Electric Plug Adapters

Even if your gizmo is rated for 220 volts and 50Hz you can not plug it in because American plugs do not fit in any electric outlet in Europe. Adapting to the five types of European electrical outlet is convenient.

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Electrical outlets in Europe are totally different. That is a good thing because the electricity which comes out is totally different. Throughout Europe the voltage is 220 volts, twice as much as in America.
This photo from my budget hostel room in Tallinn, Estonia shows the most modern and plentiful array of electrical outlets I've seen anywhere, three grounded Schuko outlets. That is three more than you will find in most hotels. Two of them were occupied by ungrounded Euro plugs for the lamp and TV. Additionally, there was an Internet LAN jack and a phone jack.
This illustrated essay will look at the five types of plug adapters used around Europe, and the precautions to take before plugging in. Remember, it is 220 volts over there. That stings, as I learned the hard way. To get your unit plugged into any outlet you need a plug adapter. As you go from Italy to Switzerland to France to England you will need different plug adapters.

Carpe diem. Vivere bene! Gratia Deo.

This is chapter 11.2. The entire book is published free on-line by the DIY traveler, author, photographer, and webmaster —yours truly— with help from my daughter Stephanie and good friend Paula in Haarlem, Nord Holland, Netherlands. Questions, comments, complaints, and contributions are welcome. Please click footnote. Patronage at my euro-shoppe™ keeps this site on line. Updated 18 April 2017.

American plugs do not fit in round EU outlets.

This Internet edition of chapter 11 is presented in three parts:

11.1 Electric Converters for Europe: Should I use an electric converter in Europe?

Electric power converters supposedly change 220 volts to 110 volts. But converters actually destroy your phones, ipads, cameras, computers, and chargers.

11.2 Electric Plug Adapters: American plugs do not fit in electric outlets in Europe.

Even if your gizmo is rated for 220 volts and 50Hz you can not plug it in. American plugs do not fit in any electric outlet in Europe. Here is how to adapt to the five types of European electrical outlets.

11.3 European Voltage Essentials: 220 Volts of Electric Power at 50Hz Frequency.

This is a somewhat technical explanation with photo illustrations of just about everything you need to know. Send an email if you need clarification on anything.

Additional chapters discussing everything from hairblowers to televisions are at:

6.2 Personal Care Items for Europe: Pack Your Toothbrush and Toilet Paper

Most of what you need is in your bathroom right now. But much is handy in Europe. For example, you don't need to bring your hairblower.

22.1 Moving to Europe?: American appliances may work but probably not.

Household items to bring and to bring not when you are relocating to Holland, France, Germany, and Switzerland.

GIZMO

What is a gizmo?

I use the word "gizmo" in this essay to mean any electrical or electromechanical device. Since I first published this essay on the Internet some years ago and invited questions from readers, I have learned about more gizmos than you can imagine. But, no matter if you have a laptop computer, CPAP machine, studio audio system, or electric horse, all have the same basic issues with electricity in Europe.

Quick Answers

If you are in a hurry to learn what you should do about using your gizmos in Europe, click to my SUMMARY REFERENCE TABLE below. For all the background read on.

ELECTRICITY IS DIFFERENT IN EUROPE

There are three major differences between Europe and the USA when it comes to electricity:

1. The electric outlets are different.
2. The voltage is higher.
3. The frequency is lower.

These differences create daily challenges for American travelers using electrical gear in Europe. That would be just about all of us in the 21st century. You probably need your mobile device, laptop computer, and other gizmos when you travel. So what should you do?

The popular answer from travel gurus and travel goods suppliers is to bring a converter. This is a huge mistake. Converters can lead to destruction of everything connected to them, and perhaps other things in the neighborhood. Why do those web sites advertise and sell converters? Follow the money. Before you go any further please read part 1 of this chapter, An Electric Converter in Europe.

If you have any questions see NOTE TO READERS in the last paragraph below. I am happy to answer any email on the subject of electricity in Europe. I learn a lot from my email questions and continually update this chapter based on them. Before you write please show some evidence that you have read the essay on converters and this entire chapter. I do not write the same stuff twice, despite many emails asking me to do so. So follow along here and get up to a first grade level in electrical know-how. First grade is all you need.

Here are the major electrical plug adapters for Europe. The UK and Ireland grounded plug is used all over both islands. The Schuko grounded plug is the standard plug for most of Europe. The metal strip in the recessed edge is the ground connection. The Euro plug can be used in Italy and Switzerland if your devices are two wire. Grounded plugs for Italy and Switzerland are different and unique. Remember that plug adapters like these do not change the voltage or frequency.

ELECTRIC SPECIFICATION NAMEPLATE

Before you do anything you must determine whether or not your gizmos will work in Europe. Many do and some do not.

All electric devices have an electrical specification nameplate. This is where the manufacturer states its name and product model number, various certification symbols, and the electric data. This data shows INPUT and OUTPUT (if applicable) voltage, frequency, watts or amps, and AC or DC. You never pay any attention to this stuff when you use the gizmo at home or on the road in the USA. In preparation for your trip to Europe, unfortunately, you must exert a bit of effort and be prepared. Sorry, I am just the messenger. Somebody else invented 110 volts and 220 volts.

This enhanced and enlarged view of the electrical specification plate for my Olympus pocket digital camera battery charger, the "black brick," shows the critical data. The black-on-black label embossed on the back of the gizmo is no more than ¼" high with maybe a 5 point font. Yes, you do need a magnifying glass to read this. Since the INPUT (center line, look carefully after the Chinese script) is given as AC 110-240V 50-60Hz this charger works throughout Europe with the aid of a plug adapter only. Under that is the power which looks like 3.7-5.5 VA 0.04A 2W, half as much as a night light. On the bottom line the OUTPUT is stated DC 4.2V 200mA. This output is specific for this camera battery and it is advised to not use it for anything else, if you could even get anything else to fit in the customized slot. NEVER use a "converter" on any gizmo with these specifications. Actually, NEVER use a "converter" on ANY gizmo.

Be aware that not all bricks are good for 100-240V~50/60Hz. When I bought my Nikon camera I just happened to look closely at the brick before I left the store. It said only 110v~60Hz. The camera store owner looked in another box and found a brick good for 100-240V~50/60Hz. You almost need a microscope to read those electrical specifications.

EUROPEAN ELECTRIC OUTLETS AND PLUGS

In Europe you will never see the familiar American 2 hole and 3 hole electrical outlets. Instead, there are five different styles. Different countries have different outlets. That is the initial and obvious issue you must face, the outlet. The American plug on the wire of your gizmos does not fit anywhere in Europe.

Using a plug adapter is simple. You insert your American plug on one side. The other side has a plug which will fit in a foreign outlet. A plug adapter does not change the electricity. To use one in Europe your gizmo or appliance must be rated for ~240 volts and 50 Hz.

The Schuko design is the most common European electrical outlet. The metal parts at the top and bottom are the ground connections. Most outlets are silent on the issue but this old ceramic outlet in my hotel room in Mariehamn, Finland says "use is forbidden while bathing and showering." They won't arrest you if you use it while showering because you will probably have electrocuted yourself already. That 220 volts packs a real wallop.

This is written in Finnish, but almost everything else on the island of Åland is written in Swedish because that is the local lingo. Note that many Euro plugs with square bases will not fit in recessed outlets like this. See the reception desk if you have a problem.

PLUG ADAPTER OVERVIEW

European electrical outlets come in five different sizes and shapes. There are many sorts of plugs for these outlets.

Schuko Plug

Grounded outlets throughout most of Europe require a plug with two round prongs. These prongs are about 0.19 inch (4.8 mm) in diameter and 0.72 inch (19 mm) apart. This is known as the Schuko plug. It is also referred to as type E or F. My advert section lists it as #E-010.

Euro Plug

Before grounded plugs became available the most common outlet required the Euro plug. This ungrounded plug is still in widespread use and is common on low wattage devices. This plug fits in Schuko outlets, but may be a loose fit depending on the outlet design. It has slightly smaller prongs, 0.15" (4 mm) in diameter. The Euro plug is also referred to as type C, and as #E-020 in my adverts.

Here is a side-by-side view of typical Euro and Schuko plug adapters. Notice the fatter prongs on the Schuko plug. The Schuko plug will not fit in Euro outlets. Also notice the previously mentioned ground contacts on the side of the Schuko plug.

For your plug adapters and other travel gear see my . Buy on line with shipment direct to your front door.

Italian Plug

The Euro plug fits throughout Italy but the Schuko does not. If you have a three wire grounded gizmo you will need a grounded adapter plug. The Italian version of grounded plug has three prongs in line. It is commercially known as type L and as #E-050 in my adverts.

Here is a grounded outlet in an Italian home. It is rather plain and unremarkable, but there are 220 volts in those little holes.

Swiss Plug

Ungrounded Swiss outlets accept the Euro plug. Grounded Swiss outlets have three holes in a triangular formation. Commercially these are identified as type J, and as #E-040 in my adverts.

Electric Plugs for Ireland and the UK

Outlets on the islands are a lot different. They accept a plug with three rectangular prongs arranged in a triangle. Outlets often have a fuse and/or switch in the baseplate. If you aren't getting your volts check for the switch. And there might be a fuse in your adapter plug also.

The red thing on the UK Ireland plug in the photo above is a fuse, in this case 13 amps. Plugs for shavers and low power devices have 1 amp fuses. Get the right size if you are going to blast your hair with 1,875 watts!

This adapter is handy in Italy and places which use the Euro plug. It has two sockets. One is a "universal" socket. As you can see the "universal" socket accepts everything up to the kitchen sink. The extra socket on the side accepts ungrounded American plugs. It also has round holes so it accepts Schuko plugs and Euro plugs because it has spring loaded contacts inside. Typically a Euro plug will be so loose in a Schuko socket that it will move, spark, and/or fall out. That upside down tree embossed on the "universal" socket is the standard symbol for ground, but you knew that already.

For your plug adapters and other travel gear please see my on line

OTHER ISSUES

Grounding

If you are bringing a laptop computer or other device which has an American three prong grounded plug you will need a grounded plug adapter. The Schuko grounded plug has only two prongs on it but it has ground connections on the perimeter of the plug and/or a hole which accepts a ground prong in the outlet. This is the legal standard throughout most of Europe.

Universal Socket

The "universal" socket looks like nothing you have ever seen before. In a T arrangement, it has a number of various shaped holes. It accepts everything — American, British, Irish, and all the Continental plugs. Many plug adapters now use "universal" receptors. You can see an example of a universal plug receptor in the image of the Euro plug above.

Polarized Plugs

Most plug adapters accept the American "polarized" plug. This is the plug in which one of the prongs is slightly wider than the other. Most electronic gizmos do not use polarized plugs. But many small appliances do use polarized plugs. If yours does make sure the plug fits in the plug adapter you buy before going to Europe.

Before You Go

Since plug adapters for the American prongs, grounded or ungrounded, are virtually impossible to buy in Europe buy plug adapters for each gizmo and appliance that you are bringing.

Carry at leasy one extra plug adapter in case your's gets lost or permanently borrowed. These things drop out of sight pretty easily.

POWER SURGE STRIPS

250 Volt Power Strips

My email lately indicates that many travelers pack multiple gizmos that use rechargeable batteries. I do too. It is nice to be able to charge them all overnight and start every day with your batteries fully loaded. You could have a crisis by mid afternoon otherwise. However, typically there are only two wall outlets in your hotel room. They are being used by a lamp and the TV and there isn't a spare outlet for your equipment. This is when a power strip comes to the rescue.

A power strip with "universal" outlets is most useful. Then you can unplug a lamp in your room, plug in your power strip, plug the hotel lamp into the power strip, and plug in your American bricks and gizmos.

Buy a 250 volt power surge strip, either here or after you get to Europe. Do not use any old power strip you have unless you see 250 volts on the electrical nameplate. The power strip cord may have an American, European Schuko, or UK/Irish plug, depending where you buy it. Depending on the countries you are visiting, you may need a plug adapter in order to use it.

110 Volt Power Strips

American power strips can physically be connected to a plug adapter and plugged in to any European wall outlet. This results in 240 volts rushing through your American 110 volt power strip. This is definitely not good, unless you like sparks and smoke, terrifying people, and getting arrested. If you burn down the hotel you are responsible, if you are still alive. Do not use any power strip that is not rated for at least 220~250 volts.

Hair Blower

Do not plug your high power hair blower into a power surge strip. Use a separate plug adapter if you must bring a hair blower. However 99.9% of everywhere you want to sleep in Europe already has a hair blower in the room. See my chapter 6.2 Personal Care Items for Europe for more intelligence on that.

SUMMARY REFERENCE TABLE

This table answers 99% of the questions I receive. Please have a go at it before you write.

NOTE TO READERS

I welcome questions and comments. If you have any concerns about your trip to Europe that have not been covered well enough in this section please do not hesitate to write and ask. When you write please include relevant details, per the folowing paragraphs.

ATTENTION, PLEASE!!!

If you are seeking advice on whether or not to use your electrical gizmos in Europe please send the electrical specifications for your gizmos. This data is on the electrical nameplate of the gizmo or on the black brick (or white brick if you have an Apple product) as discussed and illustrated above. Include the following information in your email:
INPUT
  -  volts (V or VAC)
  -  frequency (Hz)
  -  watts (W) or amps (A) or milliamps (ma) or volt-amps (VA).

If you do not send me this basic information for your specific devices I can not give you any advice. There are a zillion electrical gizmos on the market. I own five of them. I know ABSOLUTELY NOTHING about your tool or toy. I do not have time to look up your gizmo's specifications, and even if I did there is no guarantee that the information I find applies to the thing that you have in your hand. Manufacturers change products by the week. If you do not look at your own gizmo or brick (yes, the information is there) and you do not include the INPUT electrical specifications in your email my reply will be very simple — a reference to this paragraph. I do not want you to fry your computer or other gizmos, not to mention burn down your hotel and go to jail for mischief and manslaughter. Yes, one European hotel burns down just about every year. It's diamonds to dimes that a tourist caused the fire because only tourists stay in hotels. And the major users of "converters" are American tourists because most of the rest of the world already has 220 volt electricity and would never consider using a "converter" — they do not need one.

I do not assume anything. Electricity has no conscience. I am happy to reply personally to everyone who writes and who provides the information that I need in order to respond accurately. Sorry if this sounds a bit harsh. Call it tough love.

I do not open attachments. I do not click links to web pages of any kind. Please include all of the INPUT data from your gizmos in the body of your email as noted above. I will reply in a day or two, usually.

By the way, please do not write and ask what kind of "converter" you should use. I get this question every day. STOP! STOP! NOW READ THIS. It is already written on this page and throughout this web site multiple multiple times - - -
<><><> DO NOT USE ANYTHING CALLED A CONVERTER <><><> .

My email address is [email protected].

Have a good trip!

Selections at

This "Schuko" plug adapter is the standard for France, Germany, and most of northern Europe.

#E-010 3 Pack, Grounded Universal 2 in 1 European Schuko plug adapter.
4.8 mm prongs.
Equivalent to type E and F.

You can use this ungrounded Euro plug in many European countries.
#E-020 Universal 2 in 1 Plug Adapter
Euro Plug
4.0 mm prongs.
Equivalent to type C.

A universal plug adapter for the UK and Ireland.
#E-030 hhh AC Adapter Plug for use in England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland
Equivalent to type G.

Here is the Swiss version.
#E-040 Grounded Universal 2 in 1 Plug Adapter
Type J for Switzerland

Here is the grounded Italian model.
#E-050 3-Pack. Grounded Universal Travel Plug Adapter for Italy.
Type L for Italy

Note: The highlighted #E number is arbitrary. It is meant to help identify products in this advert page when you write in for electrical advice.

This 110-250 volt power surge strip has three universal outlets and an American grounded plug so it needs a plug adapter for the countries you are visiting. Make sure that all your gizmos are rated for 110-240 volts.
#E-060 SM-60 Universal 3 Outlet Power Strip Surge Protector for Worldwide Travel. 110V-250V with Overload Protection.

For charging up to six gizmos at a time use this 250 volt universal power strip. It comes with a grounded Continental plug.
#E-070 Surge Protector
Power Strip
6 Universal Outlets
220/240 Volt 50/60Hz

Most gizmos charge their battery through a USB port so this car charger can keep you going as you drive. European cars have the same nominal 12 volt system as American cars. The LED display on this charger shows the voltage, among other things.
MONKA@4in1 Dual USB Car Charger

This 50 watt transformer changes 220 V electricity to 110 V. It works for small devices up to 35 watts continuous service, if they can operate on 50 Hz which is true for many battery chargers. Check your electrical nameplates and refer to chapter 11.3 for further information. 50-Watt International Transformer.
Travel Smart by Conair.

For small appliances this transformer will suffice in many cases. It is rated at 200 watts. However, in continuous service it would be best to use it on appliances needing no more than about 100 watts. Step Up/Down Transformer
120/240 volt 200 Watt
by Power Bright

Absolutely the best battery for digital cameras which use AA batteries. Energizer
AA Lithium Batteries
4 Pack

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HOW TO EUROPE:
The Complete Travelers Handbook

Chapter 1

What's It All About?

Travel Like a Native In Europe

Chapter 2, Part 1

On Budget in Europe

Travel Costs: How Much?

Chapter 2, Part 2

Europe on WHAT! Per Day?

My Actual Expenses

Chapter 3

Passport and Visas

Identity and Travel Documents

Chapter 4

Flying to Europe

Travel Starts at the Airport

Section 5
Packing Your Clothes for Europe
A well dressed traveler gets respect everywhere.

Chapter 5

What to Wear in Europe

Your Best Travel Clothes
for All Occasions

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Chapter 6 Part 1

Pack Light Field Test

Travel Europe in Comfort and Style

Chapter 6 Part 2

Personal Care Items

Pack Your Toothbrush, Toilet Paper, and Vinegar.

Chapter 6 Part 3

Travel Supplies

Small Stuff Packing List

Chapter 6 Part 4

Bringing Valuables

Not in Your Luggage or Purse

Chapter 7

Luggage for Europe

Get Wheels. Let It Roll.

Chapter 8 Part 1

Pickpockets in Europe

They're Everywhere

Chapter 8 Part 2

ATMs in Europe

Machines Dispense Travel Cash

Chapter 8 Part 3

Cash and Credit

Paying Your Way in Europe

Chapter 8 Part 4

Money Potpourri

Cash, Coins, Transfer, Barter

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For all 30 chapters and much more see

HOW TO EUROPE

The Complete Travelers Handbook

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Free to use but not to abuse.

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