I recently purchased a power converter and adapter for our upcoming trip to Italy. I have had some conflicting information as to whether or not the two prong converter and adapter will work in Italy. On the packaging it states that it will not work in Italy, despite the reassurances from the sales associate. Can anyone tell me what your power converter looks like?

Thanks!

Are you sure you need a converter? Many devices already dual-voltage. Check the individual device specs (110-220v means you're good).

If you do need a plug-adaptor while you're here, they're available for about €2 from any electric supply store, or almost anywhere where they sell anything that plugs in.

There are two prong and three-prong, depending on the voltage. Something like this.

For most transformers, cell phone chargers,camera chargers,etc. a separate voltage adapter (transformer) is not needed. Check your chargers for the specs usually affixed to transformer. If it says 120/240v, 50/60 Hz all you need is the converter plug for a few Euros or bring one or two with. As for hair dryers and anything with high wattage requirements the device itself MAY have a selector switch for use with different voltage/frequency(Hz). If no selector switch then you might need a converter transformer because electrical motors like the one in your American hair dryer don't like the 50Hz of Europe and WILL overheat and possible blow breakers and fuses. Also worth noting is Italy has two style of electical plugs a larger two or three prong (Older, original Italian) and the more widely used schuko style which is smaller again in two or maybe three pronged. I also notice some hotels and rentals have one outlet which accepts US plugs! The outlets look slightly different and also accept Italian plugs so be sure to check these convenient plugs out! Have a Great Time!

We have some info and photos of plug adapters on the site - bringing your electronics to Europe.

I am going to move this thread to our Technology on the Go forum.

It's a little pricey, but I needed a powerstrip because of all my electronics and such, so here's what I got:

Power strip

Since we are going to go to Barcelona first, then a cruise, then to Rome I needed three plugs (USA, Spain, and Italy).

With this I can plug in several things at once.

Later,

Andy

Just to be on the safe side and perfectly clear.... European voltage is 220 volts. If you have any thing from the US that you plan to use on this power strip, you will need to:

1) check the input voltage on the appliance / device and make sure is says something like 120-240v input.

2) If your appliance doesn't have that in writing on it somewhere (It will be on the power cord for a laptop, for instance) then you will need, in addition to the power strip, a voltage converter (which is a small transformer) that will reduce the voltage to the appliance down to 120 volts.

Bill

quote:

Originally posted by Fibonacci:
Just to be on the safe side and perfectly clear.... European voltage is 220 volts. If you have any thing from the US that you plan to use on this power strip, you will need to:

1) check the input voltage on the appliance / device and make sure is says something like 120-240v input.

2) If your appliance doesn't have that in writing on it somewhere (It will be on the power cord for a laptop, for instance) then you will need, in addition to the power strip, a voltage converter (which is a small transformer) that will reduce the voltage to the appliance down to 120 volts.

Bill

This whole compatibility thing is what lead me down the road to the Wonpro powerstrip. I found that all my technology (battery chargers, laptop, scooter charger) were all 110-240 compatible and I thought I could just get a powerstrip and a converter, then I found out that I needed a 110-240 volt powerstrip. That is what lead me to the Wonpro powerstrip. Besides being 110-240 volt compatible it is has universal adapters built-in, so I can plug my USA plug items (with 110-240 volt comptibility) into it and European devices as well.

As I said, a little pricey, but it does it all. Well, all I need anyway.

Thanks for the reminder, it cannot be said too often that one needs to make sure that all technology going to Europe needs to be at least 220 volt compatible if not 110-240 volt compatible. Just one more thing for us European travel newbies to learn about.

Andy

There are a few devises out there -- such as a flat iron for hair that women use -- that are only 120 volt. Often these items can't be used in Europe even with a converter because they'll blow out the converter which I did earlier this year. Just be sure to check out the warnings on all your appliances.

Judi

quote:

Originally posted by Judi J:
There are a few devises out there -- such as a flat iron for hair that women use -- that are only 120 volt. Often these items can't be used in Europe even with a converter because they'll blow out the converter which I did earlier this year. Just be sure to check out the warnings on all your appliances.

Judi

Funny you should mention this. A curling iron is the one device we still need to find. All my technology is 110-240 v, and the ship and hotels provide a blow dryer, but the curling iron is the enigma.

Is it better to just get a 220 v 50 Hz iron, or one of the dual voltage 110-240 v 50/60 Hz models.

Thanks

Andy

I purchased a 120v-220v curling iron at Target several years ago...and am still using it wherever I go.

You could always buy something here, should you need to, or should you expect to make future trips.