AC Convertors for London and Paris

[Alan Edward Klein]

I'm traveling on vacation from America to London and Paris. What proper AC power plug (rating) in chargers should I get for my iPhone and Samsung cellphones and Samsung Netbook? I also have to plug in my 120vac battery charger. We'll be staying in hotels in each city. Thanks.

 

[L Gebhardt]

Check the rating on the charger. Many are universal and support a voltage range of 100V to 240V and a frequency of 50 to 60Hz. Those ranges encompass the all the standard AC supply lines in homes around to world. So if your chargers indicate those ranges they will almost certainly work, though you will probably need adapters to convert the US plug geometry to the ones in use in London and Paris.

 

[jeffreyg]

I bought a kit in a local hardware store that has a converter and an assortment of plugs which has worked in many countries. It has a diagram of the plugs on the inside cover so we just pack it. I also suggest taking an auxiliary rechargeable battery which can come in handy for any of the gadgets when you are out and about and something is running low.

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[Alan Edward Klein]

I bought a kit in a local hardware store that has a converter and an assortment of plugs which has worked in many countries. It has a diagram of the plugs on the inside cover so we just pack it. I also suggest taking an auxiliary rechargeable battery which can come in handy for any of the gadgets when you are out and about and something is running low.

ABOUT | JEFFREY GLASSER

HOME | SCULPTURE and PHOTOGRAPHY

Good idea.

 

[foc]

You may also need a plug adaptor.
The UK is 3 pin.



France and most of continental Europe are round 2 pin

 

[Pieter12]

I find it convenient to carry an auxiliary battery that is also a charger. One less thing to lug around, but you still need the 2 plug adapters for the UK and the continent.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Check the rating on the charger. Many are universal and support a voltage range of 100V to 240V and a frequency of 50 to 60Hz. Those ranges encompass the all the standard AC supply lines in homes around to world. So if your chargers indicate those ranges they will almost certainly work, though you will probably need adapters to convert the US plug geometry to the ones in use in London and Paris.

@Alan Edward Klein ==> Yes, you should be alright for an iPhone.

You may also need a plug adaptor.
The UK is 3 pin.
View attachment 333993


France and most of continental Europe are round 2 pin

View attachment 333994

Get those adapters or a couple of the Insten Universal Adapters [unfortunately many people forget and leave them behind someplace so it is a good idea to have more than one.]

==> www.amazon.com/Universal-Worldwide-Countries-International-Compatible/dp/B000YN01X4

 

[Kilgallb]

Check the rating on the charger. Many are universal and support a voltage range of 100V to 240V and a frequency of 50 to 60Hz. Those ranges encompass the all the standard AC supply lines in homes around to world. So if your chargers indicate those ranges they will almost certainly work, though you will probably need adapters to convert the US plug geometry to the ones in use in London and Paris.

Be careful with portable games. Many are 120vac only. Nintendo did this to prevent bootlegging into the EU.

 

[wiltw]

For EACH device you are bringing...

1. Look at the input Voltage range...it is on the label on its wallwart.
2. It will also tell you the output Voltage and number of Amps it can output.

I found that while my phone and my wife's phone chargers input 100V-240V both had output 5V, but my Lenovo tablet charger output 20V. So I neede to find a charger that sensed the output Voltage needed and could output both 5V and 20V. All I needed to bring along was a PLUG ADAPTER (no Voltage conversion from 240V step down to 110V)

 

[koraks]

a charger that sensed the output Voltage

That's one of the nice things about USB-C: it allows for such functionality. But it's important to note that this mode of "voltage sensing" does not apply to many devices, including many laptop chargers - but those (at least the older ones) generally don't come with USB connectors for power input.

Just a small caveat/remark about your otherwise spot on and excellent advice.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

On my trip to Paris and England in May I bought separate convertors and they worked fine., Mainland Europe countries have different outlets than England. So the convertors are different. Frankly, I didn't need them because the rooms came with USB jacks. But I used them anyway. They also had a 120vac outlet which I used to charge my camera batteries. (No good for hair driers though) I don't recall if the hotels provided a 120vac outlet. Of course, if you;re traveling around, it's good to have the convertor to plug into a local restaurant or other places' outlet.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

I used these Tessans. Make sure you get the right one for the countries you;re visiting.

Amazon.com : tessan travel adapter ts-wm02-de

 

[wiltw]

That's one of the nice things about USB-C: it allows for such functionality. But it's important to note that this mode of "voltage sensing" does not apply to many devices, including many laptop chargers - but those (at least the older ones) generally don't come with USB connectors for power input.

Just a small caveat/remark about your otherwise spot on and excellent advice.

Indeed...my Lenovo charger only output 20V, while the two phone chargers only output 5V...so I found a single charger with multiple USB ports that had the Voltage sensing...its label listed multiple Voltages output via the USB ports, with suitably high Amp in order to 'turbocharge' the phones quickly.

 

[koraks]

I don't recall if the hotels provided a 120vac outlet.

Occasionally, but don't count on it. As you said, it's best to be prepared!

 

[mgb74]

I like using an AC charger or a data blocker when at an airport - as opposed to usb outlet. Maybe I'm paranoid. On a recent trip to Italy with 7 of us, all our devices could handle European voltage, just needed the plug adapter.

 

[DWThomas]

I like using an AC charger or a data blocker when at an airport - as opposed to usb outlet. Maybe I'm paranoid.

Agreed, although there are USB "charge" cables and USB "data" cables. The charge cables presumably have no data path. I discovered this when unable to download from a d!git@l camera through one. I then ended up going through a bunch of my accumulated cables and marking them appropriately.

I do usually use a wall-wart, mostly because a hefty one charges faster if it's compatible with the ever growing "features" of USB devices.

Typically those and the laptops I've had were the 50-60 hz, 100 - 240v goodies, so a plug adapter was all that was needed for other parts of the world.

 

[mgb74]

Agreed, although there are USB "charge" cables and USB "data" cables. The charge cables presumably have no data path. I discovered this when unable to download from a d!git@l camera through one. I then ended up going through a bunch of my accumulated cables and marking them appropriately.

I do usually use a wall-wart, mostly because a hefty one charges faster if it's compatible with the ever growing "features" of USB devices.

Typically those and the laptops I've had were the 50-60 hz, 100 - 240v goodies, so a plug adapter was all that was needed for other parts of the world.

Good point about the power only cable. I have a couple and do mark them.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I am finding that my iPhone chargers, Dell computer brick, and other equipment are now designed to work for 110 V AV to 240V AC on 50 and 60 Hertz. I only need plug adapters.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

I'm traveling on vacation from America to London and Paris. What proper AC power plug (rating) in chargers should I get for my iPhone and Samsung cellphones and Samsung Netbook? I also have to plug in my 120vac battery charger. We'll be staying in hotels in each city. Thanks.

London will be 240V and Paris will be 220V. You'll get the proper power plug and converters at the arriving airport. Good hotels often have a 110V connection in the bathroom.

 

[MattKing]

If you need something appropriate to read on your trip, your thread title makes me think of George Orwell:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/393199.Down_and_Out_in_Paris_and_London
Have a good trip