Travel Technology - What is necessary to "plug in" a US electronic device/appliance in Europe?

Taking my first trip to Europe in a week. I'm bringing my digicam and the battery charger. What do I need to plug in and charge my batteries?

I know the voltages are different in Europe, so do I need a voltage converter as well as an adapter for the different plug shapes? The charger runs off 12V DC input at 500mA.

Also, where would be a good place to buy the voltage converter and/or plug adapter? Home Depot, Fry's, etc. Thanks.

BTW the countries I'll be going through are Spain, France, Italy, Austria, Germany, and the Czech Republic.

Electricity in Europe has:

Different voltage
Different AC frequency
Different plugs

Frequency is only relevant for some speed-sensitive devices, like CD players.

Voltage is double the US, 220v instead of 110v. Many items like camera chargers can be plugged in to either becuse the manufacturers like to make one standard device for worldwide use. Look at the stamping on the bottom of the transformer box, it probably says something like "input 110v-240v". Mine does, and I use it in the US without problem. So you should not need a transformer.

Plugs. You will need one of the travel plug converters that are readily available at drug stores, airport shops, etc. All continental Europe, including the Eastern Europe countries, uses the same plugs, a large round device, larger than US ones. UK is different (inevitably) with rectangular lins but many travel plugs have all the combinations.

http://kropla.com/electric.htm

All you'll ever need to know !

Here's a website that might be of some help (I have no affiliation with them other than that I ordered from one of the advertisers):

World Electric Guide (http://kropla.com/electric.htm)

(I guess someone was quicker than me in posting that site. Took me a few mins to find that site again.)
The simpliest answer is that you should look on your plugs/adaptor to see what it supports. For example, my laptop and phone chargers both say something like 110-240V, 50-60HZ, which basically means that I can use it pretty much anywhere as long as I have a plug adapter to fit them into the outlet.

I am also shopping for a global plug adaptor. Any compact devices that can adjust for different incoming voltage, AC frequency and plug and also adjust to supply different outgoing voltage, AC frequency and plugs?

Thank you.

http://www.brookstone.com/shop/product.asp?product_code=200345&world_code=4&category_code=39&subcategory_code=497&search_type=subcategory&prodtemp=t1

Works as either plug adaptor or transformer. Pretty much all-in-one device. Can adapt to/from all major plug configurations.

Generally, you do not need a transformer if your device has a transformer plug with it - but not always the case. I fried a Plantronics Bluetooth earpiece twice by just using a plug adaptor.

http://www.brookstone.com/shop/product.asp?product_code=200345&world_code=4&category_code=39&subcategory_code=497&search_type=subcategory&prodtemp=t1

Works as either plug adaptor or transformer. Pretty much all-in-one device. Can adapt to/from all major plug configurations.

Generally, you do not need a transformer if your device has a transformer plug with it - but not always the case. I fried a Plantronics Bluetooth earpiece twice by just using a plug adaptor.

Good advice to have an all-in-one device. But this particular one says not for use with battery chargers. We travel with a small converter, bought many years ago from Sharper Image, that has all the plugs you'll need plus a converter that works for batteries, blow dryers, heating pads, etc. Try Magellan's, Travel Smith or another device at Brookstone.

Thanks for all the helpful info and links. My camera runs on AA batteries, so I use rechargable NiMH batteries. So the camera itself does not need to be charged, but my AA batteries do. The wall wart (plug) for the battery charger only specifies input of 120V AC 60Hz 12W. So looks like I need a voltage/frequency converter as well as a plug adapter.

I don't really feel like buying AA batteries over a month. The cost adds up and my camera sucks through them in about 10 min. The rechargables last MUCH longer.

Maybe I could find a European wall wart that outputs the necessary DC 12V 500mA into my battery charger. Could I get one of these stateside within a week?

Thanks for all the helpful info and links. My camera runs on AA batteries, so I use rechargable NiMH batteries. So the camera itself does not need to be charged, but my AA batteries do. The wall wart (plug) for the battery charger only specifies input of 120V AC 60Hz 12W. So looks like I need a voltage/frequency converter as well as a plug adapter.

I don't really feel like buying AA batteries over a month. The cost adds up and my camera sucks through them in about 10 min. The rechargables last MUCH longer.

Maybe I could find a European wall wart that outputs the necessary DC 12V 500mA into my battery charger. Could I get one of these stateside within a week?


Google Magelllan's, call them and see what they can do for you....express shipping may be worth it. I don't mean to promote them.....I just think they do a very good job with travel items.

Google Magelllan's, call them and see what they can do for you....express shipping may be worth it. I don't mean to promote them.....I just think they do a very good job with travel items.

Turns out there is a store about 3 miles from me. I'll go check it out. Thanks!

Good advice to have an all-in-one device. But this particular one says not for use with battery chargers. We travel with a small converter, bought many years ago from Sharper Image, that has all the plugs you'll need plus a converter that works for batteries, blow dryers, heating pads, etc. Try Magellan's, Travel Smith or another device at Brookstone.

Oh my....

Sorry for the incomplete advice. Brookstone must have changed product since I bought mine a few years ago. Mine is a good solid adaptor/transformer, and I've used it to recharge batteries, run laptops, etc. for several years with no problem. Only time I've had a problem is when I've tried to recharge a Plantronics M2500 Bluetooth headset using only an adaptor. Fried it. With my Brookstone device apparently similar to picture - all was fine.

Hopefully other sites you mentioned have an accpetable product.

Google Magelllan's, call them and see what they can do for you....express shipping may be worth it. I don't mean to promote them.....I just think they do a very good job with travel items.

I dropped into the Santa Monica store today and got everything I needed. They were very helpful and easily able to answer my questions. Thanks for the tip.

This voltage converter is quite heavy though. So much for packing light. :rolleyes:

Probably a bit late, but if the only thing you need a voltage adapter for is the battery charger, you might be better just getting a multivoltage charger rather than a transfromer. I have a Kodak 110-240v one that I'm using in Russia with a plug adapter right now and it works fine.

Does the Kodak voltage adaptor have included surge protection?

Probably a bit late, but if the only thing you need a voltage adapter for is the battery charger, you might be better just getting a multivoltage charger rather than a transfromer. I have a Kodak 110-240v one that I'm using in Russia with a plug adapter right now and it works fine.

That's what I originally wanted to do, but I couldn't find one that output 12V DC at 500mA or above. The transformer was the next best thing.

Actually if what you mean is something like this guy ( http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00009R8HM/qid=1121107301/sr=8-7/ref=pd_bbs_ur_7/104-7876638-7818302?v=glance&s=photo&n=507846 ) then you're right, it would have been perfect. Magellan's did have a couple in stock, but they were charging $35 for it! I'm skeptical it would have come in time had I ordered it online, so I forked over the $15 for the transformer at Megallan's.

Check the charger, most of them say 110-240 on them, meaning they will work just about anyplace on the planet. In that case, all you need is an adapter plug, $1.98 or so at Radio Shack, a set that covers everywhere is like $10 or so.

If your charger only covers 110 volts, then you need a voltage converter to work it overseas, something that converts the 220 to 110 that you need. It makes way more sense to get an AA charger that is 110 / 220, it's probably less money.

Any place that sels batteries usually has the rechargers there on the rack, not much money at all. Check to see it's 110/220, and then just buy the adapter. Way less to carry, the adapter weighs an ounce or two.

When you get your transformer, make sure you check the wattage that it's capable of outputting.

Your digicam's battery charger may have a lower wattage than what the transformer specifies - often they go from 50 W to 1500 W for things like hair dryers. You'll need a duall wattage transformer, often they have a switch that goes from 0 - 50 (for your charger) then 50 - 1500 W for higher powered items.

I forgot to check the voltage rating of my AA battery charger and it only went up to 120 V, so I needed to the transformer so I wouldn't fry anything. My iPod charger was fine, I just wish I had a multi-voltage battery charger! To make things more fun, I had to go to REI on the way to the airport to get a transformer... what a way to squeeze the drive to LAX!

thanks for posting. This belongs in Travel Technology, so let's continue the discussion there.

--richard, moderator