Avoid blowing up electronic devices with foreign power. Check these things to make sure that your laptop and digital camera chargers work properly abroad.

Travelers plugging in laptops and digital camera chargers abroad need to check a few things before you go. Most, but not all, devices such as digital camera chargers and laptop power supplies are designed to work with both the USA/Japanese 110VAC 60Hz power supply and the 230VAC 50Hz supply used in much of the rest of the world.

Three things can be different about foreign AC power compared to power at home – the supply voltage, supply frequency and the physical shape of the socket.

Supply Voltage

The most important difference is the voltage of the supply. In North America and most of Japan power is supplied at 110V. In Europe and most of the rest of the world it is supplied at about twice the voltage, 230V. This can damage equipment set up to expect US power. There is about 10% tolerance on these – US AC power may be 100-120V and in Europe and Asia it can range from 210V to 240V. A US lamp plugged into European AC power will blow immediately, and any US electrical device that is not compatible with 230V will probably be destroyed too.

How do you tell? Inspect the AC adapter of your laptop or charger. You will find a label or plate (see photos) indicating the supply it is compatible with. If it says

100-240V AC 50/60 Hz

then you are in luck. All you need to do is pick up a suitable plug adapter at the airport so that you can physically plug your device into the foreign socket and you are all set. If instead the device has a 110V/230V switch you must change this to 230V before plugging the equipment in abroad.

If, however, it says 100-130V, or there is no plate/label then do not take it abroad! If you must use it then you need a voltage converter instead of a regular travel adapter, and you need one that can handle the power you will draw. Seek advice from the retailer – take your item to the store so they can supply the right 230VAC to 110VAC converter.

Tip

If you have a number of chargers you need to use abroad then take a domestic power strip with you. That way you only need one plug adapter. Don’t use the strip for high-power devices – use a separate plug adapter for anything drawing more than 50W like a hairdryer or travel iron.

Frequency

The supply frequency difference between 50 and 60Hz is not important for most portable devices. Some clocks and some motor driven devices will run at the wrong speed, but will work correctly back home.

Socket

A mismatch between your plug and the foreign socket can be resolved using a travel adapter (plug adapter). There are models which cater for a number of different foreign sockets but these can be fiddly to adjust and it is all too easy to end up without a ground connection, which is a safety issue if you have devices with a three-pin plug.

As with anything electrical, you should consider safety first. If you are not sure about whether your device is compatible with foreign AC power, you should contact the manufacturer or supplier of your equipment before you travel.

Finally, it is worth noting that some big city European hotels are used to visitors from North America and offer 110V converted power sockets – check with them before traveling. These supply 110VAC on US sockets. The frequency is 50Hz rather than 60Hz, just as with a voltage converter.