Your Semester Abroad: Voltage Converters and Other Things You Need to Know
Are you one of the thousands of students who is headed overseas to study abroad for a semester? If so, everyone in your life is probably giving you advice on where to go, what to see, and how to get along with folks in a foreign country. While that advice is important, there’s something else you need to know: voltage transformers and plug adapters can make your life abroad much easier.
First Things First
If you’re taking electrical appliances or electronics from the United States to any European city, you’ll probably need a voltage converter or voltage transformer. That means that if you can’t survive a semester in Paris without your hair dryer or your DVD player, you need to go shopping for voltage converters.
While voltage converters are often necessary, there are some exceptions. Many cell phone chargers and laptop battery chargers are dual use. They have their own built-in transformers, so you can plug them into a 110v outlet at home or a 220v outlet in your Barcelona dorm room with no problem. Read the label to make sure. If the label says 110v-220v, you won’t need a voltage transformer to plug it in when you’re studying abroad.
Most likely, though, you’ll still need a plug adapter because the wall outlets and plugs in other countries are different shapes – many different shapes. The wall outlets in Italy are different than the wall plugs in Germany, and both of them are different than the wall plugs in the United Kingdom. Most travelers find that an adapter kit is a sound investment. An adapter kit has an entire set of different plug adapters so you’ll always have the adapter you need for wherever your travels may take you. Sets generally cost less than $20 and take up less room in your luggage than a paperback book.
Step Up Step Down
If you’re travelling from the U.S. to Europe, you’ll likely need to run a 110v device on 220v current. If that’s the case, you need a step up voltage converter. If you’re going from Europe to North America, you’ll need a step down converter. If you want to be on the safe side, you can buy a step up and down voltage converter/transformer that converts the current in either direction. The better devices will even determine whether the current needs to be stepped up or stepped down so you don’t have to do anything except plug it in.
Wattage
If you haven’t studied electricity, not to worry. Voltage converters come in different wattage ratings. A 1500-watt voltage converter can put through 1,500 watts of electricity at one time. Whether that’s enough depends on how many items you’re going to plug into concurrently. Here’s what you do:
Check the labels of all the electronic devices and electrical appliances you plan to take with you. Each will list the number of watts they need to operate. Add up the wattage of all the devices you might have plugged in at the same time, then add 50% for wiggle room. Then, purchase a voltage converter that can handle at least that much wattage.
If you’re heading overseas for a semester abroad and can’t survive without your laptop, cell phone, hair dryer and LCD TV, make sure you bring the right voltage converters and transformers so you can stay plugged in.
Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the world’s MOST popular internet marketing companies on the web.
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