![]() ![]() Travel converters are actually based on wattage, which means you’ll need to know the wattage of the primary electric devices you’ll be seeking to connect. One more piece of information you’ll want to have for your various electric devices before plugging them in on the other side of the globe is wattage. However, if your equipment doesn’t match the voltage and frequency provided in the nation you’re visiting - or your hair dryer or laptop is what’s known as “single voltage” – then you may need to also use a voltage converter, also known as a transformer or power converter.ĭepending on whether you’re stepping up from 110 volts to 220 volts or down from 220 volts to 110 volts, the most common conversion scenarios, this piece of equipment may also be called a “step-down voltage converter” or “step-up voltage converter.” In the past, separate converters were needed to step up or down, but newer travel converter equipment will likely allow you to perform both functions. China, Australia and New Zealand: ‘I’ outlet/adapter 3Īs stated, the adapter plug may be the only piece of your travel converter arsenal that you need to use.Africa (select nations), United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore: ‘G’ outlet/adapter.Europe, Israel, Asia (some nations), Africa (some nations) and the Mid-East: ‘C,’ ‘E,’ and ‘F’ outlets/adapters.South and Central America, Japan and Taiwan, and the Caribbean: ‘A’ and ‘B’ outlets/adapters.Here is a cheat sheet that can help you make sure you have the right adapter plug packed in your travel converter kit for wherever your travels take you: Similarly to how you need to match your brand and model of phone to the correct interface before plugging in, you’ll need to find the right adapter plug to connect your electric device to the wall outlet. ![]() If you’ve purchased a universal smart phone charger before, then this will be a familiar concept. You may only need to use the adapter plugs. In order to make sure you have everything you’ll potentially need to harness juice from a foreign grid, the most convenient option is to pick up a complete travel converter set, which includes adapter plugs, a voltage converter, and some sort of storage bag or pouch to easily stow the kit. 3 Knowing Your Travel Converter Equipment ![]() Meanwhile, Japan uses 100 volts and South America runs the gamut of standards from country to country, and even within the same nation in Brazil. Most of Europe, Africa, Russia, China, Australia and New Zealand run at 220 to 240 volts. This issue occurs when you leave North America for Europe, Asia or other destinations. Even when we travel to our neighbors to the north and south, Canada and Mexico, those standards stay intact. That’s because our wall outlets are designed to deliver 110 to 120 volts, and our electrical plugs are built to match. When it comes to electrical appliances and domestic travel, we’re spoiled. 1 Getting and Staying Connected Around the Globe While it may seem daunting to mix and match the right equipment as you’re jet setting around the world, making the right connection is actually easier than it may appear with the right travel converter equipment and knowledge. There are more than 15 types of electrical outlet plugs in use today, from those accommodating the familiar two- and three-prong plugs we’re used to (type ‘A’ and ‘B’) to the awkward-looking three-pinned type ‘L’ variety common in Chile and Italy. And the entire hotel, for that matter.Īs much as technology has tremendously evolved the foreign travel experience, from currency conversion apps to language translation software, the way to bridge domestic appliances with foreign electrical grids is still fairly antiquated. And if the traveler attempts to shove the plug in without the use of a travel converter, the result at best could be nothing, and at worst could be shockingly bad for the hairdryer and the traveler. Maybe, miraculously, the plug and outlet fit. You’ve heard the story before: a less-than-seasoned American traveler attempts to plug a hairdryer into a bathroom wall outlet. ![]()
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