What adapters will I need to use in France and London for American electronics?
I'm traveling to France and possibly London for six weeks this summer and want to be able to use and charge the following: laptop, curling iron, hair dryer, radio/alarm clock, and cell phone. What kind of adapter do I need and where can I find one that is relatively inexpensive?
Other - France - 1 Answers
People's Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
Answer 1 :
Some of your appliances may be dual voltage and will say 110-120V/220-240V. In the US, the voltage is 110-120V In both the UK and France (and Western Europe) the voltage is 220-240V. If your appliance is not dual voltage (110-120V only), you will FRY your appliance beyond repair if you try to use it without a convertor. A convertor is NOT the same as an adaptor. A convertor actually converts the 220-240V to 110-120V. The adaptor refers to the "prongs" (flat in the US as you know). The adaptor does not convert voltage; it just allows you to plug in the device.In France (and most of western Europe), the two prongs are round. In the UK, the adaptor looks kind of clunky and has three large prongs. You can find convertors/adaptors in the luggage section of some Target stores. Radio Shack and some hardware stores in some big cities carry em too. You should buy these in the US before you go. Warning: many of the travel convertors are intended to be used briefly (seconds to minutes) and continuous use will burn them out. Also, bc the cycles (measured in hertz) are different in Europe and the US, US clocks will not run properly even with a convertor. Consider getting a battery operated travel alarm clock in the US before you go. Bon voyage!
Answer 2 :
I am orginally from the US, currently living in London, and have traveled to France since taking up residence in the UK. I am virtually an expert on this matter, seeing how why husband and I have blown many fuses & broken many circuits in trying to figure all of this electrial stuff out. Long story short, here is what you need to know: First things first, the voltage is the same in both the UK and France, however the outlets are different. In the UK the outlets are 3-pronged, and in the France they are two-pronged. Thus, you will essentially need a US -> UK/Europe voltage converter, a US -> UK adaptor, a US -> Europe adaptor, and then depending upon the prong situation on your converter, you might need an additional adaptor (for example, if the converter is made to fit a UK outlet, you will also need a UK -> Europe adaptor to be able to use it while in France). And then here is how you will use everything: For your laptop: Your laptop most likely has an converter already built into it, so all you need is a US -> UK adaptor & a US -> Europe adaptor in order to use it in the two countries. Just double check with the manufacturer of your laptop (I have a VERY old Dell, yet even mine still had the converter built in) Curling iron/hair dryer: Since the voltage is too high for even an adpator, you will need to buy new ones that are made specifically for the UK/Europe..I was rather attached to my US curling iron, and tried so many different things in order to get it to work here in the UK, yet I eventally had to give up. I was replacing converter fuses daily. Radio/alarm, cell phone: you will need to get a US -> UK/Europe converter, and then any adaptors that might be necessary to use the converter in both the UK and France (see above where I talk about the number of prongs on the adaptor) Hope this isn't too confusing! If only these things were universal, life would be so much easier...& I wouldn't have to go without my favorite curling iron :(...Enjoy your trip. Find UK and Paris info on my blog: http://www.danslecrayon.blogspot.com/ If you have additional questions, just drop me a comment there.
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