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Often one of the most difficult questions to solve when packing for travel ... how to power all those electrical gadgets we cannot live without!
Here is the how to as easy as I can say ...
You are looking for number that ends with a V. Located either on the power cord or the device itself. This will determine whether you’ll need to use a converter. A dual voltage rated appliance will display for example ‘INPUT: 110-240V’. This means that you will NOT need a converter. If your device displays only a single number (120V for example) then you will need a converter if your destination supplies in another voltage.
You will see it says Input: 100-240V. This means it can take any voltage between 100V - 240V.
Again it says 100-240V.
You will find some VERY hard to read. (and are located in silly spots!) I have found sometimes taking a clear photo and expanding helps. And I have even gone back to childhood days to create a rubbing, which is easier to read!
You can barely see on the rubbing, this item is 120V.
Electric frequency refers to the number of complete cycles of alternating current that occur in one second. The most commonly used frequencies in the world are 50 and 60 Hz. If the frequency is different, the normal operation of an electrical appliance may also be affected. For example, a 50Hz clock may run faster on a 60Hz electricity supply.
You will see it says 50/60Hz
Again it says 50/60Hz
This one only says 60Hz
High wattage devices (such as a hair dryer or heating pad) MAY need a voltage converter that has a wattage rating greater than the wattage rating of that device. High-wattage devices will use 1200W or more.
If a converter or transformer is described as a "dual-watt" accessory, it will probably handle the load, though you should double-check its high wattage setting to be sure.
You can see in Pic 1 the Wattage is 10W, Pic 2 15W, Pic 3 is 177W (none are high wattage)
Preform an internet search for “Outlet plugs for destination country”
For example I searched "Outlet plugs for Iceland". One website that came up was https://iceland.nordicvisitor.com/travel-guide/information/electricity/ Here I was shown that it is a Plug Type "C" or "F", which is typical for many European countries (Picture 1 below). This is a standard Europlug socket with two round prongs
When I search "Outlet plugs for Ireland". The first sites did not to appear to be from Ireland. In this case I look at multiple sites that seem more technical.
1st - Electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk
2nd - Power Plugs & Sockets of the World
3rd - International Electrotechnical Commission
All three sites confirmed Ireland uses Plug type "G" which a plug that has three rectangular pins in a triangular pattern (Picture 2 below in aqua color).
Electricity supplies worldwide can vary from anything between 100V and 240V. It can be extremely dangerous to use an electrical device that is rated at a voltage different from the supply.
With each search above, in the description it also stated the Voltage and Hz that country uses.
"For Iceland there are two associated plug types, C and F. Plug type C is the plug which has two round pins and plug type F is the plug which has two round pins, with two earth clips on the side. Iceland operates on a 230V supply voltage and 50Hz."
"For Ireland the associated plug type is G, which is the plug that has three rectangular pins in a triangular pattern. Ireland operates on a 230V supply voltage and 50Hz."
Now that you know what you have and what you need ... shop away. However BE CAREFUL!!
If the destination outlets do not match your device prongs, you need an ELECTRICAL ADAPTER, which is a device that simply allows you to plug any US electrical device into a foreign electrical socket. It is important to note adapters do NOT convert the voltage or frequency.
If the destination voltage or frequency are different than what your device needs, a voltage converter (aka Converter) will be needed. Sometimes you can find a converter and adapter in 1, they often cost more but is just 1 device rather than 2. If your device was rated duel voltage (or says 100V-240V) then you will not need a converter. (this is also where you look for wattage converting if needed)
On Amazon I was given a list of multiple options, upon closer inspection, the first (least expensive) option was simply an adapter. "Type G Power Adapter" (this would only be good for devices that operate on the same voltage as the country uses.) The second option was a "Type G Travel Convertor", this will convert voltage
For plugging in multiple devices you can buy a single adapter plug and a power strip with multiple outlets. Though it's bulkier and pricier, a multi-outlet surge protector is even better, because it adds a level of protection for places with less stable electrical grids. (see pic 4 below - the top option is just an adapter, the higher priced one is also a voltage converter)
Trying to clarify this topic can be about as clear as mud! I hope you found this helpful, however if you have ANY questions please feel free to contact me! I am here to help.
(Please note I cannot verify legitimacy of any 3rd party websites, including the ones listed above.
I always suggest thorough research with multiple sources to find your answers.)
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