How can I charge my 220 Volt toothbrush in Mexico?
Nov 23, 2021, 10:47 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 234
How can I charge my 220 Volt toothbrush in Mexico?
I have an electric toothbrush and its (inductive) charger needs 220 Volts to charge. I'm in Mexico and all outlets seems to supply only 110 Volts. Can anybody think of a way charge my toothbrush? E.g. do Internet cafees or any other stores have any 220 Volt outlets? I'm not open to pay for an expensive transformer, then I'd rather just use a standard handpowered toothbrush.
Nov 23, 2021, 11:31 am
#3
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Nov 23, 2021, 2:11 pm
#4
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Somewhere in Florida
Posts: 2,622
You're not likely to find a public 220v receptacle in MX. Even if you did, it'll be 60Hz and your device is likely only designed for 50Hz since it's 220v-only. At one of the venues I worked at we would provide 220v Euro 2-pin sockets, but by special request, and it still was 60Hz.
Nov 23, 2021, 3:01 pm
#6
Join Date: Dec 2010
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240V 60Hz as found on outlets for high-wattage devices like electric ranges, dryers, or some window or through-the-wall air conditioners would work; the charger shouldn't care about frequency.
Unfortunately none of these devices are common in Mexico; ranges are usually gas, dryers are usually the sun and split A/C units are hardwired. And the plug wouldn't fit anyway.
I don't know why inductive toothbrush chargers aren't 100-240V like everything else, but I've always just used a manual toothbrush for travel. Just be glad you didn't set one on fire like I did when I moved from the U.S. to Europe.
Unfortunately none of these devices are common in Mexico; ranges are usually gas, dryers are usually the sun and split A/C units are hardwired. And the plug wouldn't fit anyway.
I don't know why inductive toothbrush chargers aren't 100-240V like everything else, but I've always just used a manual toothbrush for travel. Just be glad you didn't set one on fire like I did when I moved from the U.S. to Europe.
Nov 23, 2021, 9:59 pm
#7
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
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240V 60Hz as found on outlets for high-wattage devices like electric ranges, dryers, or some window or through-the-wall air conditioners would work; the charger shouldn't care about frequency.
Unfortunately none of these devices are common in Mexico; ranges are usually gas, dryers are usually the sun and split A/C units are hardwired. And the plug wouldn't fit anyway.
I don't know why inductive toothbrush chargers aren't 100-240V like everything else, but I've always just used a manual toothbrush for travel. Just be glad you didn't set one on fire like I did when I moved from the U.S. to Europe.
Unfortunately none of these devices are common in Mexico; ranges are usually gas, dryers are usually the sun and split A/C units are hardwired. And the plug wouldn't fit anyway.
I don't know why inductive toothbrush chargers aren't 100-240V like everything else, but I've always just used a manual toothbrush for travel. Just be glad you didn't set one on fire like I did when I moved from the U.S. to Europe.
We have several 220v circuits in the house, for the central air conditioning systems, the pool pump, the dual fuel range and the electric dryer outlet (which I use to charge my plug-in hybrid vehicle).
Nov 24, 2021, 3:01 am
#8
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I have an electric toothbrush and its (inductive) charger needs 220 Volts to charge. I'm in Mexico and all outlets seems to supply only 110 Volts. Can anybody think of a way charge my toothbrush? E.g. do Internet cafees or any other stores have any 220 Volt outlets? I'm not open to pay for an expensive transformer, then I'd rather just use a standard handpowered toothbrush.
Nov 24, 2021, 5:54 am
#9
Join Date: Jul 2014
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Nov 24, 2021, 10:23 am
#10
Join Date: Jan 2003
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or just this:
https://www.reddit.com/r/mildlyinter...my_toothbrush/
https://www.reddit.com/r/mildlyinter...my_toothbrush/
Nov 24, 2021, 11:01 am
#11
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: DEL
Posts: 1,056
The 220v outlets in North America are split-phase. There are two hot 110v wires and neutral wire, some have a fourth wire, ground. It's a very different setup from the 220/240v that's used in the rest of the world, where it is a live 220/230v wire, a neutral and a ground.
We have several 220v circuits in the house, for the central air conditioning systems, the pool pump, the dual fuel range and the electric dryer outlet (which I use to charge my plug-in hybrid vehicle).
We have several 220v circuits in the house, for the central air conditioning systems, the pool pump, the dual fuel range and the electric dryer outlet (which I use to charge my plug-in hybrid vehicle).
Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying it's a good idea for OP to jam their toothbrush plug into a dryer or range outlet. But it would work. I may or may not have a very not-to-code NEMA 14-30 to Schuko adapter to run a 3 kW kettle and a Moccamaster coffeepot I really like
OP's best bet is a regular toothbrush or a charging pad for smartphones, which should both be easy to find in Mexico.
Nov 24, 2021, 12:36 pm
#12
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Yes, but OP's charger doesn't care. Whether it gets +230 and 0 or +120 and -120 the charger will work fine--either way the voltage across the two wires is within spec. European household plugs have never been polarized, so it's impossible to run into the dangerous situation with older American appliances where the chassis is connected to neutral and a miswired plug connects the user to line voltage. Plus, a charger intended for use in a bathroom would be double-insulated anyway.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying it's a good idea for OP to jam their toothbrush plug into a dryer or range outlet. But it would work. I may or may not have a very not-to-code NEMA 14-30 to Schuko adapter to run a 3 kW kettle and a Moccamaster coffeepot I really like
OP's best bet is a regular toothbrush or a charging pad for smartphones, which should both be easy to find in Mexico.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying it's a good idea for OP to jam their toothbrush plug into a dryer or range outlet. But it would work. I may or may not have a very not-to-code NEMA 14-30 to Schuko adapter to run a 3 kW kettle and a Moccamaster coffeepot I really like
OP's best bet is a regular toothbrush or a charging pad for smartphones, which should both be easy to find in Mexico.
There are the types of 220v outlets at my house:
220v 30 amps dryer outlet (two power lines at the side of the outlet and the bottom is the neutral, there is no ground)
220v 50 amp range outlet (two power lines at the side of the outlet, the bottom is the neutral and the top is the ground).
Last edited by TWA884; Nov 24, 2021 at 12:41 pm
Nov 25, 2021, 7:12 am
#13
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Detroit; Formerly Dubai
Posts: 3,652
Generic versions of the Braun inductive charger go for US$14.
https://www.amazon.com.mx/Braun-7040...7849493&sr=8-7
https://www.amazon.com.mx/Braun-7040...7849493&sr=8-7
Nov 26, 2021, 7:19 am
#15
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,786
Yeah I actually thought about that after I posted, but didn't know if it would work or not. I wanted to test wireless charging pad and reserve charging on my toothbrush, but I don't any wireless charging in my household at all. My brother is here for Thanksgiving tomorrow, maybe I will borrow his new samsung phone to see it will charge my toothbrush LOL.