Travel Plug and Transformers ? what is the difference?

Question

If i travel to a country e.g. U.K to Canada and i take my camcorder, camera charger, and other elctronic devices would a travel plug be sufficent? or woulod i need a step up / step down transformer? I used a electric fan heater together with a travel plug but it started to smell as if something was burning? i dont understand why this happened? and how i can resolve this issue if it happened again?

Answer 1

Good question! Many electronic devices these days have AC adapters that work on a wide range of voltages, and frequencies - typically 100 Volt - 220 Volts and 50 to 60 Hz. I think every domestic power system in the world uses power that falls within these ranges. Since the AC adapter can work on the wide range of powers, all you need is an travel plug to change the prong configuration from what you have to on your equipment to the local prong configuration. These plug adapters are simple and cheap. An assortment can be had for about $10.

Transformers are used to actually convert the local current to voltages and frequencies that are compatible with the requirements of your device. They are more involved and more expensive, and you have to buy one that can provide at least the number of watts your device uses.

If you are going to travel with a computer, cell phone, or other higher end device it's likely you'll only need a travel plug. Look at the specifications on your A/C adapter. If it can use a range of voltages and frequencies, you're in good shape.

Answer 2

A plug adapter will only change the physical layout of the plug. The electrical part is also different. UK tends to be on 240 volt 50 cycle. Canada and US are mostly on 120 volt 60 cycle.

You can find other voltages in both places, but those are the norm. Some people use slighly different voltage numbers, but slight differences are simply a matter of terminology. For example 110 volt, 115 volt, 120 volt, etc. are the same thing.

50 cycle vs 60 is totally different. The cycle difference (technically called "frequency") will not hurt a heater, but might cause problems for the fan. Anyway, an electric heater needs too much power to run from an adapter of any kind. You are better off buying that at your destination country. They are extremely cheap and plentyful. Don't even bother taking it with you, buy a new one, even if you have to throw or give it away when you leave.

Electronics needs the correct number of cycles, i.e. frequency. Some items have a switch for 50 vs 60. If they do, the transformer can change the voltage. A transformer can NOT change the frequency. Some even have a switch for 115volt vs 230 volt. If so, they only need the plug adapter.

Also, some countries use DC, instead of the much more common AC. There are almost none of these since DC is a terrible way to do this. UK, US, Canada are all AC. Just saying this since someone who is going to an unusual country might read this.

Answer 3

If your camcorder, camera and what ever you have have adapter that are good for 110 ~ 240V (it usually says on it) then you will not need a step up/Down transformer (Converter). All you'll need is a travel adapter. Otherwise you'll need both, converter and travel adapter.

Coming to your electric fan heater, it is not bcos of the travel plug, elctric heaters do smell like they are burning. But if you are using that in a different country with a different voltage, you should stop using it immediately (My best guess is.. it is probably screwed up by now anyways). Use a converter. When you use a converter, there is always some heat in the converter and you can smell something burning too, but it will not be too bad and it will still be safe to use it.

Answer 4

I learned this the hard way on a trip to London last spring.

It seems that the plug adapter simply makes your plug fit into the outlet in the foreign country. It does not address the differences in voltage and current.

I plugged in my cell phone charge, which did nt have an adapter. The charger then got hot and broke. However, my laptop and mp3 player were both able to charge fine because the ac adapter could handle the different voltage and current.

As a side note, the travel plug is way cheaper than a transformer, which makes sense once you realize that the plug is just something to make the prongs on your device fit into the different shaped outlet.

Answer 5

I am planning a trip to the UK with a large group next summer. All of the information regarding plugs that I have read said to bring a transformer no matter what. It might be better to be safe than sorry...

Answer 6

the voltage in europe is twice (240 vs 120 volts ) the level as in the US.
you must have some type of conversion device to lower it when traveling there. transformers are only good for small current devices. heaters , hair dryers etc. may be best purchased locally -- they are inexpensive and of course meant to be used locally.

Answer 7

A transformer alters the electric supply to be the same as your home one, as voltages and frequencies are different.

A travel plug allows you to plug your standard plug into a foreign socket, but doesn't necessarily change the electric supply.

Answer 8

it depens on the coutry that you go to... U.S. uses 120 volts... europe uses 240 i think... you need to find out the voltage output to where ever your going... and find a converter that will convert from that voltage to 120...