Any problems with digital camera/battery re-charger in Europe?
 

I'm planning to bring just my digital camera for my Italy trip next May (keeping the SLR at home since I'll be going solo and don't want to carry such an expensive piece of equipment). Will I have any problems recharging my batteries using my recharger and my converter? I once tried to use a curling iron and it didn't work - not sure if the iron was too "strong" for the converter.

Thanks!

Monica ((F))

Monica, Check the back of your battery charger. Mine reads Input AC100-240V 50-60Hz, 4W.

The only thing I need is a plug adapter to go from the U.S. prongs to the European prongs.

If yours is only 100/110V, you will need a converter to step down from 220 to 110. With the low wattage they pull, just about any converter will work.

The curling iron pulls a lot of watts. You are better off buying a European one.

Hope Santa brought you some nice gifts for your trip. ((a))((b))

We've had no problems with the charger (it's dual voltage) and plug adapter.

Conair makes some fabulous dual voltage curling appliances, which also work fine in Europe with just a plug adapter.

Conair sell their products under the name "Babyliss" in Europe. However there aren't dual voltage. I have a Babyliss 230V hair dryer, it gets "hot as hell" and has "hurricaine strenght". It wasn't very expensive. I would be wise to buy a dryer when you arrive, if you need one. Battery chargers with converters/adapters shouldn't be a problem at all.

Thanks. I do have the converter and adapter. Just wanted to make sure I won't have problems since I won't have a "backup" camera.

For Christmas I received the book "Gutsy Women: More Travel Tips and Wisdom for the Road," "Bologna & Emilia-Romagna" and one of those door stoppers that sets of an alarm if someone tries to open the door. I'll definitely be safe in my hotel rooms!

Monica ((F))

Hi,

In Positano, we had a loss of electricity and/or power surge which fried our digital camera charger and adapter. It was a problem, but not totally devastating, since we had two cameras with us.

When in Sienna, we ended up buying a completely new camera (charger included) because we were unable to buy just an Olympus charger.

It pays to have a simple back up camera!

Walkteach

My digital camera takes two AA batteries. Push comes to shove, just buy some regular alkaline batteries from any store if you can't recharge yours. ((b))

Be aware that even the non standard (not AA or AAA) batteries are standardized today. Fuji NP series are widely used in many cameras, as are Nokia mobile phone batteries. (My camera uses them). Easy to get almost anywhere, chargers included. The sales person might not be aware that you're in fact looking for a simple mobile phone battery and charger...

I had no problems using a dual voltage charger.

But using a converter with a charger that wasn't dual voltage, did not work. It charged the batteries just once. In the process, the charger was ruined and would not work again.

Keith

I was looking to buy a Kodak dual voltage charger the other day and found one that said 110-240V but it didn't appear to have a switch (without taking it out of the sealed package). I thought you needed a switch to go from one to the other. Looks like all I would need for this one would be the plug adapter. Comments?

No switch needed. It's call "switching power supply" and reaches from 100-240V, 50-60Hz. Since these are LESS expensive than traditional transformers (lightweight too) they are (almost) everywhere. So this is what usually comes with your camera.

Thanks. I'll buy it.

I agree, Holly, with that one, you only need the plug adapter. No switch -- it takes care of itself. ((b))

I'll need to check my recharger and see if it's dual voltage!

Monica ((F))

It's not dual, but "whatever" voltage as long as it's between 100 and 240 Volts. The voltage fluctuates between zero and 110 or 230 Volts , 50 or 60 times a secound depending in which country you are. The "switching power supply" "realizes" it can only let pass a current of say 12 Volts. For the fraction of a sec, only if the line actually has 12V, it lets the current pass. So I doesn't care what you put in, the output will alway be the same, 12 Volts, which then will be used to "feed" you camera charger. Is there an easier explanation ;-)

Thanks logos999 that's actually what I ment to say.

Monica ((F))

Yup, mine reads, "Input: AC100-240V..." :)

Great!!! Just plug it in (with the plug adaptor of course). ((a)) ((b))

I am having a problem that maybe you guys can help me with. I have several electronic devices, an iPad an iPhone and a big digital camera, all purchased in Canada.
I am in Rome at the moment. Each of these devices is plugged into different outlets, two using a simple prong adapter, one using a multiple outlet USB adapter. Each device has a 120/240 OEM adaptor.

Each of these devices is charging much more slowly than it should. I left the phone plugged into the USB adapter for one full day and it's only charged to 35%, the same with the Ipad plugged in with a simple prong adapter. I left the camera battery charger plugged in to the simple pong adapter all day, and it's only charged 25%.
Is there a problem with the number of amps available?

What else could cause this?

Glivlin,
I am suspecting this is the case of using a converter instead of an adapter.

First, it is not clear just what you are using because of the ambiguous terminology.
<i>Each device has a 120/240 OEM adaptor.</i> This seems to indicate you are using a converter.

What does it look like? Is this something like this (a <b>converter</b>) http://www.amazon.com/eForCity-COTHP...tage+converter

or a plug <b>adapter</b> http://www.amazon.com/EU-PLUG-i-Trek...plug++adapter?

If you are using a converter (a heavy box thing), the you probably did not notice the warning on the package NOT to use it on electronic products such as iPhone, iPad, or camera charger. The converter (as opposed to transformer which is too heavy and not usually sold as a travel product) cuts the voltage by giving half waves. What this does is to cut down the power available to each charger and therefore you see a wholesale weakening of chargers.

Solution (if you are indeed using converters)? Use ADAPTERS so your iPhone, iPad, digital camera chargers see the full wave input power. You only need Adapters for your equipments - cheaper, smaller, and lighter.