Please help I know there is a power difference in Europe. Are there converters I can buy for all our items?

Question

Please help I know there is a power difference in Europe. Are there converters I can buy for all our items?

Answer 1

Yes there are converters but it is hard on your appliances to use them.  If you are going to be there for awhile buy things over there to use.  I had a clock radio that only worked for 2 months after I used the converter.  Remember our electric devices are wired for 110 and Europe uses 220.  That's a lot more power running through the motors or whatever.

Answer 2

The power difference is two-fold.  First US is 110 volts and Europe is 220v.  If you plug a 110 appliance into a 220 outlet, it will blow a fuze, burn up, pop and generally not run, plus not be good for the appliance.

Additionally, US is 60 cycle and Europe is 50 cycle.  That means that a US clock will lose 10 minutes per hour.

It's better to buy small appliances that you use a lot (hair dryer, hair curler, razor, toaster, clock radio) in Europe, rather than plugging them into a converter all the time.

Converters use electricity, so unplug them when not in use.

Check you computer/monitor and such.  In many cases, they're dual voltage, so you can use them in Europe by flipping the switch.

You also need adaptors because the plug endings are not the same.  There's not a European standard for plugs, so you need a universal adaptor for items you'll take when you travel from one country to another (hair curler, etc).

Light fixtures from the US will work in Europe since they're UL rated to 330 volts.  You need to buy the 220v bulbs in Europe, because the American bulbs will blow.

I lived in Germany five years and there I didn't need any sort of adaptor to use the German bulbs in the US lamps.  I don't know about elsewhere in Europe for that.

Answer 3

I am assuming you are talking about appliances coming from USA and to be used in Europe.

Yes there power is different and you need a transformer, except for laptops.

We moved to Switzerland, from US. Our lamps didn't need converter, just an extra fitting to fit into socket. As for small appliances, ie mini food processor for baby food, electric s***w driver, wireless phone they just needed a small convert that cost close to $28.

For larger items, laser printer, fax, we bought a bigger transformer.