Adapter
 

Will my outlet adapter that worked in Germany and France work in Italy? (2 prongs)

I don´t think that the French/German plugs work well in Italy. Take a look at the adapter chart published by Wonpro:

https://www.europlugs.com/Design_Rev...ntry_Chart.htm

It is not that straightforward. Measure the pin diameters. If it is 4.0mm, it will work anywhere.

Germany/France use 4.8mm diameter sockets. However, you could have used 4.0mm pin plugs. Besides being loose, you would have not noticed the mismatch.

Italy uses BOTH 4.0mm and 4.8mm pins depending on premises. Some hotels use only 4.0mm sockets, some (ones that get a lot of international guests) use 4.8mm sockets, while some have installed a dual outlet that have 4.0mm and 4.8mm sockets.

So you might get an input from someone who happens to be using 4.8mm pin adapters and claim no problem using it in Germany and Italy when that person happened to have stayed in an hotel with 4.8mm sockets.
Similarly, one who uses a 4.0mm adapter would claim it works in Germany and in Italy. Rick Steves simplifies the management by advocating the 4.0mm only adapter approach, at least by looking at what his site sells as a Euro plug.

I have also found that the diameters of these cheap adapters vary a lot. It is not uncommon to find ones with odd size like 4.3mm.

I carry both Schuko (4.8mm) and Euro plugs (4.0mm). I try to use the one that fits the tightest possible when using charger bricks that weight down the plug.

Here. Photos and descriptions for each country
http://www.magellans.com/portable-el.../plug-adaptors

In Italy, Schuko plugs are used only on household appliances like vacuum cleaners, blenders, and refrigerators. It would be very rare to find an outlet of that size in a hotel room, except *maybe* the outlet where the TV is plugged in. All Italian chargers have 4.0 mm plugs, and we've never needed a Schuko adapter when traveling around Italy. Some Italian outlets have a hole for a third prong, but that's the ground prong, so a two-prong plug will work fine in it.

The 4.0 plug is used all over continental Europe, or should be,except for major appliances, so the same adapter should work everywhere. I know our Italian charger plugs worked in France without an adapter; I haven't been to Germany in the past decade, but it should be the same.

If i buy the voltage converter(for charging my electrical razor and my computer) will i be able to use that also for things that don't need converting like my mobile phone?

You do not need a voltage converter for anything, including your electric razor (except for a hair dryer), if it was purchased within the last 10 years or so, and I can't imagine an electric razor lasting that long.

Unless your computer is one of HP's earliest models (an ancient relic), all modern portables, including those running the MS opening system, are dual power.

You unlikely to need voltage converter (<b>converter</b> looks like this http://www.amazon.com/Simran-Interna...avel+converter) for razor or computer.

You need a <b>plug adapter</b>. It looks like this (http://www.amazon.com/EU-PLUG-i-Trek...o+plug+adapter).

How do you know you don't need a converter? Check the electrical label on each appliance! Don't assume you need one. An electrical label looks like this http://www.adaptelec.com/index.php?m...roducts_id=154 and click the tab <u>"220-240 Volts vs. 110-120 Volts"</u>. You probably have seen them but probably didn't see any need to read them? You do now!

The <u>left</u> hand photo is probably what you see on your appliances. You only need a cheap adapter because the label says <u>100-240v</u>.

Some specialty equipment, the type the manufactures don't think anyone would take abroad "might" look like the label on the <u>right</u>. It needs more than an adapter.

<i>PoissonRouge on Jan 15, 14 at 10:55pm
If i buy the voltage converter(for charging my electrical razor and my computer) will i be able to use that also for things that don't need converting like my mobile phone?</i>

See http://tinyurl.com/luva2b3 for information on converters. It's best to avoid using a converter.