Don't pack that Electricity Currency Converter
 

I'm been in Europe for two weeks now and I recently noticed that my laptop will work on 220 voltage as well my cell phone and I-pot charger. All you need is an adapter plug which is much lighter than the Currency converter.

Just check the back of your applicance (read the directions) to see if it says 115 volts to 240 and all you need is the adapter plug.

The only thing that is not working without my currency converter is the battery charger, and if you have a newer camera, that will probably work now, too.

I ruined my cell phone charger in Fiji last Christmas because it could not take the 220 voltage, but my new cell phone can, so just read the back of the appliance.

You may need to get some reading glasses to read the fine print.

I just use the Currency Converter function of my cell phone. Load the exchange rate once, then calculating a £ or € price in $ is a matter of entering the amount and pressing one button.

What?

<i>Current</i> converter?

Oh. Never mind.

Definately a WALLY !!!!!

&gt;&gt;I'm been in Europe for two weeks now and I recently noticed...&lt;&lt;

:-D

OK, let me clearify the comment. I went to WalMart and purchased an electrical device that will convert 220 power to 115 volts. It also came with adapter plugs for all countries. I paid around 20.00 for this.

The converter (that converts electricity from 220 to 115) weights a lot. If most of your electrical devices are new, they should work with just the adapter, however, I am hearing stories of people burning out their hairdryers (I don't have one and refuse to use one).

I am going to London in March - I am trying to decide about the convertor - I am assuming i will need the adaptor to fit the european plugs.
- on my flat iron I am not seeing the 110/210 but I am seeing 300v - I dont know if that has anything to do with voltage but I would assume.

My question - do I need anything other than an adaptor?? I doubt we still have the instructions - dont really want to buy one once there and really dont want to start a fire...

planning to use hotel hairdryer. will also have cellphone charger possibly - but not definate.

I'm assuming your &quot;flat iron&quot; is a hair appliance purchased in America and it doesn't come with dual voltage. If so, you will need a (heavy) converter in addition to an adapter, a royal pain in the ass. You will easily create a fire hazard if you try to use your American hair appliance in a foreign country with an adapter only.

flat iron is for straighting hair - sorry - i think we will just buy one that we know is dual and then the adaptor - thanks.....

Are you sure your iron is marked 300v (volts), rather than 300w (watts)?

Makes a difference.

:-)

If our appliance (whatever it is) says any one of the following or something similar
~ 90V-240V
~100/120V - 220/240V
~100V-220V
then it is built to work with the voltages of both US (fluctuates between 90 and 120 V around the nominal 110V) and Europe (fluctuates between 200 and 240 V around the nominal 220V) voltages.

Most modern small appliances (camera chargers, mp3 players, phone chargers, el. razors etc.) are built that way.

What you still need is an adapter to make the flat US blades/prongs fit into the round (and differently spaced) holes of the European sockets. Simply a physical matching adapter, nothing to do with electricity. You get them in just about any store these days. Target, Walmart, you name it.

CAUTION: If you have a heat-generating thing like hair dryer, curlers etc. and it is not built for the dual voltages, then you really need to pay attention. You need to buy a converter that fits that kind of device, not just any voltage converter - the wattage comes into it now, so read up on that at www.ricksteves.com or at www.conair.com/-c-55_90.html.

Much better, buy such a device over there, then you know it works, bring it back, keep it for the next trip or sell it on Craiglist.

Please note that the outlets in the UK are different from all the technologically advanced countries. Make sure you get the right adapter - like this: http://www.confidentialcommunication...pin%20plug.png

Very funny, Robespierre! Confidential Communications is a supplier of surveillance equipment, and your link shows a bugging device that sells for &pound;390. http://www.confidentialcommunications.co.uk/ ;-)

Heimdall, not on my computer/browser it doesn't, it shows exactly what Robespierre intended to show - the clunky UK prongs on a clunky adapter for the clunky UK electrical connectors.

Maybe your computer is subject to (cue spooky music here) surveillance?

Here is another UK adapter from a different company - the URL was too long so I had it shortened:

http://tinyurl.com/3krkl4

Click on it again Dalai. It is a spycraft company. Wacky Robespierre humour.

DalaiLlama, the bugging device on the Confidential Communications website is designed to look like a 3 way electrical connector - to plug up to three appliances into one electrical socket. It's not a travel adapter, and doesn't accept two-pin plugs. Many older British homes have only one or two wall sockets in each room, and those 3 way connectors are very common - no one would think twice if they saw one.

Dalai, go back to my link, scroll down the page a bit, and you will see an identical image to the one in Robespierre's post. ;-)

Love the electric kettle with the listening device! Why not a coffee maker, too?

Maybe my illustration needs a notice:

<b><font color="red">WARNING!</font> Recharging a phone without a court-issued wiretap order violates US Judicial Code!</b>

Robes, you are up on all the latest tech gizmos, WHERE CAN I GET THAT ELECTRICITY TO CURRENCY CONVERTER? I've got a bunch of electricity here and I want to convert it into some currency.

Sorry Wally, I'm just playing with you.

:-)

dave