best international power converter and adapter

Once you’ve taken note of your destination country’s plug type and voltage standard, compare it to your home’s power standards (the U.S. The WorldStandards website has a convenient list of countries’ power standards (you can search through the list by pressing CTRL+F). That way, you’ll know if you need to buy a plug adapter, a power converter, or both. But first, you should investigate what plug type and voltage standard are used by your destination country. We’ll explain how plug adapters and power converters work in just a second. Don’t worry, you can still use your fancy blow dryer on your next vacation, but you might need to buy a plug adapter and a power converter first. Do You Need a Plug Adapter, a Power Converter, or Both? Jamomir Chalabala/ShutterstockĪlongside these 15 different plug types are also different voltage standards around the world. They also forced their colonies to follow along (that’s why they use British Type G plugs in Malaysia), and now the world’s stuck with 15 different plug standards.

So other industrial countries developed their own plugs. They’re wobbly, they’re not insulated, and they like to fall out of the wall. American industry responded by developing the type A and B “American” plugs (the ones you’re using right now). Quite naturally, people got sick of screwing their curling irons into the ceiling (or whatever) and demanded a more convenient and powerful solution. For a time that some refer to as “hell,” people plugged low-wattage devices like toasters, vacuum cleaners, and radios into light sockets. The ubiquitous light socket is the real criminal here. Well, maybe we shouldn’t blame the lightbulb itself. It introduced electricity to the domestic realm, opened the public’s eyes to technology, and completely screwed your ability to use an American hairdryer in Europe. Of all the wonderful Victorian era inventions (cameras, phones, mummy-medicine, etc.), Edison’s lightbulb may have had the biggest impact on the world. Why Are There So Many Plug Types? Anna Bo/Shutterstock Here’s everything you need to know about powering devices when you’re traveling. With all the different plug types and voltage standards around the world, you might not be clear on which plug adapters and power converters you need for a vacation.

Best international power converter and adapter