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What Type of Electrical Adapters or Converters do you Need for Travel

I assume that “assorted cords and cables” includes some sort of adapters for electrical outlets. What does one need in that respect? Hello Emery, There is not much to fret about when it comes to finding proper adapters and current converters for electronic equipment when traveling. Most high end electronics — laptop computers and digital [...]

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I assume that “assorted cords and cables” includes some sort of adapters for electrical outlets. What does one need in that respect?

Hello Emery,

There is not much to fret about when it comes to finding proper adapters and current converters for electronic equipment when traveling. Most high end electronics — laptop computers and digital cameras — come pre-equipped to handle voltage that is between 100 and 240 volts. This is a wide enough range to cover just about the entire planet.

Most laptop computer voltage can handle 100 to 240 volts

Most laptop computer voltage can handle 100 to 240 volts

The USA is at 120 volts, while most of the world is set to 220, I think Japan is 100, but the range of most high end electronics cover it all. So all you need to do is to plug them into an adapter and stick it in the wall.

For lower end electronics, like a lamp or some other appliance, you will need a current converter. A current converter will actually change the voltage going from the wall into the appliance.They are small boxes that look just like a plug adapter but they will say that they will convert voltage and give the range of current that they will work with.

I seldom travel with a voltage converter, as I found that I don’t use them often, as all of the electronics that I am currently traveling with are set to receive a voltage range that covers pretty much the entire planet.

Most camera chargers also take between 100 and 240 volts

Most camera chargers also take between 100 and 240 volts

What I do travel with — and use most everyday — is a plug adapter. These adapters do not convert voltage or current, they just give you the proper shaped business end of a plug. So you have the two prong plugs of Europe, the square shaped plugs of Asia, and the diagonal plugs of some other countries. As of now, I have not yet traveled to a country whose outlets would not receive one of the options on my plug adapter.

When picking out an adapter make sure you can stick a wide variety of plugs into it as well as use it to meet the shapes of the varied outlets around the world. In point, make sure it looks like the one in the photos below.

Photos of a good plug adapter for international travel

Plug adapter for international travel

Plug adapter for international travel

Try to get a travel adapter that has a variety of inputs as well as outputs

Try to get a travel adapter that has a variety of inputs as well as outputs

international-electrical-plug-adapter

For more information on international plug adapters and voltage current converters go to, International Voltage and Plugs for Laptop.

If you have any other questions about current converters or plug adapters for travel, please do not hesitate to ask.

Walk Slow,

Wade

Filed under: Electronics, Travel Gear, Travel Help

About the Author:

I am the founder and editor of Vagabond Journey. I’ve been traveling the world since 1999, through 91 countries. I am the author of the book, Ghost Cities of China and have written for The Guardian, Forbes, Bloomberg, The Diplomat, the South China Morning Post, and other publications. has written 3699 posts on Vagabond Journey. Contact the author.

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  • Brighton Hotels October 22, 2010, 2:33 am

    I agree, before you leave home, particularly if traveling to a non native language country, buy your self a multi adapter, or better still buy it at the airport. I required one when first traveling and it took me five days before I could navigate my way to a hardware store. Then it took three attempts to communicate my needs.

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