I purchased an Anker PowerCore 10000 portable charger to take on our trip to Europe for charging our iPhones while enroute as well as on the go. To re-charge the charger, can I plug the USB charging cord that comes with the charger into my iPhone charger plug and then plug that into the convertor plug that I already have from my last trip to Europe? Our phones and camera charger are all we will need to charge while we are in hotel rooms while in Europe so I have not seen a need to purchase a Voltage convertor in addition to the regular convertor unless I need something for the portable charger. From what I read on Amazon, the answers differed in the question and answer section on the product. If the iPhone plug that you put the USB into does the converting, then I assume that would work with the Anker as well????
Posted by
Midwest
2768 posts
Yes Just get a cheap adapter, plug your USB charger into that (Apple USB chargers are dual voltage, as are the multi-port USB chargers I have), and the USB cord into the port. Just like you charge your phone.
I have dual voltage 4 USB port charger. That way I can charge my phone, backup charger, husband's phone, and kindle at the same time.
Non-dual voltage items are less common than they used to be especially for small items.
Posted by
Medford, OR, USA
5837 posts
Your query is a variation on a FAQ discussed in one of RS' travel tips: https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/phones-tech/electric-adapters-converters
If you see a range of voltages printed on the item or its plug (such
as "110–220"), you're OK in Europe. Some older appliances have a
voltage switch marked 110 (US) and 220 (Europe) — switch it to 220 as
you pack.
IF the portable charger's nameplate rates the device as a multi-voltage (something like 110v - 240v and 50Hz/60Hz), you are good to go with just a plug adaptor.
Posted by
OP
231 posts
Thank you, I will read that link.
Posted by
Ontario, Canada
5431 posts
Our phones and camera charger are all we will need to charge while we
are in hotel rooms while in Europe so I have not seen a need to
purchase a Voltage convertor in addition to the regular convertor
unless I need something for the portable charger.
You're muddling your terminology, which only leads to confusion. An ADAPTER is the thingy you attach to your north American plug, so you can plug into the European electrical outlet. A CONVERTOR is an appliance that converts voltage. You'll know whether or not you need a convertor by looking at the nameplate of your aplliance and seeing if it gives a range, as described in the previous posts.
If all your equipment is multivoltage, you don't need a convertor, just an adapter.
Posted by
OP
231 posts
Yes, I see that now and I do have an adaptor and have determined from looking at my devices that I don't need the converter. Thank you.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32350 posts
One other point to mention is that if you'll be travelling in the U.K. as well as the continent, you'll need a different type of Plug Adaptor for each area.
It's best to stay away from Voltage Converters if possible, as there are two different methods used for voltage conversion, and it's important to match the appropriate method to the device that is connected to it.
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19274 posts
Is a voltage converter necessary for charging my portable charger?
Yes, but that is what your USB "charger" is, a voltage converter. It takes an input voltage of 100 VAC to 240 VAC (and probably outside that range, but no one produces it) and converts it to 5 VDC for input to electronic devices.
I have some kind of a portable charger (it's not an Anker), basically a battery, and it charges from the same charger that can be used on whatever I use it to charge.