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The Continental Europe Travel Adapter for iPhone charging?

The description says it works in Italy, so does that mean I can plug my regular phone charger into this adapter?

I can't believe how many details there are to think about.

Posted by
11294 posts

First, you need to make sure that any chargers you are bringing are multi-voltage. These days most are, but you don't want to find out otherwise the hard way (a fire, a blown fuse, a destroyed phone).

Look at the phone charger's specs (you may need a magnifying glass). If it says 100-240 volts and 50-60 Hz, you're all set. This is multi-voltage, and all you need is a plug adapter. For Italy, you need the two round prongs. If you have a choice when buying between "Northern Europe" and "Southern Europe" adapters, pick Southern Europe; the Northern Europe prongs are a bit bigger and won't fit well in Italian outlets.

These days, just about every phone charger sold with the phone is multi-voltage, but some of the cheaper replacement chargers aren't. If buying a replacement, you need to be especially careful.

Phone chargers are only two prongs. If you're bringing anything with three prongs, you need the specific three prong adapter for Italy (different from the three prong adapters for other European countries).

More here: https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/phones-tech/electric-adapters-converters

"I can't believe how many details there are to think about."

Yes, there are lots of details like this for the first trip. Once you've taken a single European trip, you're then set. (Of course, in the UK and Ireland they use a completely different kind of plug adapter - but the voltage is the same).

Posted by
371 posts

My iPhone and iPad mini chargers work fine with that adapter. Although we always take at least two of them, as they are easily left behind.

Posted by
5837 posts

Apple iPhone chargers are two conductor (no ground) devices rated at 100vac to 240vac and 50/60Hz. They convert that range of AC electicity to the proper output to charge the Apple device automatically. Assuming that your device has a North American plug (two flat conductors), you just need the Type C adaptor plug with the two round plugs and don't need a grounding conductor.

Posted by
7626 posts

Those (the one pictured) are the type you would want for your trip to Italy. I brought both that type and one that had three prongs. Several of my lodging locations outlets could only accommodate the two-prong adapter.