# Someone please help me buy a european power adapter **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 14, 2013, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-please-help-me-buy-a-european-power-adapter/647119 "2013-01-14T01:19:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2013, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-please-help-me-buy-a-european-power-adapter/647119/21 "2013-01-14T18:59:03Z")
> [@Floater](#): > > In that case you’re at the wrong airport. 😉 I bought an American to European adapter at Heathrow last summer and I don’t think it cost me more that 5-6 pounds at the most. Still, that’s quite a premium. They’re usually $1-$2. ---
**Author:** ![Mdcastle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/958977/32.png) [@Mdcastle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mdcastle)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2013, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-please-help-me-buy-a-european-power-adapter/647119/22 "2013-01-14T19:12:01Z")
If your laptop (or anything else) is grounded that’s one more thing to think about. I don’t know why but I’ve seen some laptops that were. In your case a cheap adapter will suffice, but you can also get replacement for the part of the laptop cord that goes between the brick and the wall to fit whatever outlet you need to plug it in. More work and more expensive but neater. ---
**Author:** ![cletus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f08c70/32.png) [@cletus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cletus)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2013, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-please-help-me-buy-a-european-power-adapter/647119/23 "2013-01-14T23:07:16Z")
Thanks for the help guys. I read the posts after my previous one and it cleared things up for me. I guess all I really needed was to see a picture like what Bear\_Nenno linked to. I went ahead and ordered the one linked to by Mr Downtown. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2013, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-please-help-me-buy-a-european-power-adapter/647119/24 "2013-01-15T00:06:56Z")
[This page](http://users.telenet.be/worldstandards/electricity.htm) might be helpful. Danish sockets (type K) are by far the cutest. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2013, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-please-help-me-buy-a-european-power-adapter/647119/25 "2013-01-15T00:16:35Z")
I have one of these: [http://www.amazon.com/Dynex-Travel-Adapter-Plug/dp/B004GTR8LA/ref=sr\_1\_27?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1358208857&sr=1-27&keywords=travel+power+adapter](http://www.amazon.com/Dynex-Travel-Adapter-Plug/dp/B004GTR8LA/ref=sr_1_27?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1358208857&sr=1-27&keywords=travel+power+adapter) which is materially the same as the one you bought, and in 3 European trips to 6 countries, it’s never failed to work like a charm. You don’t need the transformers for most consumer electronics anymore- most cell phone chargers, laptops and camera battery chargers all handle 240v without an issue. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2013, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-please-help-me-buy-a-european-power-adapter/647119/26 "2013-01-15T03:49:20Z")
For some reason, the plug adapters I’ve seen usually have a “won’t work in South Africa” blurb. What’s with South African plugs that makes them so exclusive? ---
**Author:** ![ed\_anger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bbce88/32.png) [@ed\_anger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ed_anger)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2013, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-please-help-me-buy-a-european-power-adapter/647119/27 "2013-01-15T04:25:45Z")
> [@bump](#): > > You don’t need the transformers for most consumer electronics anymore- most cell phone chargers, laptops and camera battery chargers all handle 240v without an issue. this. irons and hair dryers usually need transformers, that’s it. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2013, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-please-help-me-buy-a-european-power-adapter/647119/28 "2013-01-15T04:31:42Z")
> [@bump](#): > > You don’t need the transformers for most consumer electronics anymore- most cell phone chargers, laptops and camera battery chargers all handle 240v without an issue. Not to mention that plenty of cell phones can be charged with a USB cable to your computer. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2013, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-please-help-me-buy-a-european-power-adapter/647119/29 "2013-01-15T05:05:30Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > For some reason, the plug adapters I’ve seen usually have a “won’t work in South Africa” blurb. What’s with South African plugs that makes them so exclusive? Because most of their sockets are [Type M](http://users.telenet.be/worldstandards/electricity.htm#plugs_m), which almost nobody else uses. ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2013, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-please-help-me-buy-a-european-power-adapter/647119/30 "2013-01-15T12:28:12Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Still, that’s quite a premium. They’re usually $1-$2. I checked the British web site of the Swedish company Clas Ohlsson, that sells more or less anything plus some more at low prices. All their adapters cost around 3-5 pounds. ---
**Author:** ![Saraya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Saraya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saraya)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2013, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-please-help-me-buy-a-european-power-adapter/647119/31 "2013-01-15T12:34:30Z")
If it hasn’t been suggested, try searching or looking for a transformer instead of adapter. [http://www.maplin.co.uk/300w-uk-to-usa-voltage-convertor-265288](http://www.maplin.co.uk/300w-uk-to-usa-voltage-convertor-265288) They should sell the UK to USA version as well. What you don’t want is something cheap like this [http://www.maplin.co.uk/45w-uk-to-usa-voltage-convertor-19413](http://www.maplin.co.uk/45w-uk-to-usa-voltage-convertor-19413) You will most likely fry or damage your device. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2013, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-please-help-me-buy-a-european-power-adapter/647119/32 "2013-01-15T13:06:09Z")
> [@Saraya](#): > > If it hasn’t been suggested, try searching or looking for a transformer instead of adapter. > [http://www.maplin.co.uk/300w-uk-to-usa-voltage-convertor-265288](http://www.maplin.co.uk/300w-uk-to-usa-voltage-convertor-265288) > They should sell the UK to USA version as well. > > What you don’t want is something cheap like this [http://www.maplin.co.uk/45w-uk-to-usa-voltage-convertor-19413](http://www.maplin.co.uk/45w-uk-to-usa-voltage-convertor-19413) > You will most likely fry or damage your device. Actually it has been explained why that is not necessary, and why, for the laptop the OP is concerned with, a simple plug adapter is sufficient. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2013, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-please-help-me-buy-a-european-power-adapter/647119/33 "2013-01-15T18:51:15Z")
> [@Floater](#): > > I checked the British web site of the Swedish company Clas Ohlsson, that sells more or less anything plus some more at low prices. All their adapters cost around 3-5 pounds. Which is still triple or more that you’d pay buying something online in advance. 3-5 pounds for something that is just a simple piece of plastic and some cheap metal seems expensive to me. [Here’s one for 67 cents](http://www.amazon.com/Travel-Europe-Power-Plug-Adapter/dp/B001EB26MO/ref=pd_sim_e_2). ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2013, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-please-help-me-buy-a-european-power-adapter/647119/34 "2013-01-15T20:39:27Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Which is still triple or more that you’d pay buying something online in advance. 3-5 pounds for something that is just a simple piece of plastic and some cheap metal seems expensive to me. [Here’s one for 67 cents](http://www.amazon.com/Travel-Europe-Power-Plug-Adapter/dp/B001EB26MO/ref=pd_sim_e_2). Well that one won’t work in Britain; but I agree that £3-5 sounds high. [This set](http://www.amazon.com/Dynex-International-Adapter-5-Pack-DX-TAPS5/dp/B004H1RHJA/ref=sr_1_14?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1358282091&sr=1-14&keywords=international+plug+adapter) should work, I think, for $2.50. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2013, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-please-help-me-buy-a-european-power-adapter/647119/35 "2013-01-16T01:11:21Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > In my experience, most electronics these days comes with power supplies that can handle a range of currents. I actually can’t remember the last time I needed an actual voltage convertor (as opposed to just a cheap $2 plug adaptor) for anything. My laptop, cell phone, double AA battery, and camera battery chargers all are dual voltage. As mentioned above, just check the label of your electronic device to make sure. Hair driers don’t - and they suck up lots of current. When you are going someplace to live you need a wider range of adapters. My Samsung smartphone charger actually says “travel adapter” on it, btw. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2013, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-please-help-me-buy-a-european-power-adapter/647119/36 "2013-01-16T02:42:10Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > Hair driers don’t - and they suck up lots of current. When you are going someplace to live you need a wider range of adapters. > My Samsung smartphone charger actually says “travel adapter” on it, btw. I know about hair driers, but I don’t consider them “electronics” (although I suppose some may be smart enough to have electronic components in them), and hence my examples including only household electronics, and to check the voltage input anyway, just in case. I’ve been traveling internationally regularly for about 15 years, and the only electronics that I ever remember needing a voltage convertor is a Korg keyboard synthesizer that was manufactured in 1988. Always check to be sure, but most electronics, in my experience, have not needed convertors for at least a decade. I don’t even bother to check anymore, I just assume they’re dual voltage. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2013, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-please-help-me-buy-a-european-power-adapter/647119/37 "2013-01-16T03:36:49Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > Hair driers don’t - and they suck up lots of current. When you are going someplace to live you need a wider range of adapters. In that instance, you would probably do a lot better to jut buy a new hairdryer when you get there. (Although actually I have found that some hairdryers have dual voltage operation built in, with a little switch.) > [@pulykamell](#): > > Always check to be sure, but most electronics, in my experience, have not needed convertors for at least a decade. I don’t even bother to check anymore, I just assume they’re dual voltage. You probably should. There are definitely cheapo electronic things that do not come with dual voltage power supplies. For instance, I recently found my USB hub power supply and my cheap amplifier/speakers (for an MP3 player) that were bought in America will not operate on British power, without a new power supply (which probably would be about as expensive as whole new items, in these cases). However, for fancier things, like laptops, I think you are right. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2013, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-please-help-me-buy-a-european-power-adapter/647119/38 "2013-01-16T03:52:43Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > You probably should. There are definitely cheapo electronic things that do not come with dual voltage power supplies. That makes sense. I wasn’t thinking about those cheapie kinds of things, just the standard modern electronics the average person travels with (phones, computers, MP3 players, battery rechargers.) But I do say “always check to be sure.” In the vast majority of cases when it comes to modern electronics you’re likely to travel with, the power supply they come with is dual voltage. I don’t even own a voltage convertor, and I go abroad with some regularity (right now, in fact.) ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2013, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-please-help-me-buy-a-european-power-adapter/647119/39 "2013-01-16T11:37:33Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > Well that one won’t work in Britain; but I agree that £3-5 sounds high. > > [This set](http://www.amazon.com/Dynex-International-Adapter-5-Pack-DX-TAPS5/dp/B004H1RHJA/ref=sr_1_14?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1358282091&sr=1-14&keywords=international+plug+adapter) should work, I think, for $2.50. It will work fine in Britain using the method I described earlier. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-please-help-me-buy-a-european-power-adapter/647119.md?page=1)