WORLD ELECTRIC=20 GUIDE

INTRODUCTION

This is a guide to some = important=20 issues when deciding to use your electrical appliances in another = country.=20 It includes a table describing electrical systems = worldwide, illustrations of electrical=20 plugs you may run across, advice on using your = computer and other general=20 advice that you may find helpful. Finally, there is = a list=20 of sources for = electrical=20 travel accessories.

GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS

If you are going to use = electrical=20 appliances in another country, you need to know what type of = electrical=20 voltage is used in the country you're traveling to and the type(s) = of=20 plugs and outlets used there. To learn this, consult the = Table of Electrical = Systems=20 used worldwide.

If the voltage is the = same, or if=20 you're using a universal power supply (see below), all you may = need is a=20 plug adaptor. Converters are available to change = line=20 voltage from one amount to another. However, there are different = types of=20 converters for different types of appliances. Small electronics, = razors=20 and non-heating appliances can operate with a 50-watt converter. = Heating=20 appliances such as hair dryers, irons, coffee makers and other = high-power=20 electrical appliances need a 1600-watt converter. You can also = purchase=20 combination converters for both types. Check the label on your = electrical=20 appliance to find its wattage. Some places that supply adaptors = and=20 converters are listed on the sources = page. =20 These generally work for those from the US traveling to = destinations that=20 use higher voltages to "step down" from 230V to = 120V.

On the other = hand, those who=20 travel from a good portion of the world to the US will likely need = a=20 transformer to convert the lower line voltage into the = higher=20 voltage required by their appliances. Many of these devices=20 (sometimes of higher quality and thus higher-priced) also function = as=20 step-down converters.

Also, since the quality = of=20 electrical power might be an issue, a Universal Surge = Suppressor=20 might be a goody buy, especially one that includes plug adaptors = that will=20 work in most of the world.

In addition to voltage, = the=20 frequency at which the power is generated may also differ, usually = from 50=20 Hz to 60 Hz. Does this matter? Yes, it might. Click this link to = read more on=20 this issue. While it is possible to convert voltage, it = is not=20 possible to convert frequency, though some devices are built to = handle=20 these differences as discussed below.

Given the complexities = of safely=20 using your electrical appliances overseas, you may want to = consider some=20 alternatives. If you plan on staying in one country for awhile, = you might=20 want to buy a hair dryer or electric razor there. Battery operated = appliances are another option if you don't mind replacing the = batteries.=20

WHAT=20 ABOUT YOUR COMPUTER, camcorder,=20 CD/DVD player, etc?

Fortunately, many = portable computers=20 today come with power supplies that can be used in almost any part = of the=20 world. Check the manufacturer's label to see what type of input it = can=20 handle. This applies to many digital cameras, VCRs, video games = and other=20 electronic devices as well.

Those designed for use = just about=20 anywhere have a section on the label that looks something like = this:=20


  INPUT:     AC =
100V- 240V~ 1.0A  50 / 60 Hz

This shows that the = device was=20 designed to be used over a wide range of voltage levels and at = different=20 electrical frequencies. In this particular example, the device can = accept=20 =93nominal=94 voltage anywhere from 100 volts to 240 volts and can = operate on=20 either a 50 Hz or 60 Hz system. It is designed for alternating = current=20 (AC). (Like most appliances, it should not be used on a direct = current, or=20 DC system -- DC electrical systems are not common, but some may = still=20 exist.) If your device has a label with these parameters, it = can be=20 used pretty much anywhere. In that case, all you need is a=20 plug=20 adaptor.

If you must take other = types of=20 electrical appliances with you abroad, your best bet is to buy = travel-size=20 dual-voltage appliances that can run on both 110 and 220-volt = currents.=20 Make sure the switch is on the proper voltage for the country you = are in=20 before using the appliance. You will also need to carry adaptor = plugs with=20 you to fit the outlets in the countries you're visiting.=20

ELECTRIC PLUGS IN USE

The main types of = electrical plugs=20 that are used around the world are listed below. You can click on = the=20 illustration to view a larger picture and a listing of countries = where=20 that type of plug is used. Note: the illustrations below are = not to=20 scale. Also, the labels (type A, B, etc.) used by my = principal=20 source listed below are not any type of standard nomenclature; = labels and=20 descriptions used by various = vendors may=20 differ. Supposedly the IEEE has=20 standard terminology for these things, but it's not used by anyone = in the=20 travel industry.

	A Flat= =20 blade attachment plug Click on=20 the picture for more
B Flat= =20 blades (same as type A), but with round grounding=20 pin Click on the = picture for=20 more
	C Roun= d=20 pin attachment plug NOTE: a 'C' style plug can be = used=20 with 'E', 'F' and some 'L'=20 receptacles. Click on the picture for=20 more
D Roun= d=20 pins with ground Click = on the=20 picture for more
	E Roun= d=20 pin plug and receptacle with male grounding=20 pin Click on the = picture for=20 more
F "Sch= uko"=20 plug and receptable with side grounding=20 contacts Click on the = picture=20 for more
	G Rect= angular=20 blade plug Click on = the picture=20 for more
H Obli= que=20 flat blades with ground Click on the picture for = more
	I Obli= que=20 flat blades (inverted V-shape) with=20 ground Click on the = picture for=20 more
J Roun= d=20 pins with ground (offset) Click=20 on the picture for more
	K Roun= d=20 pins with spade ground Click on=20 the picture for more
L Roun= d=20 pins with ground (in-line) Click=20 on the picture for more
	M "Sou= th=20 African" plug, similar to type D but larger and with one = oversized=20 pin Click on the = picture for=20 more

ADAPTORS AND=20 CONVERTERS

An adaptor will allow = you to plug an=20 appliance designed for one type of outlet into another type of = outlet.=20 Despite the fact that more than a dozen different types of plugs = are in=20 use, a typical travel adaptor kit usually contains about five = adaptors=20 which are capable of dealing with most of the outlets shown here. = Adaptors=20 often manage this versatility by bypassing the ground/earth wire.=20

Is this a good idea? = Maybe, but not=20 necessarily. Not all appliances need to be grounded/earthed, and = for=20 short-term activities like running a portable computer and = recharging=20 batteries, the adaptor's convenience usually outweighs any = potential=20 safety concerns that might be caused by not using the ground/earth = connection. For appliances that require grounding/earthing, and = for=20 long-term hookups, you should obtain an adaptor that allows you to = use the=20 ground/earth wire. Grounding adaptors could=20 be more expensive and may be more difficult to find prior to = reaching your=20 destination, but should be available locally (at your destination) = at=20 hardware or electronics stores.

Remember: an=20 adaptor by itself will not change the electrical voltage. You must = be sure=20 that your appliance can handle different voltages (either = automatically or=20 through a voltage switch). If it can't, you will need a = voltage=20 converter.

Converters and sets of = adaptor plugs=20 are available at travel & luggage stores and at Radio = Shack/Tandy and=20 other electronic stores. They can often be found in airport shops = and duty=20 free stores. A set of adaptor plugs costs around $10 to $15US and = in some=20 stores you can buy an individual adaptor for only a few dollars. = Other=20 places that sell these items are listed on the sources=20 page.

Follow the link below to = see a table=20 showing the types of electrical systems
you will find in = the=20 various countries of the world.

More -- Electric = Power Around=20 the World -- A Plug and Voltage Guide
Some say this is the best part of the=20 site!

Click here to buy = the electric=20 converters and adaptors you need=20

This stuff is provided for the personal = use of my=20 fellow travelers on the Internet.
Original sources have been cited. = I'm not=20 responsible for the accuracy of this information. - = S.K.

http://kropla.com/electric.htm -- Updated 24 September=20 2006
Copyright =A9 = 1996-2002 Steve Kropla
All rights = reserved.=20