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Tech challenged: US car charger for IPHONE work in France and Italy

Tech challenged: US car charger for IPHONE work in France and Italy

Old Aug 30th, 2015, 08:52 PM
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Tech challenged: US car charger for IPHONE work in France and Italy

Will be renting a car in France and Italy and am wondering if my car charger will work in these two countries. My sister will also be along, so there may be a need to charge in the car, if possible.
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Old Aug 30th, 2015, 08:55 PM
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Yes, it should work fine. I've used my GPS charger in Europe a few times in rental cars now.
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Old Aug 30th, 2015, 09:10 PM
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The charger will work the same as at home.
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Old Aug 30th, 2015, 09:26 PM
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The "cigarette" socket works the same way.
But I am puzzled: what does sister have to do with the charger? Is she more of a power drain than you?
I bring an external battery instead. It is about the same bulk as the cigarette adapter charger, it gives me an option to charge my phone when I stay at a hotel with ancient wiring where only available socket is in the bathroom. The external battery allows me to charge my phone next to my bed.
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Old Aug 31st, 2015, 12:37 AM
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It's not a universal feature in rental cars, but most new cars come with a USB socket. So you can charge directly with the phone's or camera's power cable (IF that ends in an USB plug). If you need to charge more than one device via USB you get a hub for few dollars or euros which lets to charge a multiple number of devices from one USB socket.
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Old Aug 31st, 2015, 12:44 AM
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why not pick up a spare lead before you go, in case you lose one, [happened to me in France where the replacement was quite expensive] and a double-socket charger so you can both plug in at the same time [or use it for the GPS or whatever]?

I like the idea of the external battery and a hub - I've been meaning to get them but never got round to it. Thanks for the reminder, Cowboy.
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Old Aug 31st, 2015, 03:22 AM
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I'd bring the car plug and USB alternatives to be sure.
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Old Aug 31st, 2015, 10:34 AM
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Thank you Andrew, Robert, Greg, Cowboy, annhig, and billoburgler for the quick responses.

Greg - I am the power drain, not her
Seriously, we will each have an Ipad and IPhone and be out most days, not wanting to leave something behind charging while we are out. What is a external battery and where to purchase?

So, the car charger should work.
Is a "hub" the same as a "double socket charger"?

Annhig, what is a "lead"

I am retiring this week and have just taken my second Apple one-on-one class to learn a bit more about the phone and Ipad. I paid $99 for a year which is quite the bargain.

Becoming educated about these products is high on my long list of "things to do" when I return from a six week journey with my sister.
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Old Aug 31st, 2015, 01:27 PM
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These are USB hubs
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_no...ywords=usb+hub

You plug it into the USB socket of your car, or in your charger.

And charge as many devices as there are ports in the hub.

If you want, there are also USB hubs you can plug directly into the 12V cigarette lighter outlet of a car:
http://blog.bluefur.com/2008/03/31/g...b-car-charger/


An external battery is sometimes also referred to as a power pack or portable power banks:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_no...ternal+battery

Depending on size and "power" of the power bank, it can store enough power to charge an iPhone or similar devices 2-x times. If you opt for an external battery I would not use any of the smallest "lipstick" sized batteries if there were 4 devices in demand for power.
But get one with 10,000 mAh or more.
But: The more power they can store, the more they weigh. Check the fine print of each battery to see how much it will weigh and if you're willing to carry that weight around.
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Old Sep 3rd, 2015, 09:46 AM
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Thank you, Cowboy, for the helpful information.

Should I be heading to Radio Shack or???? for the hubs
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Old Sep 3rd, 2015, 10:04 AM
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I thought Radio Shack went out of business...
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Old Sep 3rd, 2015, 10:45 AM
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Annhig, what is a "lead"?>>

a lead is the plastic covered wire that connects the two ends of the charger - one end of the lead goes into the charger, the other into the phone/i-pad/laptop...a bit like a dog lead! [I think that in the US they are called a cable, but not a dog cable, obviously!]
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Old Sep 3rd, 2015, 11:11 AM
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Robert, you could be right -another indication of my lack of tech/electronic knowledge.

Annhig - you make me laugh because I am bad, but not quite that bad. Do I recall a Danish connection for you?

I googled USB hubs Honolulu which I should have thought to do in the first place. I'm off to Best Buy when they open at 10.

Thanks to all who took the time to help!
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Old Sep 3rd, 2015, 11:38 AM
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Annhig - you make me laugh because I am bad, but not quite that bad. Do I recall a Danish connection for you?>>

Danish? no, just a Brit.

I thought that I ought to explain fully, given the ability of some federates [not you!] to misunderstand things that I have written in all innocence.
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