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Helpful NY Times article on overseas electrical current, adapters, plugs

PatriciaDavisPatriciaDavis
in General Discussion

I’m headed for the England/Scotland/Wales trip at the end of August and voila! Here comes this highly informative article on travel voltage converters, adapters, and just about everyone else one needs to know about plugs overseas. (Think I’ll leave my hair dryer at home…I don’t want it blowing up in my face, as this article warns!)

https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/advice-voltage-converter/

Comments

  • Claudia SailsClaudia Sails

    One of the better articles on this issue I've read. Useful without feeling you needed an electrical engineering degree to understand.

  • BKMDBKMD

    I have the device shown as their top pick, and it works well.

  • MikeHendersonMikeHenderson
    edited 12:10AM

    I have that adapter device, also. Agree it works well. It is larger than a dedicated adapter but it also includes USB outlets. It will adapt to most outlets in the world.

    Oops, I have a different one that I think is better. The one they recommend only has one USB-C outlet and four USB-A outlets. The one I have has three USB-C outlets and two USB-A outlets. Here's a link to it on Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CBF376VD

    I also have one that is higher power and has four USB-C outlets (two of which are PD compatible) and one USB-A. Max power is 100 watts. But more expensive. https://www.amazon.com//dp/B0D66D966R/

  • BKMDBKMD

    Just took a closer look. The one I have is Epicka TA-205. It has 3 USB-A and 2 USB-C including one PD compatible (fast charge) USB-C port. I chose this one to balance weight with capability/charging speed. This one is rated at 35W DC output. You can get higher power units, but then it gets heavier.

  • AlanSAlanS
    edited 3:54AM

    Just so you know and without getting too technical, don't expect all the USB-A ports to put out 2.4 amps and USB-C ports to put out 3.0 amps at the same time. The total capacity of that device is only 6.0 amps total which is shared amongst all the USB ports.

    For instance if you plug in 3 devices that are compatible with fast charging, high 3 amp USB-C power (or higher with USB Power Delivery (PD)) each port will only supply 2 amps and the devices will not charge as fast as you might expect. This is one argument for devices capable of fast charging, having their own power module.

  • inlanikaiinlanikai
    edited 9:38AM

    Here's the one I use. Very straightforward: https://checkplug.com

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