What kind of electrical converter do you need in Italy?

Answer 1

You'll need the EU 2-prong plug adapter and a voltage converter to 220-240V, depending on what you are planning to use there. Your hairdryer may already have a little switch for the voltage, if it's a travel hairdryer....and you'll just need the plug adapter (which is cheap and you can get it at the airport). Many hotels have outlets that have the American-style plug and 115V for shavers, but for some reason they only work for shavers and nothing else. If you're taking a laptop it probably already changes the voltage in the power source, but double check it just to make sure. The voltage converters are pretty expensive and you'll need to go somewhere like RadioShack to get one.

Also - your I-pod will just plug into the wall with the plug adapter. You won't need a converter for it. I used mine in Amsterdam no problem!!!

Answer 2

ive been living here in italy for a long long time now, about the voltage, all i can say is, do not a hair dryer unless its adapted to the voltage here, 230 v. if you bring one that isnt, youll eventually cut out the electricity of the entire building and burn your hairdryer, (has happened to me.) so my advice either buy one in the states thats adapted for travelling or simply by come cheap one here. i use the curlying iron here, i bought it in target, didnt even know it could take up to 230 voltage and after using it for a month and nothing burning down, i was all just luck. but my advice, keep your eyes open.

about laptops, be very careful!! if your staying in some hostell or 1 or 2 star hotel or even apartment where the building is old and hasnt been restructed, the electricty might be too low even though your laptop adaptor is for 230. when i just bought my laptop a couple of years ago, i was all set, i had it set for high voltage, everything was fine. i use to live in this real real old building, in the center of florence, i pluged it in, i heard a snap, and it wasnt working! it was brand new, i used the toshiba garantee, i went to the nearest toshiba office and it took them about 6 weeks to fix it and tell me that my mother board had been burnt! it was horrible, so it was allll just because i had turned it on inside some old stupid building where the voltage was too strong for a simple laptop to turn on. so be very careful!

about the ipods, they are also universal, if you notice, when you see hte lable, CE (the 'E' has this round curve) it means it can take both voltages. the ipods have that so you can easily use it without and problems, you just need a simple converter that can suit the plug ins, you dont have to worry about one that changes the voltage. it works the same with digital cameras, they also have the CE sign as well as laptops, scanners, printers, ecc.

i recommend you to buy these converters in the states, like in some Fry's or eletronic shop since its not very trustful to buy them here in italy, (done that, and didnt work, they simply didnt work). the ones i bought in america, worked perfectly.

have a good trip!

Answer 3

FYI, these people also don't tell you that there's a two prong and a three prong adapter. The three prongs is for grounding, which I prefer and have used when going to Italy. I have digital cameras, hair dryers, and a lot of electrial equipment may need to be grounded (aka, the American 3 prong plug). If you just have a cameras, not video camera with large charges, it doesn't matter.

This is some to keep in mind when you shop for the transformer/converter and the adapter.

Answer 4

240

Answer 5

Their voltage is 230.

http://www.voltageconverters.com/voltageguide.htm