltage down to 110 V,
they do not modify the frequency. So shaver outlets in countries with
50 Hz power systems will have the odd 110 V, 50 Hz combination. This
is no problem for most modern DC electronics, but might cause issues
for older electric appliances that sync to the power line frequency.
Thanks all.
I am packing along with adapters (all my devices are rated 110/240) a power outlet with surge protection.
"Be safe, take converter they are inexpensive and small to carry."
That's not something I'd recommend. Those considering travelling with a Voltage Converter would be well advised to read this.....
As Ken notes, the light weight "converters" are likely wave choppers. A real voltage transformer for high amperage power devices such as irons are big and heavy. I saw a 800 watt iron get smoked (literally) when the "converter" didn't work in spite of the name plate rating. My iron is a 230 volt rated 800 watt iron with a euro plug.
There is no need to take a surge protector for things that convert AC to DC to charge batteries (phones, tablets, cameras, laptops). Surge protectors are for things that run on AC like TVs and desktop computers.
If there is a dual voltage sonic toothbrush please tell me. I lug a heavy voltage converter just for this one appliance.
Italy has a second plug configuration all its own and you won't be able to buy an adapter in advance. I think it only appears in kitchens for high wattage appliances like microwaves and kettles. The plug elements are much thicker.
Italy also commonly has the double receptacles North Americans are used to, not the skimpy single receptacles standard elsewhere in Europe.
Tom - European travel is the time I return to a manual toothbrush. Lighter and less bulky.
Don't take a power strip with surge protected unless it is rated for 240 volts and most likely is not. Get a cheap power strip with out a protector.
