Travel Technology - Adapters/converters for international travel

Hi-

I'm traveling to Japan, China and Hong Kong for a total of 3 weeks and was looking for something that could be used as BOTH an adapter and a voltage converter for electronics. I'll need to charge iPod, camera battery and computer. Probably not much else...maybe a cell phone if I decide to take one with me. Please tell me some combo device exists b/c I'm having a hard time locating one esp. one that can be used with a computer.

Thanks!

Hi-

I'm traveling to Japan, China and Hong Kong for a total of 3 weeks and was looking for something that could be used as BOTH an adapter and a voltage converter for electronics. I'll need to charge iPod, camera battery and computer. Probably not much else...maybe a cell phone if I decide to take one with me. Please tell me some combo device exists b/c I'm having a hard time locating one esp. one that can be used with a computer.

Thanks!I know this doesn't answer your question about an adapter/converter combo, but are you sure that your items are NOT dual voltage? Most electronics (iPod, battery charger, computer power supply) are dual voltage these days. If they are, you don't need a converter, you only need an adaper.

If they are NOT dual voltage, are sure you want to risk using a converter?

He's right. I use all of my electronic stuff in Asia, US and Europe on 50/60Hz and 100/240V and it works fine. This includes my MP3 player, laptop, mobile phone etc

Have a look at the label on the power supplies, it'll probably give you a voltage range and a frequency range. Most modern electronics use a switch mode power supply that will work over a range of voltages and frequencies.

All you need then is an adapter that will let you plug into any type of socket and you can get these cheaply at the airport. From my experience there are only three types of socket, UK three rectangular pins, Europe two round pins and the Americas two flat pins.

Doug

You people are so smart...yes, everything is dual voltage so I just need adapters. Ok...now smart people...best place to get one? :) yes, many places sell them...just didn't know if you had personal favs for ease of use esp. since I'm going to a couple different countries...

You people are so smart...yes, everything is dual voltage so I just need adapters. Ok...now smart people...best place to get one? :) yes, many places sell them...just didn't know if you had personal favs for ease of use esp. since I'm going to a couple different countries...

in China, most hotels have outlets of every kind.. anything from Europe, Asia, North America OZ/NZ will work there...

I carry my kit anyway.. I usually buy individual adapters from some
Chinatown shop. Probably 50c each.


Sometimes $ stores have these things too..

if nothing else works, you can pickup something from a
local radioshack.. or just buy it from amazon.

There are two schools of thought here...some people like the individual little adaptors and just take what they need for their trip.

I end up always short an adaptor or end up loosing one adaptor type in a set, so I prefer a small brick that just has all of the connections.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0009OREOC/qid=1149805446/sr=8-7/ref=pd_bbs_7/002-8656256-7188001?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance&n=1036592

Radio shack does sell the loose adaptor type.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2036266&cp=2032056.2032136.2032156&parentPage=family

hope this helps

There are two schools of thought here...some people like the individual little adaptors and just take what they need for their trip.

I end up always short an adaptor or end up loosing one adaptor type in a set, so I prefer a small brick that just has all of the connections.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0009OREOC/qid=1149805446/sr=8-7/ref=pd_bbs_7/002-8656256-7188001?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance&n=1036592

Radio shack does sell the loose adaptor type.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2036266&cp=2032056.2032136.2032156&parentPage=family

hope this helps


I usually have multiple devices, so i try to get a lot of individal connectors.
getting a single kit wont cut it for me.
devices: (notebook, camera battery charger, 2 generic battery chargers, 2-3 phone chargers etc..e tc.. )

I also have a power strip (no surge) and I use single adaptor and just plug everything on the strip.

Run, don't walk to these guys: http://www.europlugs.com/.

Bought a bunch of stuff when my daughter went off to Turkey.

I have come up with my own "system". I make sure all my leads (cords) are US two flat prongs, and carry around a couple of small Euro "round" two prongs with me. These plus a couple of matchsticks make sure that I am pretty well covered everywhere short of Aus/NZ. I also have several retractable USB chargers for the phone etc, which keeps me from needing those adaptors on the road. Basically what this means is that I never need more than two chargers, two adaptors and a bunch of USB's and I am set.

I found these at the Dixons in the duty free at LHR. (http://www2.fujifilm.co.uk/digital/accessories/accessory.php?id=542) . They dont appear to sell them in the US. They have a lock button on the side you can see in the picture and a set of sliders on the other side. Push the lock button, and slide forward the adapter you need. Push again and slide it back. It does all countries as far as I know an on the back has places to plug in US, UK, US 3 prong, etc plugs into it. Paid 13 pounds for it at LHR last week. It is my second one. Bought another at LHR last year as we were leaving on an around the world. It works great and you dont have a bunch of little things to keep track of.

I found these at the Dixons in the duty free at LHR. (http://www2.fujifilm.co.uk/digital/accessories/accessory.php?id=542) . They dont appear to sell them in the US. They have a lock button on the side you can see in the picture and a set of sliders on the other side. Push the lock button, and slide forward the adapter you need. Push again and slide it back. It does all countries as far as I know an on the back has places to plug in US, UK, US 3 prong, etc plugs into it. Paid 13 pounds for it at LHR last week. It is my second one. Bought another at LHR last year as we were leaving on an around the world. It works great and you dont have a bunch of little things to keep track of.

APC makes a round one like that. I saw it @ Central Computer here in SF just this past weekend, so yes, you can get them here in the US.

Normally I would have picked up something like that on the spot except that I've got the one from MacAlly that's similar function-wise, but more oblong than round. They do the same thing. You set a slider and out pops the UK or Australia plug and keeps the US/Euro plug from popping out, etc.
I agree with you, they are very cool.
My favorite by far though(which I seem to have lost :( ) was a flat one that had everything folded up and packed into the shape of a DB9-DB25 adapter. It would turn into a UK adapter from a US adapter and then into a Euro/Asian one with just a couple flips and twists. It worked just like a "Transformer"-toy.

I use an "all in one" unit that I purchased at Radio Shack. As all of my gadgets support a wide range of voltages, I typically do not carry a power converter.

Some sources listed here (http://www.kropla.com/sources.htm).

... From my experience there are only three types of socket, UK three rectangular pins, Europe two round pins and the Americas two flat pins.

Doug

It will get you most of the way there, but always best to check first also.

http://www.kropla.com/electric2.htm

I found these at the Dixons in the duty free at LHR. (http://www2.fujifilm.co.uk/digital/accessories/accessory.php?id=542) . They dont appear to sell them in the US.

I bought one of those online not long ago, they sell them in the US. It was not Fuji branded, something else. I have found that it doesn't work well in Australia. In Oz all outlets have a power switch, this adapter is just big enough that if you push it all the way in it turns the outlet off! You can still make it work, by leaving it slightly unseated, but it's not ideal.

I think I'm going the route of indiviual adapters now, since I rarely travel to two different countries at once.

I bought one of those online not long ago, they sell them in the US. It was not Fuji branded, something else. I have found that it doesn't work well in Australia. In Oz all outlets have a power switch, this adapter is just big enough that if you push it all the way in it turns the outlet off! You can still make it work, by leaving it slightly unseated, but it's not ideal.

I think I'm going the route of indiviual adapters now, since I rarely travel to two different countries at once.


I forgot to mention in my post, some places have recessed outlets and it
impossible to use a multipurpose adaptor in those.

Also the switch issue. Most countries running 220+ volts have
switches. Oversized adaptors would get in the way.

Small individual ones work just fine.

I forgot to mention in my post, some places have recessed outlets and it
impossible to use a multipurpose adaptor in those.

Also the switch issue. Most countries running 220+ volts have
switches. Oversized adaptors would get in the way.

Small individual ones work just fine.

Well actually not necessarily. I havent had that experience with this one. For instance the adapter for continental Europe comes out of the front a significant way so that isnt a problem. It isnt just the metal that comes out. It is a plastic part shaped to the outlet that then has the metal prongs for the plugs on the continent. It comes out farther than the plugs are recessed. Just got done using it in the UK, Denmark and Finland. No problem at all. Last December used it in whichever countries I needed an adapter for (some may use US, I cant remember) on a trip to the UK, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Hong Kong.

Thanks! that sounds good....
by the way.. did I mention I pay 50c per piece for the individual ones?
probably $3 for the entire kit.

Hi-

I'm traveling to Japan, China and Hong Kong for a total of 3 weeks and was looking for something that could be used as BOTH an adapter and a voltage converter for electronics. I'll need to charge iPod, camera battery and computer. Probably not much else...maybe a cell phone if I decide to take one with me. Please tell me some combo device exists b/c I'm having a hard time locating one esp. one that can be used with a computer.

Thanks!

Plug outlets in Japan are generally okay with U.S.-style plugs, except that grounded outlets are rare, so you'll need to get a three-prong to two-prong adapter, available in any hardware or electronics or mass retail store.

The voltage is Japan is actually less than in North America (110V or 100V, depending on the region), so anything that has moving parts will run slowly, and heat-producing devices like hair dryers won't run as hot. If you can live with that, there's no harm done. I haven't noticed any significant slowdown when using my laptop in Japan.

I forgot to mention in my post, some places have recessed outlets and it
impossible to use a multipurpose adaptor in those.

Also the switch issue. Most countries running 220+ volts have
switches. Oversized adaptors would get in the way.

Small individual ones work just fine.

I still like the brick style and I don't have a problem with the recessed outlets

I haven't noticed any significant slowdown when using my laptop in Japan.

:D they would either run fine.. or not run at all.

Most notebook powersupply work well from 100-240 volts anyway.

:D they would either run fine.. or not run at all.

Most notebook powersupply work well from 100-240 volts anyway.

Works fine yes, but for whatever reason, I feel my laptops charge slower in China

Works fine yes, but for whatever reason, I feel my laptops charge slower in China


That I would agree. depending on how it does the voltage stepdown.
It may even run a little hotter.


while I'm at it, here is a link to some travel converter products:

http://www.buy.com/retail/searchresults.asp?search_store=8&querytype=electronics&qu=Voltage&loc=111&qxt=electronics&dclksa=1

Well actually not necessarily. I havent had that experience with this one.

I have the exact one, and it's a bit of a pain in Australia. Kinda bugged me that for less than a buck I coulda had one that took up less space in my bag and worked better!

I have the exact one, and it's a bit of a pain in Australia. Kinda bugged me that for less than a buck I coulda had one that took up less space in my bag and worked better!


Thanks, going to probably going to Brisbane so I will remember that. The problem I have with individual ones is that I tend to lose one or two from the set and I dont always have my act together enough to figure out which ones I need on a trip. At least in Europe and Asia (90%+ of my international travel) it has worked fine. But thanks again for the warning, I will get some Oz plugs.