Help w/ voltage converter and plug adapter
 

Leaving for Paris on monday. I totally forgot about my Nikon D40 digital camera. I have no european plug adapter. Where can I buy one in Chicago? Radioshack says they have them for $10, though online they are only a dollar. Is this my best bet though. Also are there any sets available. I will be going to Thailand in 10 months so I will need one then too, but I have time to get that online.

My GF wants to take a hair straightener. It says 110V so I assume I need a voltage converter. There is one for $25 at Best Buy. Walmart is $20 but its much further away and my GF refuses to shop there. Is the Best Buy one my best bet. Seems silly to pay $25 for a voltage converter for a $20 straightener, but maybe I can ebay it or something when we get back.

The voltage converter comes with plug adapters. Could I use this on the battery charger for my camera or do I risk damaging it. The charger says it uses 8.4 V but can be used from 110-240 V.

So tell me what I need to buy and where to buy them in Chicago. We will be in Paris and Berlin.

Please follow this thread in the Chicago Forum.
Thanks..
Obscure2k
TravelBuzz Moderator

There's a great luggage store on North Ave & Halsted...it's in one of the small strip malls.

The Prince de Galles had voltage converters in the rooms. Vive la France.

I guess I am reading that the hotels should have this stuff, so maybe no need to bother. Staying at a marriott in Paris and Westin in Berlin, so if any hotels have these things they should.

Will check it out if I get a chance. Any idea which corner its on? NE, SW etc.

Contact the hotels and verify.

On North Ave, NE corner at Clybourn. In the strip mall that has some version of a Crate & Barrel (not the regular store, it's a CB2 I believe). There's also a Verizon store there.

For the camera, you just need a plug adapter, no converter. Just make sure you get the adapter with the correct prong shape.

For the hair straightener, you need both (adapter and converter). You may be able to find a converter on Ebay without the adapters, since you don't need it right away.

Not sure what shape adapter is used in Thailand, though.

World Electric Guide
 

Check out www.kropla.com.
Lots of information on plug shapes and more.

You might be better off buying inexpensive appliances after you arrive at your destination. That's what we always do.

I have had "voltage converters" destroy equipment.

Any circuit city or electrical store has these adapters.

Bizarre to move this in Chicago forum - given that the obvious answers are chain stores.

That will only happen if you ignore the maximum output power. A 100W converter is not going to power a 1500W hair dryer, and there is a fair chance that you'll damage one or both if you try. RTFM.