Guide to Plug Converters and Adapters for Travelers

We all know that travel requires visas, passports, booking, and local currency, but we often miss out when traveling abroad and checking whether their plugs will work well with our chargers. Countries use different wall sockets with varying styles and loads of electricity delivered. Therefore, it is best to be educated about the power needs of your destination before you leave home.

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Voltage Converters and Plug Adapters

The two main points that power and charging considerations boil down to when traveling internationally are:

  1. Voltage Range
  2. Socket/ Plugs

Knowing these will help you decide which power accessories to pack when visiting a foreign country!

Voltage Range

Many countries, including the United States, use 100-120V power outlets. In contrast, various countries use 220-240 V. It can be dangerous to plug a device that needs 120V into a socket delivering 220 V power, making your device incompatible with the power sockets of your destination. You will need to purchase a voltage converter to address this issue of voltage difference at your destination. This voltage converter is required only if your device is powered at a lower voltage than the voltage supply at the destination. The charger of most devices will state what power input the machine will take. In the case of some devices, the power adapters accept 100-240V. In such cases, you will not require a voltage converter.

Sockets/Plugs

Most power outlets on the walls in the United States typically look the same, with two vertical slots next to each other and a semi-circular port underneath. Some plug points have two vertical prongs, one larger than the other, while others fill all three slots. Some other countries around the world use these plug types. However, there are also certain plug and outlet standards used internationally. You may require proper travel adapters to address this difference in plugs and sockets. These adaptors, however, do not function as voltage changers unless stated specifically. They adopt a pin from one device to suit a different power socket.

Most Common Plug Types

The International Trade Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce has outlined various plugs and sockets used worldwide. Each type of plug is assigned a letter to provide ease of reference. While some pins are common to many countries, others are unique to a certain country. For instance, a Type O plug can be found only in Thailand with three circular prongs arranged in a triangular formation. They deliver 220-240V electricity.

Some of the most commonly used plug and socket types are:

Type A: Mainly used in North America; two vertical prongs; not grounded.

Type B: Used primarily in North America; two vertical prongs with a rounded third prong; dropped.

Type C: Commonly used in South America and Europe; two Round Prongs; not grounded.

Type E and F: Prevalent in Europe; two round prongs; grounded.

Type G: Used mainly in the United Kingdom; two horizontal prongs with one larger vertical prong; dropped.

Type I: Used mainly in Australia and New Zealand; two angled prongs with one optional vertical prong; not grounded unless vertical prong is present.

Useful Power-Related Travel Tips

Try to follow these handy power-related travel tips for stress-free travel and an enjoyable international vacation.

  • Buy plug adaptors or voltage converters before leaving. Then, you wouldn’t have to look for a power adaptor as soon as you land.
  • Use a power strip to require only one plug adaptor while you can charge all your devices. A surge-protecting power bar is better as it protects your devices against fluctuations.
  • If you’d rather not use a power bar, you can charge your laptop through the wall socket and charge your USB devices through your computer.
Read the Power Adapter Very Carefully

Before plugging your device into a foreign power outlet, you must read the powering or charging specifications. Just because the plugs fit fine doesn’t mean plugging them into the socket is safe.

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Writer. Extreme twitter advocate. Hipster-friendly food expert. Internet aficionado. Earned praised for my work analyzing Yugos for the government. Spent 2002-2008 short selling glucose with no outside help. Spent several months developing strategies for xylophones in Ocean City, NJ. What gets me going now is supervising the production of cod in Cuba. Spoke at an international conference about supervising the production of inflatable dolls in Hanford, CA. Spent two years short selling cabbage in Tampa, FL.