Danger Danger, High Voltage!
 

I Want to stay charged in Spain this summer and I want to know what is the best type of Power Converter I should purchase before I go. I ideally would like to have the ability to bring and use my electric toothbrush, digital camera charger and IPOD. Is there an amazing product out there that anyone would reccommend to "do it all" maybe even be able to bring my laptop and hair dryer (not a must but nice to have)!?

Presumably you have checked the voltage range on the charger, iPod and laptop. There is a good chance they will be multi-voltage and not need an adaptor.

If all of your devices say "100V-250V" or a similar range, you're okay with just an adapter (take a cube tap with you, too).

Terminology

Adapter: adapts your North American (NA) plugs having flat prongs to the round Continental or blocky UK kind.

Transformer: an electric device that changes voltage from European 220V to NA 110V. For small electronics like CD players or cameras that only run on 110V.

Converter: another kind of voltage-changer, but for high-power appliances like curling irons and dryers.

my iPod & accessories don't need a CONVERTER but do need an ADAPTOR to fit the outlets in Europe.

same thing with digital camera battery & cell phone chargers.

Look at YOUR individual chargers (magnifying glass might be needed as the print is extra-tiny)to know what voltage ranges they can accept.

I agree with all that has been said about the digital camera and the iPod.

The toothbrush will likely needed a European power adapter. Low wattage converters are probably available at places like Walmart and Target.

Even though they are relatively inexpensive, I have found them unreliable. They blow hotel fuses or they blow their own internal fuses. A total pain. I don't try to use one anymore.

Have you considered an $8 battery powered toothbrush? It won't have quite the power as your plug-in model, but it would work well for travel. They taken AA batteries.

Some hotels may have a plug to fit American products in the bathroom - one of our regular places has a dual plug, one with the slots that US cell phone fits, one with the round holes where an adaptor plug is needed. We can charge both phones at the same time there. Of course, you can't assume that but it's convenient when you find one. Hubby also brought a small power strip b/c we brought a laptop and my Ipaq (which had some kind of battery failure and didn't work the whole time we were gone, but works fine now that we're home).

Note to above: we did not need a convertor or transformer with any of the above articles (cells, laptop, Ipaq).

p.s. when I read your title, I remembered this image of a warning sign...for some reason, it cracks me up.
http://www.labelident.com/catalog/pr...images/w81.gif

<i>Transformer: an electric device that changes voltage from European 220V to NA 110V. For small electronics like CD players or cameras that only run on 110V.

Converter: another kind of voltage-changer, but for high-power appliances like curling irons and dryers.</i>

I thought it was the other way around. Converter for small electronic devices -- low wattage, and transformer for high-power heating devices. ((b))

You are misinformed.

A transformer for high-power appliances would be too heavy to carry.

A converter is a solid-state device that can fry appliance switching power supplies, but it does okay with heating elements.

110220volts.com/Frame/Main/Adapters_Freoign_Plug_Power_Phone.htm

I just bought a dual wattage &quot;converter&quot; for use with radios, CD players, battery charges, and the like. It also has a switch for hair dryers, curling irons, and other heat producing appliances. Maybe it's a combination of the two. ((b))

The socket in hotel bathrooms which takes US plugs is a shaver socket, intended for you electric shaver. It is not 110 volts!
But most things, except electric toothbrushes for some reason, are dual voltage nowadays. Not sure about the hairdryer, but most hotels have those either in the bathroom or available.
Either buy a battery toothbrush, use a hand toothbrush for the duration of your trip or buy a cheap electric one in Europe.
As has been said before check the voltage plate on your appliances to be sure they are dual voltage.
You will need an adapter so that the US plugs fit the Spanish sockets.

My sister-in-law bought a hair dryer for about 15 euros during her visit. It is sitting in my apartment until the next visit. She said I could give it away if anybody needed it.

There are so many things that one should do to support this topic! Fe printing labels for different waringns and so on http://www.mediaform.de/barcode/roll...etten,420.html

PS: What kind of charger would I need to go overseas to England?

Kerouac, it's been four years. Have you given away that hair dryer yet?

I think it's still in the bathroom cupboard.

Definitely check with your lodging about hairdryers - they are probably available. I've stayed in 10 hotels and 1 apartment rental in Europe and only 1 hotel didn't have a hairdryer in the room - and that was a boat hotel on a canal. No need to carry one with you if they will be supplied.

All our electronic devices - laptop, phones, Nook, battery chargers - are dual voltage so we only take the adapter so we can plug our stuff into the local outlets. Take a couple though - they are small and it is a hassle to have to wait for one thing to charge before charging something else.

I bought my adapters at Radio Shack. They have a ton.