Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Shoestring Travel
Travel Tunes: "America by Simon and Garfunkle"
I'm empty and aching and I don't know why
Counting the cars on the New Jersey Turnpike
They've all gone to look for America
Traveling to try and find something...
Global Electricity
Isn't it crazy that there are different electrical outlets all over the world? As the popularity of electricity spread, I'm surprised that a common outlet to access it by wasn't used. There are two-pronged, three pronged, round, square and flat... the geometry of electricity! Seeing as I will be in Spain, I needed the two-pronged round type (surprisingly, there are different kinds of outlets within Europe, northern is different than southern which is different than Italy!). Anyway, this post will be of interest for anyone going somewhere about what you need to do to electrically prepare yourself!
Adapters
Adapters are mechanisms that simply change the shape of your plugs so they will fit into whatever outlet you are trying to put them in. They do not affect the voltage of your appliance. There are single adapters which are meant for one appliance, and then there are also power bars (of which the plug connecting to the wall may be European, but all the outlets along the power bar would be north North American). I have found both two-pronged and three-pronged adapters (for things like cell phone chargers, which have two prongs, and laptop power chords, which have three prongs). Adapters can be found at most any travel supply store (I got mine at the Canadian Auto Association, but I found some at Magellan's, Mountain Equipment Co-op, and Amazon as well). They tend to be between $3 and $15, the three pronged ones being more expensive. I also don't feel the need to bring too many, as I probably won't have all my appliances plugged in at once. I will be leaving my adapters on the ends of my appliances (like my computer) so that when I take it anywhere, I don't have to worry about forgetting my adapter because it will be attached to my chord already.
Converters
Converters are bigger than adapters, and are meant to alter the voltage going to and from your appliance. North American outlets provide about 110 volts of electricity, whereas European outlets provide around 220 volts. What this means is that North American appliances are built to withstand 110v, so if you plugged your North American hair straightener into a European outlet, you would fry it with more volts than it can handle, causing it to break. Here's the catch - not every North American appliance is built this way. More and more frequently, electronics are being made to withstand multiple levels of voltage. To find one of these appliances, look for something that is "dual voltage", meaning it can take both American and European levels of voltage. In addition to something being dual voltage, anything with a large adapter on it usually means it can take both voltages as well. For example, the power boxes that are half-way along your computer power chord are made to control the level of voltage that goes to and from your computer, making computer use in Europe a since. Battery chargers, such as digital camera batter chargers are also typically made to withstand multiple voltages. To be safe, check your users manual or the actual appliance to see what voltages are written on it. The two appliances that are typically NOT dual voltage are hair straighteners and blow dryers. These also don't fare well with converters. Your best bet in this case is to try and find a dual voltage appliance online (Remmington, Corioliss, Amika, and Avanti are notable brands for full sized hair straighteners, and Sedu sells wonderful straighteners that have different plugs on the end, if you wanted to get one for the country you are visiting, but they are a bit expensive).
Long story short:
If your electronic is dual voltage or has a power converter built in, just get an adapter that changes the shape of the plug to fit in international outlets (make sure to get the right one for your country!). If your electronic device does not fit this criteria, you could use a converter to alter the voltage that your device gets. Some electronic devices (such as flat irons) cannot be used with a converter, and you will have to buy a dual voltage one instead. Read your labels, and don't fry your electronics!
Adapters
Adapters are mechanisms that simply change the shape of your plugs so they will fit into whatever outlet you are trying to put them in. They do not affect the voltage of your appliance. There are single adapters which are meant for one appliance, and then there are also power bars (of which the plug connecting to the wall may be European, but all the outlets along the power bar would be north North American). I have found both two-pronged and three-pronged adapters (for things like cell phone chargers, which have two prongs, and laptop power chords, which have three prongs). Adapters can be found at most any travel supply store (I got mine at the Canadian Auto Association, but I found some at Magellan's, Mountain Equipment Co-op, and Amazon as well). They tend to be between $3 and $15, the three pronged ones being more expensive. I also don't feel the need to bring too many, as I probably won't have all my appliances plugged in at once. I will be leaving my adapters on the ends of my appliances (like my computer) so that when I take it anywhere, I don't have to worry about forgetting my adapter because it will be attached to my chord already.
Converters
Converters are bigger than adapters, and are meant to alter the voltage going to and from your appliance. North American outlets provide about 110 volts of electricity, whereas European outlets provide around 220 volts. What this means is that North American appliances are built to withstand 110v, so if you plugged your North American hair straightener into a European outlet, you would fry it with more volts than it can handle, causing it to break. Here's the catch - not every North American appliance is built this way. More and more frequently, electronics are being made to withstand multiple levels of voltage. To find one of these appliances, look for something that is "dual voltage", meaning it can take both American and European levels of voltage. In addition to something being dual voltage, anything with a large adapter on it usually means it can take both voltages as well. For example, the power boxes that are half-way along your computer power chord are made to control the level of voltage that goes to and from your computer, making computer use in Europe a since. Battery chargers, such as digital camera batter chargers are also typically made to withstand multiple voltages. To be safe, check your users manual or the actual appliance to see what voltages are written on it. The two appliances that are typically NOT dual voltage are hair straighteners and blow dryers. These also don't fare well with converters. Your best bet in this case is to try and find a dual voltage appliance online (Remmington, Corioliss, Amika, and Avanti are notable brands for full sized hair straighteners, and Sedu sells wonderful straighteners that have different plugs on the end, if you wanted to get one for the country you are visiting, but they are a bit expensive).
Long story short:
If your electronic is dual voltage or has a power converter built in, just get an adapter that changes the shape of the plug to fit in international outlets (make sure to get the right one for your country!). If your electronic device does not fit this criteria, you could use a converter to alter the voltage that your device gets. Some electronic devices (such as flat irons) cannot be used with a converter, and you will have to buy a dual voltage one instead. Read your labels, and don't fry your electronics!
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