What is the difference between a travel charger converters and adapters. Can you explain. I%26#39;m going to Paris next week and i%26#39;m looking for a good travel kit i can carry so i can charge my phone, camera and Ipod. I%26#39;m not taking any laptop, i did some research but i%26#39;m not sure which one to get. My charger for my Ipod and camera say input 100-240 V does that mean i need a converter? if i get only a travel adapters will that work. Please help, if anyone took a trip to France can you tell me what travel charger i can use or get. Thank you
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Do not purchase any chargers or converters. Your transformers already accept 220VAC (it%26#39;s printed on the case).
This is what you need:
http://tinyurl.com/2jza86
They are usually cheaper if purchased locally however they are also available in Paris at:
BHV
FNAC
Darty
Carrefour
Auchon
Surcouf
or other electronic stores
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A converter and a transformer *change* the current so that it can be used by an appliance. These are usually rather heavy %26#39;blocks%26#39;, and often only fry your appliance or the converted current is weaker than you need.
An adaptor / adapter is just a little plug. You stick your foreign plug into it, then you can plug into the wall socket. Very cheap item.
Most modern electronics (phone charges, laptops, etc) are set up for %26#39;dual voltage%26#39;, and can handle both the at-home current as well as the European current - - you just need to be able to plug the thing IN, thus you need an adaptor plug.
US current operates as 110v
European current operates as 220v
- therefore your range of 100-240v covers it all.
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The RadioShack plug adapter is ridiculously overpriced, but it%26#39;s what you need. You can get them for about $2 or less at other stores. These are very basic - no electronics, just a way to adapt your plug to the shape of the wall sockets.
The voltage in France is 230 V, 50 Hz. Check the power adapters from the equipment you plan to take. %26quot;Input 100-240V%26quot; means that it will work with any voltage between 100 and 240V, so it should work fine in France.
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p.s. the photo of the adapter plug from above link to Radio Shack is a good illustration -BUT- $9.99 is waaay too expensive.
You can order online (of course that does add shipping) but maybe you needed something else, anyway...
$1.95 each, $2.99 s/h (I haven%26#39;t used this merchant)
smavtronics.com/international-travel-power-p…
$2.85 each, $5.99 s/h (I have used this merchant)
magellans.com/store/…
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Most hotels will have a box of ones people left behind, but I would still get my own to be safe, if I were you...
Kmart, any large chain drug store (like Duane Reade, Walgreens), or luggage/travel/outdoor stores will have them. I got a set years ago at MoMA for $10 - they all plug together into a small white cube.
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My adapter works fine in Europe with my camera and video camera. But, my laptop plug has the third grounding pin. It fits the adapter but the grounding pin is exposed. Should I be concerned?
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%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;It fits the adapter but the grounding pin is exposed. Should I be concerned?%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;
Not terribly. The ground will be of little use if the receptacle itself has no corresponding ground connect (as is often the case).
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The standard electrical standard in France is 230V-50Hz-- http://www.kropla.com/electric2.htm.
As with your i-Pod and camera, your cel phone should also be %26#39;dual voltage%26#39;--110-120/220-240 V....BUT check your owners manual to make certain (most recent personal electronic appliances, including lap-top computers, DVD players, etc. already have a built-in, dual voltage converter). If your phone is %26#39;dual voltage%26#39;; then all you will need to serve your recharging needs is an %26#39;..adaptor..%26#39; plug to fit the French standard electrical outlets--two(2) round %26#39;prong%26#39;. You will not require a %26#39;step-down%26#39; )220V-to-110V) voltage converter. The two-prong adptor-plugs sold by vendors like Radio Shack will fit the two-round-hole/one prong ground French outlets.
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USA uses 110 volt electricity. Europe uses 240 volts. They have different electricity sockets.
Most low-power devices (such as chargers) and some high-power ones will work on any voltage from 100 to 250 volts. This is usually shown on a small plate attached to the device. If the device will accept 100-250 volts, all that is needed is an adaptor to connect the US plug into the European socket.
Many high-power devices (such as hair dryers and irons) will work on only one voltage. The plate attached to these devices will say something like %26quot;110 volts 5 amps%26quot;. If you just use an adaptor to try to run such a device off 240 volts, you will destroy the device and probably also blow the hotel%26#39;s fuses. It is not pretty.
For these devices, you need a converter, which changes the European 240 volts to US 110 volts. Don%26#39;t choose a dinky little converter that looks easy to carry. It is essential that the converter has a power rating at least equal to the device it has to power. Thus for the 5 amps device, you would need a converter rated for at least 5 amps. Such devices are built like bricks and are not cheap. That is why, if your hair-dryer is not dual voltage, it is easier to just buy one in France.
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There MAY just be a reason for using a voltage convertor anyway. A convertor %26#39;steps-down%26#39; the French 230V to a manageable 110V for your electrical appliances. Grand...but...what happens to the additional 120V that comes out of the French electrical outlet ??
Now if someone could come up with a voltage convertor that would also %26#39;store%26#39; that excess 120V%26#39;s of French electricity...after a few trips, you might be able to plug that voltage convertor into the %26#39;power port%26#39; of a Prius....and drive the car for a month on the %26#39;stored%26#39; excess French electricity ??
Does anyone have Toyota%26#39;s e-mail address ?? How does, %26quot;..BUY a PRIUS...Get a FREE Vacation in PARIS..%26quot; sound ??
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