Plug Converter Power

Posted May 29, 2011 By admin

Plug Converter Power

Do Modern Travelers Still Need Voltage Converters?

For decades, the wise overseas traveler never left home without a voltage converter. It was the only way to be sure your personal care appliances such as shavers, hair dryers and curling irons would work on local currents in other countries. The need for electrical converters became even more important with the advent of personal electronics devices, such as laptop computers, DVD players, cell phones and MP3 players.

The problem with using U.S. appliances overseas is that European countries, Australia and Eastern countries all supply electricity at different voltages than U.S. standard voltages. The U.S. standard of 110V to 120V is about half the power supplied by most other countries, which provide electricity through the wall outlets at about 210V to 240V. While plug adapters allow a traveler to plug their electronics or electrical equipment into the wall outlets in other countries, the higher voltage of electrical power supplied will blow the circuits and destroy the appliance unless the traveler also uses a voltage converter. These handy, small devices step down the voltage supplied to a level that can be used by U.S. appliances.

Dual Voltage Appliances and Electronics

As world travel has become more popular and people are more and more likely to travel with equipment that needs to be plugged in and recharged, manufacturers have responded with dual voltage electronics. Laptop computers, cell phones, GPS devices, hair dryers and other pieces of equipment that are often carried by travelers, often are fitted with a built-in transformer, which can convert the outlet voltage to the voltage required by the charger or appliance. Many of them even automatically detect the voltage and switch from step-up converters, which increase the voltage to step-down converters, and that decreases the voltage of the supplied electricity.

Does that mean that voltage converters are going the way of the Betamax and 8-track player? Not hardly. While the trend toward dual voltage electronics is growing, it is by no means widespread. In most cases, you'll still need a converter to be sure that your equipment will operate without being damaged.

If you're not sure whether your appliances are dual voltage, check the label on the appliance itself of on its charger. It will have the voltage listed in a line like:

INPUT: AC 100V - 240V, 50/60Hz

If it only lists AC 120V or 110V, or AC 240V, then it's not dual voltage and you'll need to convert the voltage in order to use it overseas.

Fitting the Plug

In addition to modifying the voltage so that your equipment can use it, you may also have to supply a plug adapter so that your plug will fit the wall outlet. Choosing the right adapters to bring with you is more complex than choosing a converter - there are nearly a dozen different plug configurations in use throughout the world. If you're planning to travel to more than one country or if you're traveling around Europe, you may do better to buy a universal adapter kit, which contains plug adapters to fit all the most-used plugs.

If you do plan to travel, a travel voltage converter is an inexpensive way to make sure that you'll always be able to use your favorite electronics, no matter what the electrical standards of the country are that you're visiting.
About the Author

Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the world's MOST popular
internet marketing
companies on the web.

Learn more about
Voltage Converters
.

Can I get a power converter/adapter in europe?

i am traveling to france in a few days. will also be going to switzerland and italy. can i just buy a power converter plug there? what is the difference between price if i buy one here (in the US) or there? thanks!

i dont know the difference in price but im pretty sure radio shack can hook you up and probably cheaper over here because you dont need it here but you do need it there. thats just supply and demand