International Adapters / Cords / Plugs

Difference between Voltage converters / transformers and Plug adapter

So you are travelling abroad and keep hearing these terms jumping around like voltage converters / transformers, and plug adapter. Everyone tells you that you need them in order to use your electronics overseas. Sure they may know what they are talking about but you’re as confused as ever! But you do not need to embarrass yourself by asking your friends what those things are because everything you need to know is right here! 

First things first, why exactly do we need a plug adapter and voltage converters / transformers? Well, some countries such as the USA use 110V while other countries such as Germany, France, and Russia in Europe use 220V. Unless you have a dual voltage appliance, you will most likely need voltage converters / transformers in order to change the voltage to suit your electronic device. To choose the right converter or transformer, just multiply the voltage by the watt rating of your device. It is recommended that you choose a converter or transformer with a 25% higher watt rating so that your device won’t get burnt out. 

Now for the plug adapter you will always need one when travelling to somewhere like Russia or Romania because the outlets there are usually different from the ones in the US. Outlets from different countries can vary in shape, size, and even number of prongs! You will need to make sure that you find the right plug adapter to fit in those crazy outlets! You can simply research and look up pictures of what countries use or even buy all the different types of plug adapters so that you’ll be extra prepared for the future.