Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific - Flying to AKL - Do I Need a Voltage Converter?

Or just a plug adapter? Will be using a laptop, iPod and Treo 650. No hair dryer!

Have a Kensington AC/DC power supply with Smart Tips (nice!) so I'm set for EmPower on the way over and back.

TIA

You don't even need a plug adaptor. A wrench does a good job at realinging the pins to fit. :D (actually I've done this more than once bu wedging the pin in the edge of a door).

I can't be sure about your particular appliances, but they usually say 100-240V, 50/60Hz on them which means that will work anywhere with the right plug adaptor.

Remember the days when you needed 10 phone adaptors, and aslo had to be prepared to take the plate off the hotel wall to connect up to dial up. Things sure have moved forward since then.

Since not really UA-specific, will move to the Australia/South Pacific forum.

cblaisd
Moderator, United

Voltage in New Zealand is 230/240 volts AC at a frequency of 50HZ.
If your appliances are multi voltage you should be ok, if only US voltage of 110 you will need a voltage converter.
Also be aware the New Zealand plug is usually 3 flat pins, not 2 pin. Two top pins are diagonal with bottom pin up and down. With respect I don't think a wrench will bend your US pins adequately. Enjoy your travel.

With respect I don't think a wrench will bend your US pins adequately. Enjoy your travel.

I know its possible because I've done it....both with an AU/NZ plug to fit in a US socket, and vice versa. Good in an emergency situation, but I agree its not recommended.

I am traveling to AKL next month and was wondering that adapters or voltage converters I would need. Plan to use laptop, ipod, digital camera battery charger, and camcorder battery charger, as well as electric razor. I read that I don't need a voltage converter, just an adapter. Is this true? I just get nervous about the idea of plugging in my US appliance in a 220 volt socket. I just want to be safe, and not fry anything. Can someone help educate me on what I need and why? Thanks.

Look at all your power supplies. Somewhere in the fine print is a section that will read "AC Input:" and that will be followed either by 110-120V 60Hz or 100-240V 50-60Hz. Anything that has the former should not be plugged in to a wall in NZ without a transformer. Everything that is the latter is fine with a $1 plug adapter.

Most laptop power supplies and consumer electronics rechargers (ie camcorder) will fall in to the second category. Your electric razor is most likely to be a 110-120V only device.

Virtually all small appliances sold in this part of the world these days can accept a range of voltages and frequencies and I suspect the same is true for other parts of the world too. I don't recall having this sort of problem for years now and I don't think you should be concerned

Jeff