Power strip in Europe?
 

I am going to be visiting Paris for a week in October. I've been taking stock of all my "essential" electronics and the whole adapter issue. My question is, has anyone ever put an adapter on a power strip and just used that for all the plugs? Between my camera chargers and phone charger I've got 3 things to plug in, not counting my PDA. Any advice? Thanks!

Indeed! I've even gone so far as to have a 'European' two pin plug installed on my Australian 240v power strip lead. I simply connect the power strip to a European outlet, and connect my heating element, camera chargers, phone chargers etc to the strip as required.

Provided it is a 220/240v power strip, I would think this would be fine. If it is 110v, this would seem like a fire hazard to me.

What I do suggest, instead, is one of these:

http://www.igo.com/

You can consolidate to a single charger, and charge two items at a time.

Yes, I bring a 4' US extension cord with me when I travel to Europe just for that purpose. It's lighter than a power strip, and I can use it for at least 2 chargers at once, sometimes 3 depending on the plug style.

As for it being a fire hazard, statements to that effect are random guesses.

Anyone who understands electricity knows that it is excessive current that is a bigger risk than 220V. Any device you use in Europe will use 1/2 the current since the voltage is doubled, hence there will be less heating in the wires. None of the devices you mention are high power anyway.

Yes, it is correct that if the wiring insulation on the extension cord or power strip isn't ok for 220V there is an increased risk of shorting, but UL standards require US wiring to be good to over 600V.

I've done it. Work's just fine. Sure cuts down on the adapters, and when the only outlet is back behind the headboard.

Just make sure all your devices are good on the voltage/amperage

We did not carry a strip with us from the US, but in a couple apartments we have rented in Paris there were such strips in use, and they worked fine. I suspect that they were left by previous rentors, or perhaps provided by the owners after repeated requests. As Clifton notes, the big thing is to remember that using an adapter to plug the US parallel blade plug into the European pin outlet does not change the voltage delivered through the strip so make sure that whatever you plug into the strip is OK on 220V.

Hi K,

It's unlikely that 3 battery chargers will blow any circuit breakers, but why does everything have to be plugged in at the same time?

A power strip is extra weight.

((I))

Ira, just for an example, we are three people sharing a room. Everyone has a camera and everyone has a phone. We'll want to keep them all charged, but we'll also want to be carrying them around with us all day. Hence, 6 things to plus in overnight :)

Wow - thanks so much for all the feedback. I've been combing all the posts for info on Paris and getting all sorts of wonderful advice. This will be my first trip to Europe and I've been researching the heck out of everything.