Europe Plug Converters

[KingKoopa]

So I am living in Germany this summer and plan to do a lot of traveling around, UK, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, etc... I am curious what I need to get in order to plug in my laptop charger and any other american items i might bring over there.

I have seen plug adaptors on ebay, but some of them say they only convert the plug type and not the voltage.... just curious if anyone can point me to whatever kit i need to buy to be able to plug my stuff in just about anywhere without it frying.

thanks in advance

 

[gunnerhorn]

i went to fry's to get my power conversion crap. you need to find out what voltage your electronics operate at and use a converter if necessary to match the european standard. it's pretty important, because i forgot to use the converter last time and i knocked out power on the 4th floor of a hotel in florence.

 

[KingKoopa]

how much did this thing cost you?

 

[Clarence Iba]

Most laptop and cell phone power adapters can handle the higher euro voltage. It will say on the part that plugs in what voltage it can take.

 

[Lone Star Beer]

I bought one at Radio Shack a while back for about $30 (I think) that works all over the world.

 

[NameAlreadyInUse]

For your laptop and cell phone, you shouldn't need a converter, the charger should have a converter built in. THe only thing you'll need is an adapter to plug it into the wall. In fact, any electronics you have that appears to have some sort of transformer on the cable will probably bo ok. My digital camera charger, for instance, works without a converter. Everything else, be super careful.

 

[EEE]

Like everyone else says, check the power inputs for all your gadgets. Most should be switchtable these days. But if you use a hairdryer, don't bother packing it. Buy it there or lug around a huge transformer.

 

[gunnerhorn]

mine was $40-50, but this was a couple years ago. you may find it for less. don't ask for any help from fry's associates though, those goofily-dressed ******** don't know anything.

 

[HORN_FAN_86]

Where in Germany?

 

[KingKoopa]

Munich

 

[KingKoopa]

anyone know if i can just buy a cable from dell that will plug into the charger i already have?

 

[twid]

i bought a thing at fry's last summer for all over. it had a voltage adapter, and a set of converters that worked all over europe, so you could use the voltage adapter if you needed it, or just use the adapters for my laptop. it all came in a case and it was around $30 i think.