Power adapters come under many names, among them voltage adapters, ac/dc power adapters, travel adapter plugs, 110v 220v voltage adapters, 220v 110v voltage electrical converters and universal voltage adapters. They enable travelers to use their electric shavers, hair dryers and other small appliances in other countries. Here’s what you should know before purchasing a model.

1?Look for power adapters online or in stores like udtek.com. A typical relatively inexpensive kit includes the adapter plug with a converter that converts 220/240 foreign electric voltage to U.S. voltage, 110/120v. A 1600 watt converter allows you to use your travel iron, hair dryer, coffee maker and even an electric blanket while you travel.

2?Check that the kit you buy meets your specific travel needs, especially if you are traveling with an infant. A 50/1600 watts (Toshiba 120w Global AC Adapter) worldwide travel kit is for domestic appliances with a rating of 50 watts – 1600 watts. You should use 50 watts for radios, answering machines, tape recorders and calculators. 1600 watts takes care of devices that produce heat, including irons, hair curlers, heating pads and warmers for food and baby bottles.

3?Buy adapter plugs for foreign outlets. Adapter kits generally come with plugs that are suitable for most regions including the U.K, Europe, the Caribbean, Hong King, the Middle East, South America, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. Some high-end power adapters come with built in plugs.

4?Bring along a Step Up/Step Down converter if you are going to be working during your travels. A typical 230 watt ?Toshiba 65w Global AC Adapter?Step Up/Step Down converter changes 110 up to to 220V or converts 220 down to 110V. It features an on-off switch and an LED indicator light. You can use it for fax machines.

5?Look for Step Down grounded transformer offering a maximum capacity of 150 watts, converting 220/240V down to 110/120V and an on/off switch. Use it for your laptop computer in Europe and Asia.

When preparing your trip to Paris, do not forget to pack the right adaptors for your small appliances. Otherwise you will get yourself into trouble.

Twice the voltage

European power typically comes out of the electrical outlets at 230-240 volts, while 110 volts is the US standard. If your electric shaver is not rated to operate at between 110 volts and 240 volts, it will burn out when you plug it in a French socket.

Should you travel with an electric shaver or a portable CD player, look at the voltage it supports. If it harbors a converter — a small device which converts a 110 volt current into a 9-12 volt current, also called a transformer — verify the input voltage of your device. The label should clearly state which voltage it accepts. If it states ‘110 Volts’, that’s not good enough. You will burn both converter and appliance when you plug them in an electrical outlet overseas.

Therefore pack only those appliances which work in the 110-240 volt power band, or at a low voltage (such as 9-12 volts) when they come with a transformer.

Transformers for laptop computers are often rated to work at 100-240 volts. Still, make sure to check yours beforehand. If your laptop only operates at 110 volts, go to a Radio Shack store, and buy a suitable multi-voltage converter for your specific model.

Likewise with battery chargers for cell phones and digital cameras; they too should be checked. Some battery chargers won’t accept the higher 240-volt current, some will. The labels on your battery charger and on the transformer that often comes with the charger will tell you what you need to know.

Plug differences

The electrodes (terminals) on a US plug are flat. The electrodes on a French plug are cylindrical. French wall outlets only accept these cylindrical plugs.

This means you won’t be able to plug your flat American plug into a regular French outlet.

Buy yourself a cheap adaptor. They come in various shapes and forms. The more sophisticated allow you to plug your devices anywhere in the world.
You should be able to find inexpensive ones at your local hardware store. Call before you drive there, not all stores carry these items. You can also find travel adaptors at the airport.

Transformers are not adaptors

Transformers and converters modify the characteristics of the current which is input in your appliance.

Adaptors are simpler devices which allow you to connect your US plug in a European or French outlet.

Do not confuse one for the other. A converter is heavier because it features a metal coil. An adaptor on the other hand is usually light because it’s all plastic with a few metallic parts.

Sometimes transformers also operate as adaptors. In such a case, their male terminals will be shaped to match the receiving socket.

Hairdryers

Hairdryers usually suck in a large amount of power. If yours does not operate at between 110 and 240 volts, you will have to buy a bulky transformer.

I advise you not to pack this appliance, but simply call the hotel to check whether they provide blow-dryers in the rooms.

(Written with Vincent Ramelli)

When preparing your French holiday, do not forget to do a little research and pack the correct adaptors and or transformers for your small appliances. Otherwise you will get yourself into trouble and blow up your appliances.

Firstly, we need to make sure you understand the terminology. Adaptors are simple devices which allow you to connect one plug into a different shaped plug. You can get adaptors for American to European, English to European, Australian to European and vice versa – basically any combination for different shaped plugs. You can even purchase expensive adaptors to plug in anywhere in the world.

Adaptors are light in weight. These are not to be confused with transformers (also called converters) which modify the characteristics of the current which is input in your appliance. Transformers or converters are usually much heavier and bulkier than adaptors as they have a metal coil in them.

Transformers are not adaptors. The tricky part is that some transformers can also be adaptors at the same time if the terminal is adapted for a different shaped foreign socket.

Next before you jet off you need to consider plug differences. The electrodes (terminals) on an American plug are flat. The electrodes on all French plugs are cylindrical. All french wall outlets only accept these cylindrical plugs. Quite simply you won’t be able to plug your flat American plug into a regular French socket unless you use an adaptor. The United Kingdom also has flat plugs and British tourists also need adaptors. Adaptors are simple devices which allow you to connect your appliance into a plug with a different shape than the country where you purchased your appliance.

If you need to buy yourself a cheap adaptor you should be able to find inexpensive ones at your local hardware store. It might be prudent to telephone first before driving down to the hardware store. If you are lucky you will be able to pick up an adaptor at a market for around 1 pound. If you still can not find one anywhere, you can usually buy them at an inflated price at the airport or the ferry port or the eurotunnel terminal – but you will pay about three times more.

Adaptors come in all shapes and forms. The more sophisticated and consequently the more expensive also allow you to plug your devices anywhere in the world. I paid 9 euros for a European to Worldwide adaptor at the Eurotunnel terminal in Calais.

Next you need to consider the power voltage differences. England has 240 volt standard power like France. European power typically comes out of the electrical outlets at 230-240 volts. Europe has over twice the voltage of America where the standard volts is 110. If you plug a 110 volt American appliance into a French socket with an adaptor and no converter or transformer you will blow it up. You can get electric shavers and other appliances rated to operate at between 110 volts and 240 volts, which will not burn out when you plug it in a French socket.

If you want to take your portable CD player, laptop, digital camera, mobile phone, electric shaver, or any electrical appliance and their chargers you must first look at the voltage they supports.

If your appliance comes with a converter , a small device which converts a 110 volt current into a 9-12 volt current, you also need to check its input voltage. The label should clearly state which voltage it accepts. If it states ‘110 Volts’, that is not good enough. You will burn both appliance and converter when you plug them in a French or any European socket.

You should only pack appliances that work in the 110-240 volt power band, or at a low voltage of 9-12 volts with a transformer (or converter) that supports an input voltage of 240. You need a converter which accepts the 110-240 volt range.

Good news – Transformers for laptops are normally rated to work at 100-240 volts. But make sure you check it first. If your laptop only operates at 110 volts, go to your local computer store, and buy a suitable multi-voltage converter for your specific model. Similarly you will need to check the labels on the battery chargers for mobile phones and digital cameras and the labels on the transformers which come with them. Some battery chargers will accept the higher 240-volt current, some won’t.

Hairdryers usually suck in a large amount of power in order to produce the heat to dry your hair. If yours does not operate at between 110 and 240 volts, you will have to buy a transformer and these are normally quite bulky. You should call the hotel first to check whether they provide blow-dryers in the rooms. If they do travel light and leave yours behind.

Now you are thoroughly prepared you can sit back and enjoy your French holiday. Remember there is more to France than Paris. The Loire Valley 2 hours south of Paris is incredibly popular and defiitely worth an extended visit.