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

PatriciaDavis

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 Sails

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

BKMD

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

MikeHenderson

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/

BKMD

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.

AlanS

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.

inlanikai

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

MikeHenderson

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

That looks like a good site. Thanks for posting.

BKMD

Alan S - Don't forget PD (fast) USB-C charging increases the voltage up to 20V (and more recently 48V for higher power devices), so the current demand is cut 4x compared with 5V USB slow charging.

MikeHenderson

BKMD - Don't forget that the charger is rated at a certain wattage. Even if you increase the voltage, the wattage still shouldn't be exceeded. To get more out of a device, you need to purchase one rated at a higher wattage.

Alan's point that high demand devices, such as a computer, should be charged on a dedicated charger is well taken.

BKMD

Mike - Valid point. I interpreted Alan's post to mean that a device could only charge at 15W max (5V @3A), which isn't the case. But yes, the overall power rating is still a limiting factor.

Besides that little cube, I always bring my laptop's charger which is USB-C and rated at 65W, which can be plugged into the US-style port on the charging cube, as pass-through for the US plugs is rated at 1000-1200W.

I think we've now beaten this to death

British

Our essential is a travel extension cord

AlanS

British
12:49PM
Our essential is a travel extension cord

Yup!

Bertner

British and AlanS: re travel extension cord. Good idea. Is this something special or the kind we all have at home? We are going to Japan in September.

MikeHenderson

@Bertner - Japan uses the same two or three prong plug as the US and the voltage is about the same (it's 100 volts). If you have a three prong plug you may need an adapter - most of the outlets are two prong.

So US extension cord should work fine there.

British

Look on Amazon for travel extension cord, they have about a three foot cord and lots of outlets for appliances, phones etc. some even have a nightlight. They are good when the only outlet in the room is in an awkward place. We charge two iPads and two phones on ours.

British

Ours is similar to these

BKMD

I recommend that you only buy extension cords or adapters that are UL or CE certified. many of them aren't. I read that Anker had some of theirs recalled recently due to safety issues. Many of them aren't certified.