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Posted by
8889 posts

Yep, that's a Schuko + French-standard adapter (one plug fits two types of sockets). It will work in most of Europe.
Plus point: It is earthed, so you can safely use it with earthed appliances, that is ones with a 3-pin plug.
Minus point: It is, as it says, incompatible with sockets in the UK, Italy and Switzerland. Don't try and force it in, you may break the socket. You need to get different adapters for each of these 3 countries. They are shown at the bottom of the page

Posted by
19965 posts

I appreciate any tips on sales and new products. But one note about this adapter; if you are a great world traveler/shopper and have purchased electrical devices all over the world, then this is for you because you can plug dang near any country's plug style into the device - BUT the output only fits Schuko plugs (as noted in the post above). I would suggest that if you are a typical American tourist that you will do just as well with http://www.amazon.com/6PKSCHUKO-Grounded-American-European-Adapter/dp/B0038L54ZO/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1461804148&sr=1-2&keywords=schuko which for about the same price you can get 6 adapters. They are also lighter and more compact and will pack easier.

Posted by
32345 posts

I have an Adaptor similar to that, and it works well. I normally use it for my Netbook, as that has a grounded (earth) plug.

Posted by
19251 posts

As long as you are only using low wattage electronic devices that accept 100-240VAC, that adapter is fine in most countries, except Italy and Switzerland. If you are only using ungrounded electronic devices (laptops and cell phones) at less than 500W, this adapter will work everywhere. However, If you are using a hair dryer with a "polarized" plug (one blade wider than the other), there is almost no way that it will ever be acceptable, according to codes, in Europe (except Switzerland).

And, of course, you should only use appliances that carry the CE mark.

Posted by
4795 posts

My travel partner, the hairdryer queen, has just accepted that for Euro travel she must buy in advance a 220V hairdryer. Just better for everyone, and nowadays with the internet it's hardly difficult. the other thing would be to find a discount store upon arrival and buy one there.

Posted by
19251 posts

"she must buy in advance a 220V hairdryer"

You want a hair dryer with either a US three-prong "grounding" plug (so you can use a grounding Schuko adapter) or, preferably, a (grounding) Schuko plug. I don't think Amazon sells one. They do sell 220V hair dryers, but most are dual voltage, so they probably have American, polarized plugs. None of the pictures on Amazon show the plug; they probably don't want you to know. Also, I can't find any on Amazon that have the CE mark, which would be like buying something over here without the UL symbol.

I did find some hair dryer for sale online with ungrounded, 2 pin, Europlugs, but they were from China and did not have the CE marks.

You might try to buy one from Amazon Germany (amazon.de), but if you can't understand German, you won't really know what you are getting. A lot of the ones I saw on amazon.de said they were wall mounted, and I think that means hard wired - no plug.

I would just buy one when you get there.