I have the following devices I am taking on my trip - Apple iPhone 14, USB-A charging headphones, Apple Watch (USB C charging adapter), and a laptop.
I am thinking I need a step down converter from 220 to 110V to plug my apple charging adapters into the USB A and USB C ports and a outlet plug for the laptop.
Thank you
Look at the fine print on your charging adapters. If it says something like "100-240V", then
it is a dual voltage adapter and you won't need a stepdown, just a plug adapter for the
countrie(s) you are going to. I would guess that all of your devices are dual voltage, and
it may depend on how old your chargers are.
If you have multiple chargers and the laptop one is the traditional "brick", I would say you
should consider getting a universal travel adapter that supports dual voltage, USB-A and
USB-C and supports the GaN fast charging protocol - you will save space and weight by
only taking one charger, and you can charge multiple devices at the same time if you have
the proper cables and/or plug converters.
Edit - your laptop needs to be new enough to have a USB-C port that supports charging
(all of that is relevant, some USB-C only supports data xfer) for the single charger solution
to be viable). Or, if there are enough USB-A outlets on your laptop, you can charge the
laptop via the wall plug and charge everything else through the laptop.
To charge the laptop, the travel adapter needs to be ~60W or above. You may see many
cheaper adapters, but they support charging phones and tablets, not laptops.
There are many, many options and lots of websites that will give you reviews/recommendations.
Just search on "universal travel adapter" or something like that.
In all my years the only low voltage charger that I ever encountered was one made by Nintendo. "Don’t argue with me daughter, I know what I am talking about .... just plug it in and stay out of my hair" Sizzle, Sizzle, Fry, Fry ..... fortunately, I found a European one at a shop in Budapest to replace it.
I wouldn't write off the voltage flexibility of the old laptop power adapter. Check before spending money.
I use an antique Dell laptop, this one born in 2017. I just had a look at the brick and in teeny tiny print I see that it is 100-240v 50/60 Hz so I could travel all over the world with nary a concern other than the shape of the plug.
Yours may be too. Have a look, magnifying glass or close up photo helps. Your iPhone is newer than mine and everything is highly likely to work too. Just need plug adapters. If you have anything like modern Apple chargers they will be fine. Read the label.
I would recommend taking a Universal multi-port charger with European plugs - mine has three USB-A ports and three US-C ports. It is not a charging issue, it is a "How many convenient outlets do I have?" issue. Have fun.
This should work for all of your devices...
Epicka Universal Travel Adapter
You don't need a step down converter and you don't need to bring all of your chargers. Just this and charging cables.
I want to point out that you cannot count on finding an outlet near the bed; sometimes there's not even one near the desk. Taking a long cable isn't a bad plan if you anticipate wanting to use your devices while they are charging at the end of the day.
bkirkman75,
I have enjoyed my Epica European travel plug for about 3 yrs now with no issues and have also found the plug locations in some lodgings a bit inconvenient. Sometimes I unplug the lamp to use my adapter. I may have to bring longer charging cords. I use a backpack in my travels, so weight is important.
I am currently admiring this "meta-ant" european travel plug adapter with a 3' extension cord (4' and 5' options also available) on sale ($17) on Amazon. Several of these plugs are on sale with black Friday deals.
Also, the TESSAN Universal Travel Adapter is considered an excellent choice with a 65W power output and the price range ($38). I doubt the prices on Amazon will drop again but you can always create a price alert that let's you know when it does.
I hope you have a wonderful trip!
LAH
Check your laptop and the headphones, but given what you listed, I doubt you need a power converter. If not, great since that saves weight and space. Many - NOT all - hotels will have USB outlets, but perhaps not enough. And if plug adapters are all you need, that’s easy to pack. LATE NOTE. The iPhone and Apple Watch should run on anything from 110 - 240. See https://discussions.apple.com/thread/7276506?sortBy=rank
We take a converter, but it’s for the waterpick and electric toothbrushes. Not that big or heavy - we still manage to meet carry-on only requirements for 30-day trips.
You will want at least two outlet adapters for the number of items you have, with a block that has two USB outlets.
Be mindful that different countries have outlets that look the same, but are so subtly different. Some countries, Italy comes to mind, use multiple types: C, E, F and a fourth type, type L. (In Italy, we ran into the third type on night #26 of our 30 day trip and the hotel had no adapter for us; we ran into the same issue two weeks earlier, but that hotel did have an adapter to loan us. )
See
https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/phones-tech/electric-adapters-converters
Better yet, see https://www.worldstandards.eu/electricity/plugs-and-sockets/
Look on Amazon and you will find lotsa options for plug adapters and converters. If you have a travel store or travel bookstore near you, go there and support it, rather than Amazon.
If it says something like "100-240V", then it is a dual voltage adapter
No, Shoeflyer, that is a multi-voltage adapter.
Dual voltage generally applies to the device itself, like a hair dryer. It runs on two different voltages, one normally twice the other (or one half the other, depending on your perspective), like 115 and 230 VAC. It has a switch to change the input voltage by putting the loads in series (230V) or parallel (115V).
A multi-voltage device runs on a wide range of voltages and uses a transistor (I think it's called a triac) to limit the output voltage to 115VAC for line voltage devices or 5 VDC for charging electronic devices (USB). It can accept input voltages from 100V (Japan) to 115V (US) to 230V (Europe) to 240V (Australia) and probably more.
USB chargers are actually voltage converters. The can use inputs from 100VAC to 240VAC and their output is 5VDC.
I believe that dual voltage devices can work at up to 1800 watts (hair dryers, 15a at 120V), whereas multi-voltage devices such as voltage converters are generally limited to 40W.
I haven't seen a single voltage laptop charger (brick) in years. Manufacturers found it easier and less costly to just make one multi-voltage power supply and to provide different power cords for different country applications.
A few comments to add to the other replies.....
No, you don't need a "step down converter". As others have mentioned, your existing chargers will most likely work just fine on the European 230 volt (nominal) / 50 Hz. electrical system. You will however need Plug Adapters specific to the countries you'll be visiting (I'd suggest taking more than one as they're easily misplaced). The Plug Adapters for the U.K., Switzerland and other countries in Europe are all different.
A few thoughts.....
Thank you all for your informative replies! I did find out that my Apple iPad, Watch, and iPhone adapters are multi voltage and the
laptop adapter has multi voltage input ratings on it. I did purchase the Tessan Voltage converter so I have a cord for placement flexibility and it has 3 USB A and a USB C plug along with the plug for my laptop adapter. Feeling much better about keeping things charged in Europe.
You bought a travel plug adaptor not a "converter" which is an important distinction to remember.
The Plug Adapters for the U.K., Switzerland and other countries in
Europe are all different.
The grounding plug adapters are all different. Different countries use different receptacle designs to provide a grounding means. For a lot of devices, a ground is not required, so a non-grounding, type C adapter (CEE 7/16) will work in all continental European countries. This adapter is approved in the EU only for non-grounded devices drawing less than 2½ amps. It is not suitable for:
1. any device with a grounding (3 prong) plug (danger of electrical shock),
2. any device¹ with a polarized (one blade wider than the other) plug, or
3. any device that draws more than 2½ amps (hair dryers, tea kettles, etc.).
For these devices, you need one of the various country-specific, grounding adapters.
Footnote 1. These devices have a one pole switch which needs to be on the line side of the input to prevent unintended activation. The polarized plug ensures that it can only be plugged in that way. Except for Switzerland, continental European receptacles are not identifiably polarized.
I would not give an Epicka Travel Adapter to my worst enemy. They can be dangerous.
An Epicka adapter allows you to plug in a grounding (3-prong) plug, but the input side does not have a ground pin. Manufacturers do not spend extra money on a grounding plug for aesthetic reasons. It's there because a regulating agency, like UL, requires it to prevent a danger of electrical shock. An Epicka adapter defeats that shock protection.
Also, an Epicka adapter has one blade socket wider, allowing you to insert a polarized plug, but the two pin male plug can be put in reversed. Even if the European socket were identifiably polarized, the device not be properly polarized 50% of the time. There might be some danger of electrical shock, but there definitely would be a danger of inadvertent activation of a heating device, like a hair straightener.
The USB voltage converters are double insulated and don't need polarization, so the adapter is safe for USB operation.
I'm not singling out Epicka. Most of the cheap Chinese junk sold on Amazon has the same problems.
