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Electricity When Traveling

You’ve renewed your passport, bought your plane tickets, and researched your destination; now it’s time to prepare for the little details of traveling overseas.  One is making sure you have the right equipment needed to use any electrical devices you’re bringing on your trip.  That means making sure you have the right travel adapter and, if necessary, the right voltage converter.

All electrical sockets are not created equal; if you are going to use a device overseas, you need to know what type of voltage is used in the country you’re traveling to and what type of adapter is needed to plug your devices into the outlet.  Otherwise, you may end up with an overheating curling iron (just imagine what this would do to your hair!) or a fried cell phone charger.

Travel Adapter vs. Converter:  What’s the Difference?

Lets start with the basics:  What exactly is the difference between an adapter and a converter?  An electric converter changes the voltage of your electronic device.  An outlet adapter changes the shape of your plug, not the electrical voltage, allowing you to plug appliances into wall outlets in countries with different-shaped plugs than your own.  Below, you will see which outlet designs are used in different countries.

Which Devices Do I Need to Bring?

The first thing to consider is which devices you really need to pack on your trip.  While you cell phone is a no-brainer, can you get by without a tablet or laptop?  Most hotels offer hair dryers and irons so you don’t have to bring your own, and you can easily use manual razors and toothbrushes instead of their electric counterparts.

If you plan on staying in one country for a while, you might want to buy a hair dryer or electric razor there.  Battery-operated appliances are another option if you’re willing to bring plenty of replacements.

Voltage Converters

Most American-made electrical appliances work at 110 volts.  While Japan, most of North America, and parts of South America and the Caribbean use voltage between 100 and 125, the vast majority of the world uses 220 to 240 volts.

Before you run out and buy a voltage converter, there’s a very important piece of information you need to know.  The vast majority of modern travel gadgets are dual-voltage, meaning they automatically convert to run on other voltage systems.  Most smartphones, tablets, and other gadgets are dual-voltage, and if you use a converter on something that is already dual-voltage, you can damage your device.

How do you know if your device is dual-voltage?  Check the label on/or owner’s manual:  If it says something similar to “INPUT AC 120 VAC 60 Hz 200 W,” then your gadget is single-voltage and can only be used on 120 V.  If you want to use it elsewhere, you’ll need a converter.  If you see something like “INPUT AC 120/240 V 50-60 Hz 1300 W,” then your device is dual-voltage, and you can safely use it for voltages anywhere between 120 V and 240 V.  If this is the case, you’ll only need a plug adapter.  (See chart below.)

Small electronics, razors, and non-heating appliances will need a 50-watt converter.  Heating appliances such as dryers, irons, coffee makers, and other high-powered electrical devices need converters up to 2000 watts.  You can also purchase combination converters for both types (many of which also come with adapter plugs).  Check the label on your electrical appliance to find its wattage.

Power converters are generally bulkier and heavier than adapters.  Remember that you will always need to use an adapter with a converter, but you won’t always need to use a converter with an adapter.

Travel Adapter Plugs

Even if two countries operate on the same voltage, their outlets might not take the same shape of plug – and that’s where an adapter comes in.  An adapter will allow you only to plug your appliance into another type of outlet.  Most are small and lightweight, making them easy to pack.  If you’re packing lots of devices, you should invest in multiple adapters so that you can charge all of your electronics at once.

Where to Buy Travel Adapters and Converters

Be sure to buy your converter and adapter before you leave.  In a foreign country, it can be hard to find one that is designed to convert your American plug/voltage into a foreign electricity/plug., rather than the other way around.  Also, the converters and adapters found at airport shops are usually highly marked up, whereas you can get both for much cheaper online if you buy before you go. 

Adapters and converters are available at most trave/luggage stores, pharmacies, electronics stores and even your neighborhood big box retailer.  You can also purchase them online.

Plug & Socket Types Around the World

There are currently 15 types of domestic electrical outlet plugs in use worldwide, each of which has been assigned a letter by the US Department of Commerce International Trade Administration (ITA), starting with A and moving through the alphabet. These letters are completely arbitrary: they don’t actually mandate anything.

Type A

  • mainly used in the USA, Canada, Mexico & Japan
  • 2 pins
  • not grounded
  • 15 A
  • almost always 100 – 127 V
  • socket compatible with plug type A

Type B

  • mainly used in the USA, Canada & Mexico
  • 3 pins
  • grounded
  • 15 A
  • almost always 100 – 127 V
  • socket compatible with plug types A & B

Type C

  • commonly used in Europe, South America & Asia
  • 2 pins
  • not grounded
  • 2.5 A, 10 A & 16 A
  • almost always 220 – 240 V
  • socket compatible with plug type C

Type D

  • mainly used in India
  • 3 pins
  • grounded
  • 5 A
  • 220 – 240 V
  • socket compatible with plug type D (partial and unsafe compatibility with C, E & F)

Type E

  • primarily used in France, Belgium, Poland, Slovakia & Czechia
  • 2 pins
  • grounded
  • 16 A
  • 220 – 240 V
  • socket compatible with plug types C, E & F
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Type F

  • used almost everywhere in Europe & Russia, except for the UK & Ireland
  • 2 pins
  • grounded
  • 16 A
  • 220 – 240 V
  • socket compatible with plug types C, E & F

Type G

  • mainly used in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Malta, Malaysia, Singapore & the Arabian Peninsula
  • 3 pins
  • grounded
  • 13 A
  • 220 – 240 V
  • socket compatible with plug type G
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Type H

  • used exclusively in Israel, the West Bank & the Gaza Strip
  • 3 pins
  • grounded
  • 16 A
  • 220 – 240 V
  • socket compatible with plug types C & H (partial and unsafe compatibility with E & F)
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Type I

  • mainly used in Australia, New Zealand, China & Argentina
  • 2 or 3 pins
  • 2 pins: not grounded / 3 pins: grounded
  • 10 A
  • 220 – 240 V
  • socket compatible with plug type I

Type J

  • used almost exclusively in Switzerland & Liechtenstein
  • 3 pins
  • grounded
  • 10 A
  • 220 – 240 V
  • socket compatible with plug types C & J

Type K

  • used almost exclusively in Denmark & Greenland
  • 3 pins
  • grounded
  • 16 A
  • 220 – 240 V
  • socket compatible with plug types C & K (partial and unsafe compatibility with E & F)

Type L

  • used almost exclusively in Italy & Chile
  • 3 pins
  • grounded
  • 10 A & 16 A
  • 220 – 240 V
  • 10 A socket compatible with plug types C & L (10 A version)
  • 16 A socket compatible with plug type L (16 A version)

Type M

  • mainly used in South Africa
  • 3 pins
  • grounded
  • 15 A
  • 220 – 240 V
  • socket compatible with plug type M
  •  

Type N

  • used in Brazil and South Africa
  • 3 pins
  • grounded
  • 10 A, 16 A & 20 A
  • 100 – 240 V
  • socket compatible with plug types C & N
  •  

Type O

  • used exclusively in Thailand
  • 3 pins
  • grounded
  • 16 A
  • 220 – 240 V
  • socket compatible with plug types C & O (partial and unsafe compatibility with E & F)
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