Travel outlet adapters

There’s one thing (well actually a lot of things) I forgot to pack which would have made my first night abroad a little easier. While it’s mentioned 17 times in almost every study abroad departure guide, I’m pretty sure most students seem to neglect this little gem when buying supplies to head abroad and while packing their suitcases the night before they leave. I’m talking about an outlet adapter and/or converter, and if you’re not electrically inclined, buying one of these can be a little daunting. That being said, after reading this post you should have enough electrical know-how to tackle it with ease.

Here are the 3 aspects of electricity that will determine the fate of your personal gadgets and appliances (as in if they’ll fry or survive), and what you need to know before you head over to Amazon to do your adapter and converter shopping.

Shape of the plug/prongs:

The are many different plug shapes and types throughout the world, but the 4 most common are the “American” (Type A) plug with two vertical pins, the “European” (Type C) plug with two round pins, the “British” (Type G) plug with three rectangular pins, and the “Chinese/Australian” (Type I) plug with two slanted pins.

Force – Voltage (V):

In the United States, electricity is normally supplied at 110 or 120 volts at a frequency of 60 Hz. Electricity in Europe, and just about the rest of the world, is generally supplied at 220 volts and a frequency of 50 Hz. I believe it’s officially 230 volts, but any device rated between 200 volts and 240 volts will work.

Frequency – Hertz (Hz):

Countries use either 60 Hz (US) or 50 Hz (Europe/Asia). Most electrical devices are not affected by the cycle change, and in a lot of cases, support both cycles. Frequency is likely to affect analog clocks (it won’t keep time correctly) and devices with motors. There isn’t a whole lot you can do about frequency, but know that it’s generally not a problem.