Chargers for London and Paris

Alan Klein

Alan Klein

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I'm traveling on vacation from America to London and Paris. What proper AC power plug (rating) in chargers should I get for my iPhone and Samsung cellphone and Netbook? We'll be staying in hotels in each city. Thanks.
 
Alan Klein said:
I'm traveling on vacation from America to London and Paris. What proper AC power plug (rating) in chargers should I get for my iPhone and Samsung cellphone and Netbook? We'll be staying in hotels in each city. Thanks.
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Voltage throughout Europe and the UK is 230-250v. Most modern chargers can cope with anything from 110v to 250v, so all you need is a plug adapter from US plug to UK (3 pin) and European (2 pin)

Depending on the hotel, some provide international sockets, so adapters are not always necessary.

Don't forget the charger for your camera battery ;):p:rolleyes:
 
I would add the following to your "must have whilst traveling list":

  • A 220v/50Hz compatible USB charger
  • Extra charging cables for your devices
  • Backup batteries for all rechargeable devices
  • Since not all of Europe has agreed top the same wall socket arrangement (last I was there, this could have changed) I bought a universal wall plug adapter kit that works pretty much anywhere in the world so long as your chargers can handle 220/50Hz power
  • Backup camera memory cards - they can- and do fail. I habitually copy from camera to computer or cloud every day for this reason and carry replacement cards
  • Photocopies of your passport. Lockup your real passport at the hotel and carry the copies. (I learned this one the hard way)
  • Address/Phone number of your native nation's (USA?) Consulate/Embassy. (I learned this one the hard way)
  • If you're an American, $300-400 tucked away safely. If you have to get replacement passports, the Consulate/Embassy will only accept US dollars in payment. (I learned this one the hard way).
  • Spare 2nd/different credit card left locked with your passport just in case your primary card is lost or stolen
  • You may also find it helpful to call your cell phone carrier and arrange for an international calling/messaging/data package. Without this, you can run up a dreadful bill. Typically you have to leave it in place from the time it is activated until the next billing cycle, but that varies by carrier, I suppose.
 
Most hotels rooms now have at least one set of power sockets with a couple of USB charging socket built into them. Buy a travel adapter plug set before you leave.

Alan Klein said:
Anything else I should consider?
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Don't use your mobile phone in Europe, except via WiFi and WhatsApp or similar.. WiFi is free in nearly all hotels, but there are unexpected exceptions. When I say don't use your mobile that includes taking Incoming calls from North America, and you need to switch off any Apps that uses data roaming.

Ian
 
Thanks for the information. My cellphone service Verizon Wireless has a service I can buy for the month I;m in Europe that allows complete use for phone calls and data at a fixed charge.

It seems the receptacles in Paris are different than London. Is that true?
 
Joanna Carter said:
Voltage throughout Europe and the UK is 230-250v. Most modern chargers can cope with anything from 110v to 250v, so all you need is a plug adapter from US plug to UK (3 pin) and European (2 pin)

Depending on the hotel, some provide international sockets, so adapters are not always necessary.

Don't forget the charger for your camera battery ;):p:rolleyes:
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Oh, I missed that. Thanks.
 
Ian Grant said:
How about something like this with USB as well.
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Ian: That seems good too but only have one 120ac outlet. Note that the Paris and London ones I selected above have two US AC power outlets each. So my wife and I can both plug in our 120 ac equipment such as camera chargers at the same time. They also have two USB jacks each so we can plug in either regular micro charging cable for my Samsung cellphone, iPhone Lightning or C charger cables for my Netbook.

Are they missing something I haven't considered?
 
Now I;m confused. They say they're not voltage convertors and you cannot use let's say hair driers. Then how do battery charger work? Do they?
 
Alan, unless anything you plan to use has a dual voltage selector you will need a step-down converter 240v to 120v, but these can only take one plug.

For my Canon 5D I have a USB charger, it will charge 2 batteries at a time, it came with 2 batteries and was quite inexpensive.

Ian
 
Alan Klein said:
Now I;m confused. They say they're not voltage convertors and you cannot use let's say hair driers. Then how do battery charger work? Do they?
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Most electronics chargers are designed to work from 110-220V at 50 or 60Hz - thereby covering both the US and Europe. You need to confirm this by looking at the charger for your camera, computer, music device, USB charger, etc. - it's normally noted there. In that case, the only thing you need is a physical converter from European to US plug layouts.

Hair dryers decided do NOT work this way. They are designed for one or the other voltage standard unless you buy a dryer specifically designed for travelers.
 
thronobulax said:
Most electronics chargers are designed to work from 110-220V at 50 or 60Hz - thereby covering both the US and Europe. You need to confirm this by looking at the charger for your camera, computer, music device, USB charger, etc. - it's normally noted there. In that case, the only thing you need is a physical converter from European to US plug layouts.

Hair dryers decided do NOT work this way. They are designed for one or the other voltage standard unless you buy a dryer specifically designed for travelers.
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My Sony camera charger is rated 120-240VAC input; 50/60Hz. So I don;t need an AC convertor, only the AC charger plug and cable to the camera.

I don';t know about my AC plug for my cellphone charger cables. But I can just plug the cables into the USB jacks on the adapter.

So should the different adapters for Paris and London I mentioned earlier work? Here are the links again.

LOndon: G type: Amazon.com: UK Ireland Scotland Power Adapter Plug, TESSAN Type G Travel Adaptor with 2 USB Charger Ports 2 American Outlets, US to London England British Hong Kong Irish Kenya Dubai Qatar Plug Converter : Electronics


Paris: F type: Amazon.com: UK Ireland Scotland Power Adapter Plug, TESSAN Type G Travel Adaptor with 2 USB Charger Ports 2 American Outlets, US to London England British Hong Kong Irish Kenya Dubai Qatar Plug Converter : Electronics
 
Alan Klein said:
My Sony camera charger is rated 120-240VAC input; 50/60Hz. So I don;t need an AC convertor, only the AC charger plug and cable to the camera.

I don';t know about my AC plug for my cellphone charger cables. But I can just plug the cables into the USB jacks on the adapter.

So should the different adapters for Paris and London I mentioned earlier work? Here are the links again.

LOndon: G type: Amazon.com: UK Ireland Scotland Power Adapter Plug, TESSAN Type G Travel Adaptor with 2 USB Charger Ports 2 American Outlets, US to London England British Hong Kong Irish Kenya Dubai Qatar Plug Converter : Electronics


Paris: F type: Amazon.com: UK Ireland Scotland Power Adapter Plug, TESSAN Type G Travel Adaptor with 2 USB Charger Ports 2 American Outlets, US to London England British Hong Kong Irish Kenya Dubai Qatar Plug Converter : Electronics
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I would defer to our European colleagues on this question. It's been some years since I was in either London or Paris, and I thus don't know the current state of things. I think you can buy a single kit that covers all possible combinations in the US, Europe, and Asia. If memory serves, it was under $50 and I never had to carry individual adapters thereafter. Something like this, perhaps (though I have not used this particular model):

 
thronobulax said:
I would defer to our European colleagues on this question. It's been some years since I was in either London or Paris, and I thus don't know the current state of things. I think you can buy a single kit that covers all possible combinations in the US, Europe, and Asia. If memory serves, it was under $50 and I never had to carry individual adapters thereafter. Something like this, perhaps (though I have not used this particular model):

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That looks ideal. Just take a multiway American bar as well, to plug into it, so you can share the single socket that will give you.
 
Alan Klein said:
There's no USA AC outlet on that one, only USB jacks.
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I think if you take another look at the top of the device, you'll see a standard US 3 prong configuration. As @Joanna Carter suggests, take along a multi outlet strip and plug it into the device, thereby giving you multiple outlets to plug in your charging devices. I would check to make sure the strip is rated for 220V, though.
 
thronobulax said:
I think if you take another look at the top of the device, you'll see a standard US 3 prong configuration. As @Joanna Carter suggests, take along a multi outlet strip and plug it into the device, thereby giving you multiple outlets to plug in your charging devices. I would check to make sure the strip is rated for 220V, though.
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That the male portion that plugs into the wall. But there are no female jacks for 120 AC plugs or any other power plug. I only see USB jacks as outputs.
 
Alan Klein said:
That the male portion that plugs into the wall. But there are no female jacks for 120 AC plugs or any other power plug. I only see USB jacks as outputs.
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Have a look again at the top where devices are plugged in- again, I have not used this myself, but this seems to be what you want based on the photo:

1680105202211.png
 
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