mamarosa

Good morning! I know, I know, this topic has been discussed numerous times, but I do have a specific question. I wanted to ask the Fodors gang, so that I can sound somewhat intelligent when I head to the land of blank stares at Radio Shack.

(As a quick sidenote....I went to Best Buy with this question yesterday and was directed to the auto audio section!!!)

We will need to take my sons nebulizer (for his asthma) to the UK with us when we go in May. In looking at the back of the machine, it states 115V/60Hz/1.7 Amps.

I can only assume, by reading all the previous threads on this, that I will need both a converter and an adapter.

Can someone please confirm this for me???

Thanks so much for your tollerance of yet another converter question!

Happy Travels, Rose

Intrepid1

Yes, since the machine only accepts 115 V input you'll have to use a converter to step down the 220-240 current in the UK; you'll also need an adaptor so that the plug on the nebulizer can be connected to the electrical outlet.

Assume you are aware that the UK uses a different style of adaptor than the so-called "continental" plug which has two round pins. The UK plugs/adaptors are shaped differently.

Sometimes hotels will supply you with adaptors to use and in some hotels in Europe I have actually seen razor outlets in the bathrooms which have BOTH 110 and 220 outlets. But I'd take the necessary equipment with me just to be sure.

MorganB

You must be careful when you buy the voltage converter to make sure that the it can handle the number of watts your nebulizer consumes. According to the information you have provided (and assuming I am doing the calcuation correctly) your nebulizer would consume 196 watts. Most small travel converters are only rated to 50 watts. If you use an under rated converter you are likely to burn up the converter.

You would need something like this:

http://www.voltageconverters.com/itemdesc.asp?CartId={FA1DF45EVEREST8-71A8-4662-8FAF-8C3A7B5D7312}&ic=VC200W

or this:

http://www.dvdoverseas.com/store/ind...atalog1_0.html

SW

You may want to check whether the manufacturer of the nebulizer makes an adapter/transformer for 220V. The other alternative is to invest in a portable nebulizer that runs on batteries. The most portable of these are the ultrasonic nebulizers that run on 2-4 AA batteries such as the Omron microair nebulizer. You can do a Google search to find retailers.

mamarosa

Thanks so much for the information.

I had no idea there were portable battery operated nebulizers. Thankfully he doesn't have to use his that often, but knowing our luck, we'd end up in the UK without it and he would need it!

Thanks again!

BetsyG

Mamarosa,
You should check with the manufacturer of your nebulizer. I was told that ours was not adaptable (last summer), that the motor could burn up.
Ended up renting a Pari Trek which the insurance co paid for. National Allergy Supply has a good selection of portable nebulizers. Your insurance co may even pay for one. Thankfully, we didn't end up needing the neb but it is nice to have one for peace of mind.

Gardyloo

My recommendation is not to fool around - find one that will use 220v <b>50</b> not <i>60</i> hz (herz, cycles per second) or one that's battery operated.

If you take a plug-in one, find one of the many plug adaptor sets that has one of everything - UK, Europe, &quot;old&quot; UK, Australia, etc. Never know when they might be used.

Then go to a hardware store or home store and get a heavy-duty extension cord, 15 or 20 feet. Older hotels in the UK (and some newer ones - buildings from the '60s are the worst) are notorious for having few if any electric outlets (points) in the rooms where you can attach your appliances. (This from a land where coin-operated hot water is still within living memory.) Use the plug adaptor on the end of the extension cord so that your son can have the nebulizer nearby instead of on top of the (unplugged) television across the room.

BTW, 200 watts (volts x amps = watts) is not a giant problem for many converters. If it pulls 1.6 amps on 110v, it will pull .8 amp on 220v.

smacknmo

You can refer to the website voltagevalet.com for advice on foreign currents. I have called them a few times in the past with questions and they have been very helpful whether I made a purchase or not. It sounds to me that you will need and adapter and a convertor. Happy Travels!

cigalechanta

ttt

mamarosa

Thanks again for all of the great advise! I'm happy that I've got other options besides converters/adapters!

Thanks again....Rose

Kansan

Is your son old enough to use an inhaler? If he's at least five, I'm sure he could manage it. Asthmatics should always carry a rescue inhaler. I'd hate to see you have to cut short an outing to rush back to the hotel for a nebulizer treatment.

Good luck!

mamarosa

Yes, he does use an inhaler, and carries one with him. We are taking the nebulizer simply as a precaution.

Thanks!