Dual or Not Dual Voltage? What is Needed?

This is the continuation of posts concerning using appliances abroad. This post addresses what is needed if you have determined if your appliance is dual voltage or not dual voltage. See the previous post called "Dual Voltage Swings to Two Countries" to determine which type of appliance you have.

DUAL VOLTAGE APPLIANCE:
All you need is a plug adapter to fit the plug into the wall outlet abroad. If your US plug has two pins, you can use the ungrounded (or sometimes called non-grounding) adapter plug (UG). If your plus has three pins, it is grounded and you will need the grounded adapter plug (G). Here are some common destinations and the needed ungrounded (2 pin) and grounded (3 pins) plug adapter, .

- Continental Europe (UG-A or G-A)
- Australia/New Zealand plug adapter (UG-C or G-C)
- Great Britian and Ireland (UG-D or G-D)
These adapters can be purchased individually or as sets. Sets are best for multi-city tours such as to various countries in Europe.

NOT DUAL VOLTAGE:
Here is where it gets a bit complicated traveling with an appliance abroad. You'll need two things, a voltage converter and a plug adapter.

To determine exactly which voltage converter is appropriate for your appliance, you need to know the wattage. Look at the indications panel (see "Dual Voltage Swings to Two Countries" post for locating the panel). The wattage number is the number followed by a "W", (for example, 12W, 50W or 1600W).

- For appliances under 50W, use a 0-50 Watt Transformer, and the proper adapter plug.
- For appliances over 50W, use a 26-1875 Watt Converter, and the proper adapter plug.
- If you're using several appliances with varying wattages, use a Dual Wattage Converter, which switches between low and high wattage, or an Auto Dual Wattage Converter, which switches automatically.

Converters can usually be found in a set that includes several plug adapters covering most of the world.

Dual Voltage Swings to Two Countries

Dual voltage appliances accept both 110v and 220v power. All you need is a plug adapter to make the plug fit into the wall; a voltage converter is not required at all. Some applances like travel hair dryers and travel irons are dual voltage. They usually have a switch to one setting for 110 volts and another for 220 volts.

The following appliaces are normally dual voltage and should automatically adjust to 110v or 220v power:
- Laptop Computer Battery Chargers
- Camera Batter Chargers
- iPod Chargers

How can you tell if an appliance is dual voltage? Be sure to check the indications panel on any appliance you would like to use overseas. This panel shows information like the model number, wattage and where the appliance was made. It will also tell you the voltage of the appliance.
- Dual Voltage appliances will say 110/220vac, or 120-240vac, or something similar. This means both 110 and 220vac (volts alternating current) are accepted.
- Single voltage appliances will just say 110vac or 120vac.

Please note that for laptops, cameras and other types of battery chargers, the indications panel is found on the charger itselt. It took a magnifying glass to see the panel on the Hopeful Traveler's charger.

Foreign Electricty Sometimes Too Hot To Handle

The next few posts will deal with the confusing subject of using electrical appliances overseas. The Hopeful Traveler feels unless you're gonna die without the appliance, leave it at home.

First thing is electricity and plugs are not all alike. In the U.S., electric power comes out of the wall in a 110 to 120 volt range and most appliances have a flat bladed plug. These countries uses the same: Japan, Brazil, Canada, Mexico and many places in the Carribeean, Central America and the islands in the Pacific.

In most other countries, electricity comes out between 220 and 240 volts. So you will either need a voltage converter or an appliance that accepts both 110 volt and 220 volt power. Appliances that accept both are called "dual voltage". But this doesn't mean you can use your appliance in a foreign country. Why? The plug. Plug endings are different so you may need a plug adapter to fit your plug into the foreign outlets. Pictured above is a continental Europe outlet which has two round pins for plug endings and electricity coming at you at twice that of U.S. voltage.