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Electrical systemsElectrical systems== Introduction == Image:universal-plug-adaptor.jpg|frame|Universal Plug Adaptor Electrical systems differ around the world. Some use 50 hertz; some 60. Some use 110-120 volts; others 220-240. Some are on all the time, barring an ice storm or earthquake; some run a few hours a day. The plugs are different. The traveler, if he is bringing electrical appliances, must be prepared to adapt. It can be daunting, but it actually isn't too hard. There are only two main type of '''electric systems''' used around the world, with varying '''physical connections''': * 110-120 volt, at 60 hertz frequency (''in general North and Central Americas, Japan'') * 220-240 volt, at 50 hertz frequency (''in general whole Europe and rest of the World with some exceptions'') If the voltage and frequency for your device is the same as where you are travelling, then you need only worry about the physical plug. (The difference between 110V and 120V, or 220V and 240V, can be safely ignored.) A device that lets you insert a plug into a different socket is an '''adapter''': these are small, cheap, safe and pretty much unbreakable. If the voltage for your device is ''not'' the same, then you will need a '''transformer''' to convert the voltage to the local system. Transformers are basically chunks of lead wrapped in wires, which means that they are large and heavy. To use one, you must verify that the voltage is being '''stepped up''' (low to high voltage) or '''stepped down''' (high to low voltage) in the right direction: plugging a 110-to-220V step-up transformer into a 220V socket will get you 440V and a fried device. You must also make sure that the '''wattage''' of your device does not exceed the transformer's limit, as doing so may cause the transformer to overheat and even catch fire. Many low-voltage devices like laptops and cell phone chargers have special transformers built-in that can either electrical system. Read the label on your adapter for the specifications. If it says something like: INPUT: 100-240V, 50/60 Hz then this is the best situation, where you only need a physical adapter. If it does not specify the whole range of voltages and says only one voltage, you need to make sure the country you are in matches. == Specifics == For example, between England and Germany, you need only an adapter. You stick your English plug in the adapter, which connects the rectangular phase and neutral prongs to the round German ones and puts the ground where the German outlet expects it, and you're good to go. If you're an American traveling to Europe, you'll need a voltage converter, except for devices, such as computers, which have power supplies that can take either voltage. If the frequency is different, don't take a plug-in clock - it'll show 20 or 28.8 hours in a day. Image:plugs.png ==Things that are interchangable == ===Laptop computers=== Most laptop computers with external power adapters will handle either 220 or 120 volts fine. However you will need to make sure that you have the plug that matches the outlet for the country you are going to. Also it is a good idea to bring a 2 to 3 prong adapter if your laptop requires ground. ===Radios=== Radios also tend to be interchangable from country to country. The exact FM range being used can vary from country to country though, so you may not be able to access all stations. Japan, in particular, has an FM band from 78 MHz to 100 MHz rather than the more common 88 MHz to 108 MHz. Also many modern digital electronic radios come with preset AM tuning frequencies either at 9kHz or 10kHz intervals, depending on the scheme used in the country the radio is intended for. You may find a modern digital radio has difficulty tuning in some stations if this is the case. A simple (and cheap) pocket AM/FM transistor radios may give just as good a performance in these cases. ===Mobile phones and digital cameras=== Chargers for these may work with both 110V and 240V systems, though you may still need an adaptor plug or have to use the shaver socket. However it pays to check. You may be able to get a second charger for the other voltage system, or even a dual voltage charger designed for both systems. However, your mobile phone handset may not always be compatable with the country's network or you may be limited to certain cellular providers. You should check this, and arrange for a suitable handset if need be, before you leave home. Once you are on your travels you may discover you need to buy a second phone. ===Equipment using standard batteries=== Battery sizes and voltages tend to be standard from place to place, and equipment that uses batteries tends to be interchangable. == Things that are not interchangable == === Lamps === Lamps, and their light bulbs are very sensitive to the supply voltage. If you shift between voltage systems, you will need to change the light bulbs to match the voltage, unless the lamp is designed to operate on both systems, say through a low voltage adaptor. It may be that you will need to have an electrician completely rewire a lamp when you get home to comply with your country's electrical safety standards. This may not be a problem for a one off special item, but if you are going into the importing business it could be a showstopper. Also watch out for the light bulb connection. Many countries have standardised on one style of connector. In 110-120V systems this is often a screw connector while in 220-240V systems it is often a bayonet connector. Thes connectors also come in at least two different sizes. Be sure you can obtain light bulbs of the right voltage, size and connector shape in the country you intend to use the lamp, and at a reasonable price, otherwise the lamp may become little more than junk when the bulb fails. === Electric motors === The electric motors in things like hairdryers, electric shavers, refrigerators, washing machines and other whiteware are often sensitive to the supply frequency. Even if you use a step-up or step-down transformer, the different supply frequencies may mean motors run at the wrong speed and may burn out. ===Electric Shavers=== Hotels often provide a special electrical outlet specifically for electric shavers. The plugs often allow any voltage shaver to be plugged into them and be used safely in front of the bathroom mirror. They may also accept your cellphone adaptor or similar low power battery charging unit. ===Hairdryers=== Hairdryers are a particular risk, if you accidentally plug your 120 Volt hairdryer into a 240 Volt outlet you may find it catching fire in your hands! Similarly a 240 Volt hairdryer in a 120 Volt outlet may run slowly and not heat up enough. Most good hotels and motels will be able to supply a hair drier, it may even be a room fitting. However it may be worthwhile buying a hairdryer suited for the electrical system of countries you may be travelling in. Or else borrow your host's one. There are dual voltage travel hairdryers available too. === Video equipment === Televisions, many radios, video and DVD players, as well as videotapes, are often specific to the broadcast system used in the country that they are sold in. The main three television broadcast systems are '''PAL''', the closest to a worldwide standard, '''NTSC''', used mostly in the Americas and some East Asian countries (notably Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan) and '''SECAM''', originally from France and adopted by much of Eastern Europe and the Middle East, but there are various incompatibilities even within these supposed standards. Read the manual and warranty carefully. Unless you have an internationally compatible device you may find your expensive looking system is little more than worthless junk in another country because it won't work with anything else. Your warranty is probably only valid in the country of purchase, and you may need to return the goods to the place you purchased them from. Basically the maxim to follow is ''Buyer Beware''. DVDs, infuriatingly, have a completely artificial limitation introduced in the form of '''region coding''', which attempts to limits the region where the discs can be used. The workaround are to obtain either a regionless DVD player which ignores the code, or purchase region 0 discs that can be played on any device. Videocameras can usually be charged with both electrical systems so you can record during travels and view it back home. Digital cameras and videocameras can usually output to both '''PAL''', '''NTSC''', and '''SECAM''', so you can view your recording while travelling. Bring a phono to SCART adaptor when travelling to Europe. ==Stay safe== The first (and every) time you use electrical equipment on a voltage system you haven't used before watch for excessive heat, strange smells and, especially, smoke signals. Smoke is a sure sign your equipment cannot cope with the voltage system. If your electrical equipment gets very hot, smells of burning or starts to smoke, turn it off at the wall or the main switch immediately, then carefully unplug the equipment. Do not disconnect or unplug by just grabbing the smoking device, its plug or cord and unplugging it as these parts are probably very hot and the insulation could be melted or unsafe - which could result in electrocution. Unfortunately, you may find your expensive equipment has been fried and needs to be replaced because the wrong voltage was used. However, if the equipment only got hot and did not smoke or produce strange burning smells you may be lucky. Also, do not rely on the fusebox fuses protecting your equipment. They are normally not sensitive enough, though if they do blow when you plug your equipment in you should have things checked by a competent local electrician before using the suspect equipment again. ==External Link== See the [http://kropla.com/electric.htm World Electric Power Guide] for more detailed information First page | Prev | Next | Last page |
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