I purchased a RadioShack Foreign Travel Voltage Converter last week. I specifically told the salesperson I wanted something that would be able to be used for hair dryer and travel iron, as well as pda, digital camera, cell phone,etc.

The salesperson insisted that the 1600 watt combo converter and adpapter would be perfect.

This afternoon while packing for the trip to Italy I actually READ the back of the box and it SPECIFICALLY stated it was to be used ONLY with items that heat up such as hair dryers, irons and such. rrrrggggh.

Before going back to the store I looked more closely at my hair dryer, iron, and cell phone recharge cord and realized they were dual voltage anyway, (duh..current travel items would be dual I suppose...) so all I needed for those three items was the outlet ADAPTER, not the converter.

When I got to the store the salesperson apologized and showed me the ADAPTER. The one for Italy was in a set that includes adapters for other countries and he insisted they are only sold in sets, even by companies other than RadioShack. So I bought the set. ($10.99)

But just in case I decided to bring my PDA and in case my mom and dad bring something that is NOT dual voltage I also purchased the 50 Watt Foreign Travel Voltage Converter, for use with strictly electronic devices. (appx. $26)

I noticed on the front of the ADAPTERS it states "for use with RadioShack foreign-travel voltage converters to power American products in many foreign countries."

I questioned the salesperson about this. Why would I need to use the ADAPTER with the voltage converter if the voltage converter also has the Italian plug on it? He said I don't have to use the CONVERTER with the ADAPTER. So I made my purchases and left.

NOW, reading the ADAPTER package more closely it really makes a point of saying the things need to be used with the converter. What the heck is going on? Should I or should I not just plug in my dual voltage items into the ADAPTER?

An adapter simply allows you to plug your appliance into the wall, as Italy and the US has different style socket. As long as that adapter is rated enough for enough voltage (i.e. 220) and amp (very little for your electronic devices), you're okay.

And the 1600w converter/adapter will work with small appliances too. The sales at Radio Shack gave you the correct recommendation because you said "hair dryer" and "travel iron". It makes no sense that such a converter ONLY would not work with other electronic items.

rkkwan,

Thank you for the help. I do appreciate it.

As to the 1600 Watt converter the box really did say "FOR USE ONLY WITH...."
or else I would have kept it.

I just hesitate to go against what the packages say. I would hate to burn down the villa we are renting.

For anyone else in similar situation:

I just called product support at RadioShack and the tech said:

He does NOT suggest plugging in the dual voltage items into the Voltage Converter + Adapter even though the saleman said I could.

He says there is no problem plugging the heating up items that are dual voltage into the particular plug ADAPTERS.

So I will have the ADAPTER + CONVERTER for items that I might have that are not dual voltage and are for ELECTRONIC items.

Bye.

For some reason Radio Shacks in CA only sell adaptor sets. They even went so far as to tell me that it was some sort of CA law (I just went over to Rand McNally and picked up individual ones). Dual voltage electronics such as digital camera, cell phone, pda, laptop, etc. work fine with just the adaptor. I'm not positive on the hair dryer & iron because I never travel with them. There seem to be a lot of hair dryer horror stories.

When I took my laptop to Europe for the first time I made the mistake of going to Radio Shack to get my necessary adaptors and plug ins. Among other things the guy insisted I didn't need a different phone plug in, that those are all universal. I said I KNEW that European phone plugs are different but he insisted I was wrong. Meanwhile he sold me some other things. I went to Gateway and they sold me an entire kit including the three different plugs for phones for less than the couple items Radio Shack was selling me. I took the stuff back to Radio Shack and told them where to put it.

I'm feeling incredibly ignorant. I am going to Ireland. Will I just need an adapter for the Irish outlets for my Olympus battery charger, or will I need a converter too? How do you know if your equipment is dual volage or not?

It should be printed somewhere on the charger itself. If it's dual voltage, it will say something like 110V~220V more or less.

adamsparks,

Just DON'T go to RadioShack for help

I have another question, may have been answered in other threads on this, don't remember though.

If you have a dual voltage item that is not the kind with the switch thing like my travel iron, for instance my cell phone charger I should do that dangerous assume thing and believe that the item will be able to go to the right voltage on it's own?

I've had some store clerks claim adapters only came in sets, also, for the entire world. I've found single plugs for sale in quite a few places, though -- AAA travel stores, many individual travel or map stores, etc. They like to sell entire sets you don't want because they are expensive.

PLMN,
Do you have a GMS cell phone? If not , you don't need to bother taking along your charger,because most US cell phones won't work in Europe.

I thought I had this figured out but a comment above made me wonder: What problems might you encounter if you accidentally plugged your dual voltage item into the converter? (Assuming it's an item that has an automatic switch inside.) It seems like it would work just like it does in the U.S. since the converter would be feeding it 120V. Am I correct in my thinking?

Well, the salesperson IN the RadioShack said it wouldn't be a problem but the RadioShack guy on the phone from the product support center suggested I don't.

Since I can't really trust anything RadioShack has told me I'm not going to take a chance on burning down the villa by plugging the dual voltage into the voltage converter on the off chance something goes haywire with the RadioShack product.

I bought a WORLD PHONE, quad band. EVERYONE said it was the right kind. I hope that hasn't changed. (Motorola)

The RadioShack guy in the store INSISTED, (cause he's "worked there for 4 years&quotthat if my Mom has an Elph camera and I have the Camedia that they will charge up fine without the voltage converter because "pretty much all those digital cameras made in the last 10 yrs are dual voltage."

PS. And by the way, I should have trusted my insticts when they told me I could only buy the adapters in sets. I thought I saw single ones in Walmart and Target, but I wasn't sure and I didn't want to make another stop for the blasted things.

In my experience the personnel at Radio Shack are worse than useless in figuring this stuff out. I have also had the experience of taking their advice only to get the product home, read the box and/or inside information more thoroughly, and find out the Radio Shack person was completely wrong.

I can't speak to digital cameras but I just looked at my PDA cradle and it ISN'T dual voltage. (Palm Zire 71)

your digital camera will only need a plug adapter. cell phone too. (you possibly could have gotten along cheaper in the long run with a phone bought locally - what service do you have, T-mobile?)

hair dryer - may not be a bad idea to buy one over there. do you really need to take a PDA on a vacation?

My old HP Jornada pda recharger is NOT dual viltage either. But I don't think I'm going to bring it anyway.

I did see a REALLY cool item at RadioShack though. Weird because I saw it mentioned on this web site just yesterday.

I think it is by Garmen? A GPS device. I think it was $500 or was it $300? It even speaks the directions outloud. I honestly considered getting it for a BRIEF moment. Then the finance guys in my head started warning me away. My excuse to myself was nah, my folks love getting lost in wine country.

ok, a Garmin is a bit much. you are going on vacation, not a forced march!

although, I'd like to take a look. radio shack? I wonder if I can get one of them cheaper at a pilot's store...

Hi flygirl.

Yup, I saw it at Radioblah.

Look at it there maybe, but don't buy it there. You would probably end up in some horrible place by accident.