Traveling can create lots of fun memories, but many times we can have trouble recording those memories if our electrical devices, like cameras and phones, do not work properly at our travel destination. These days, with the many advances in technology we only need to work about two important issues in order to ensure our electronic gadgets work properly in Europe. Read on to find out how to prepare your electrical devices for travel.
Two electrical differences you must know about when traveling to Europe
First off, in order to run any electrical device in Europe you have to plug it into an electrical socket into the wall.
Secondly, the device has to be able to run on the electrical network of that country; it needs to be able to handle the voltage on the wire.
Electrical Plugs are Different in Europe
This means you can’t simply take your phone charger, travel to Europe and expect to simply plug it into the wall. It will not work if you do not have a plug adapter for the country you are traveling to.
Electrical Voltage is Different in Europe
Most of Europe is running at 220 volts while in the US we use 110 volts to run our electrical appliances. This means that you can’t just simply take your US electrical device and expect it to work in Europe unless the device has been designed to work in Europe.
Get Your Electrical Device Ready for Europe
First you have to know if you device will work in Europe or not. Here is how to check if your device will work in Europe.
Check voltage inscription. If your device shows an inscription for a range 110V-220V then all you need is a plug adapter. Some devices may have a switch with two positions: one for 110V and one for 220V. So, check for a switch in the 110 position. When you get to Europe, you need to change the position of the switch to 220V.
If you only see an inscription for 110V, then you need a more expensive transformer that will transform the electricity from 220V to 110V. Otherwise, if you attempt to plug in your device without a transformer, you will “fry” your device right away.
Fortunately, most modern electrical devices like phone chargers and digital camera chargers work on a range of voltages. This means you can simply take your device, with the proper plug adapter, and just plug it in wherever you’re going in Europe.
Get the Right Electrical Plug Adapter for Europe
To make sure you can plug your device you need to adapt your American plug to the country you are traveling to.
- Universal plug adapter. If you are traveling through different countries in Europe, your best choice is the excellent universal adapter with a USB charger. Even though bulkier, a universal plug adapter will work in every country.
England and Ireland – The United Kingdom has one of the weirdest electrical plugs, and the bulkiest. It is best to buy a grounded plug adapter since every plug in England is grounded. Even though it is bulky, this type of plug adapter has worked perfectly for me in England and Scotland.Rest of Europe – The rest of Europe is using a two prong simple electrical plug for which you can just buy a very simple and inexpensive plug adapter. This adapter has worked for me all over Europe, in Belgium, France, Italy, Switzerland and Romania.Switzerland has a wall plug that looks deceivingly complicated and it appears it needs a special plug adapter. However, a regular European plug adapter with two prongs will work mostly fine if the adapter is small enough to fit. A plug adapter just like the one from above for the rest of Europe will work fine.
Switzerland has a wall plug that looks deceivingly complicated and it appears it needs a special plug adapter. However, a regular European plug adapter with two prongs will work mostly fine if the adapter is small enough to fit. A plug adapter just like the one from above for the rest of Europe will work fine.Do You Need an Electrical Transformer or a Simple Plug Adapter?
Whether you need a transformers or not depends on the devices you take with you when you travel. If some of your devices only show 110V (like a hairdryer), then you need an electrical transformer which is a bit bulkier and heavier. The only travel devices that you need to check are hairdryers, power tools and other uncommon devices not really intended for travel. If you are looking for a transformer look for one that supports high wattage devices, as most transformers don’t support these devices. If you have such devices, buying a high wattage step-down electrical transformer is the only way to go. This particular one is an actual all in one: high wattage transformer, plug adapter and USB charger. It works all over the world as it comes with all the plug converters you need. This is all you need to buy.
It’s Easy to Ensure Your Electronic Gadgets Work in Europe
In my experience, I have never needed an electrical transformer and I have only used two electrical plug adapters to travel all over Europe: one for the UK and one for the rest of Europe. It is true that I have only needed to run laptops, camera battery chargers and cell phone chargers. Even our blow drier worked completely fine, with the appropriate plug adapter.
Hi Vlad, I am also moving to Portugal from the US. Please address whether or not to bring my more expensive electric items: TV’s stereo equipment, and high end Miele vacuum. Thanks! Amdrew
Andrew…good question! My advice is to not bring any large electronics from the US to Europe. I would only bring the ones that work across 110V to 220V.
Specifically, TVs will not work properly in Europe as they use a different color system (PAL) versus the US color system (NTSC). In addition, the current frequency is different as well 60Hz vs 50 Hz…so don’t take any TVs.
Your vacuum cleaner will work with the proper step down transformer, but I sill wouldn’t bring it because you would depend on the transformer. If it breaks, it will be difficult to replace in Europe.
Hello,
I am seriously contemplating a move to either Portugal or France. I have a house full of lamps, kitchen small appliances, stereo equipment, etc. that I would prefer to take and use through their “useful life” rather than purchase all new items where I end up. (I’m thinking that 3 dozen transformers will cost less than that number of toasters, mixers, coffee machines, and antique table lamps.) Can you advise on the transformers required for the various types of small appliances, stereo equipment and lighting that a typical household contains?
Many thanks!!
Bruce….great question!
Here is my advice based on your question. I would not take any high-wattage kitchen appliances (coffee maker, toaster or anything over 50W) with me to Europe. Most high-wattage transformers support only one plug and just imagine you having to switch between your appliances to use one transformer. The high-wattage transformers are also on the expensive side…running you around $40, so it’s not worth buying a lot of them just to run a few appliances. Since you plan to move and be there long term, I would plan on buying any kitchen appliances in the country where you will live.
On the other hand, for lamps and other low-wattage appliances, you can use the transformer I recommend on this page (not the high-wattage one). It has 3 plugs and works great for low-wattage appliances.
Hi! Your website is so helpful! If I am traveling to Paris, Italy, and London – i would need #1 & #2 (universal and England / Ireland), correct?
Liz…good question. For London you need #2 and for Paris and Italy you need #3. However, if you buy #1, that’s all you need as it will work everywhere…the only drawback is that the universal adapter is bulkier, this is why I prefer the simple converters #2 and #3.
Hi there! I don’t know if you can help but my husband tried to update our garmin nuvi and he just let it run. However, we live in Scotland and for some reason it seems to have changed over to the USA and we cannot get back to UK. Would you have any suggestions on how we would do this, it also has an SD card which when taken out it cannot find maps. Cannot believe this has happened. We use our garmin all the time. Any help would be grateful, thanks in advance.
Jane…not sure what you mean by updating your Garmin Nuvi…do you mean updating your UK maps or updating the Garmin operating system? I also don’t know what you mean that it has changed to the USA…you mean you only see the USA map? And you don’t see the UK map? Try the steps outlined here: https://www.touristbee.com/2012/02/switch-maps-on-garmin-nuvi.
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