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Use An Electricity Power/Votage Converter When Traveling In Europe
When traveling abroad, it is necessary to understand that the U.S. electricity grid system is not the same as those in Europe. U.S. electrical power works is a standard 110-volts. In Europe, the voltage standard is 240 volts. If you plug in your electric shaver, which operates at 110-volts, you will burn out the motor!
Here is why you need you need a converter: Foreign electricity is 220/240volts and is different from the standard U.S. electricity which is 110/220 volts. To use your U.S. made appliances in foreign countries you must reduce foreign electricity to the American standard, otherwise your appliance will not operate. Using a converter is simple. Just plug into the foreign wall outlet, then plug your appliance into the female side of the converter, and use your appliance as you would at home.
Caution must be used though. Understand that there are different models of converters. There are converters that can change different wattage levels. A high wattage converter will change the 220 volt electricity to 110 volt U.S. electricity for appliances using from 50 to 1600 watts. You must be careful not to use converters that are not geared for low level wattage converters.
Those appliances that use under 50 watts are considered low wattage converters. These low wattage models are used to covert appliances like radios, cassette/tape players, calculators, camera strobes, razors, AC adapter chargers. The higher capacity converters are used for items such as hair dryers, hair setters, coffee makers, coffee cup heaters, irons, and contact lens sterilizers to name a few.
When traveling abroad take only appliances that operate at between 110 and 240 volts or at 9 to 12 volts when, and only when, they are equipped with transformers rated to accept the European 220-240 volts.
Transformers designed for laptop computers are typically rated to operate with 100-240 volt currents. Be sure to check beforehand regarding laptops. If it is only rated for 110 volts, go to the nearest store with your laptop, and buy a suitable multi-voltage transformer.
Check the battery charger of your digital camera and cell phone too. Some battery chargers can operate at 240 volts, some cannot. Read the labels on your charger and on the transformer that may come with it.
Besides having to make sure your appliances will work overseas and that you have the proper converter/transformer to be able to use your items, there is a plug difference from here to there.
The electrodes (terminals) on a US plug are flat. The terminals on a French plug, for arguments sake, are cylindrical. French wall outlets only accept these cylindrical plugs. Using this idea, the French wall outlet will not accept the American styled wall outlet. The answer to this problem is to buy a cheap adaptor. The more sophisticated you buy, the more places abroad you will be able to use your wall plug in an overseas wall outlet.
Remember, an adaptor is not a transformer. An adaptor is a simple device that allows your U.S. model plug to be connected to an overseas or European type outlet. Both items modify the characteristics of the electrical current that powers your appliance on and off. A converter is heaver than an adaptor because it has a metal coil in it. The adaptor is usually made of plastic with small pieces of metal. You will find that, at times, converters can be used as adaptors in which case the shape of the male terminals will match those of the shape of the socket for the female terminal.
Keep these tips in mind when traveling and your can use almost all your portable electronics and appliances abroad without any worry of breaking them of causing an electrical short or electrical fire.
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