Electrical Converters
 

I am going to France next week. I do have a foreign voltage converter. Can I plug my Android tablet or Kindle Fire charger into the converter or do I also need an adapter. I am confused about this. Replies will be appreciated.

Nearly all electronics these days run on 110 AND 220--there should be a label on each that states this. All you need is a very simple plug adapter, which will cost a couple of dollars.

Like this:
store.ricksteves.com/shop/p/european-power-adapter

You will need an adapter just to make sure you have the prongs to go into the sockets where you're going. These are the sort of prongs you need for France:
https://img-2.fruugo.com/product/3/34/8219343_max.jpg

It may be that your devices are capable of handling either voltage without the converter (transformer), but you'd need to check the tiny print somewhere about them or in the manuals to know for sure.

What PatrickLondon said. A converter could blow circuits if you haven't read the manuals for your devices. Plus, they are usually heavy and a PITA to carry. In all likelihood all you need is a simple, cheap adapter.

We vacation in France for 2 months every year. I have never used a converter for my kindle, mobiles, camera, toothbrush charger, hair dryer, curling iron, i-pod player, or any other electrical device. About 20 years ago I purchased a converter to use on some device - and the converter did not work. I plugged the device directly into the wall socket - and it worked fine. You probably have to "switch" your hair dryer to 220 and check if your curling iron is dual voltage.

As others have stated - you'll need a plug adapter. We travel with about 6 of them.

Stu Dudley

If your devices are duel or multi-voltage, then using a converter will only confuse them and probably cause damage. READ you input label on the plug and it should say something like - Input voltage 120-240v. If it does leave the converter at home. You will need plug adapters.

Those devices are multivoltage. Just get the necessary adapters to fit the plugs.

They should be but there is no guarantee that they are. You have to check input label on the plug.

<i>Electrical Converters
Posted by: abram797 on Aug 17, 16 at 1:54pm
I am going to France next week. I do have a foreign voltage converter. </i>

Using that converter can be very counter productive. There is a good explanation at http://www.enjoy-europe.com/hte/chap11/converter.htm. As mentioned above, you probably do not need anything besides an adapter plug. The grounded "Schuko" type plug works in France. If your devices are two wire a "Euro" ungrounded plug adapter will do.

I second StuDudley's advice--bring several adapter plugs! They're cheap and small, and it's convenient to keep one with each device.

Thank you everyone. I went out and bought 3 adapters tonight.