Pardon my ignorance here, but I phoned Radio Shack on this one, and as is typical, they don't have a clue?!
Perhaps anyone with experience here can assist me.
I have a few electronic travel items (necessary), like a laptop, digital camera, cell phone, battery chargers, etc.
I was hoping to be able to buy an American Power Strip, plugging all of those items into it, then taking the ONE plug end of the Power strip, plugging that into some sort of converter/adapter, so it can plug into a wall in Spain and all the items will function properly despite the AC differences.
Is this possible? Anyone have any suggestions of what to do or what to buy to use several American electronic items in Spain without too much pain?
Thank you!
EDR
Posts: 13 | Location: Los Angeles, CA | Registered: 18 June 2001
Hey edr, "Radio Crack" are usually not very helpful unless you are needing to spend a lot of $$$ and buy big items. I have purchased adapters there and trust me, the big $2 sale did not seem to motivate them much into discussing or advising much.
Ok, here goes.
The laptop is world voltage (as are all) so all you will need to use/charge it is the "some sort of converter/adapter" you mentioned above and which you can see in my patented photo by CLICKING HERE.
Most digtal cameras are also on world voltage so the same should go for that one. To be sure, check the charger or power cords of the appliances and make sure they say "100V-240V" and "50-60Hz" on them so that you do not fry anything by mistake
The most important thing is the "V" for Voltage and that it is able to deal with the 100-240 range (110 in the U.S.A. and 220 here in Spain).
As for your cellphone, unless it is one of those trband superphones that cost like $1,000 USD, leave it home for the frequency is different here and U.S. cellphones DO NOT WORK here, hence my rather successful and pretty new CELLPHONE RENTAL SERVICE here.
The batery chargers also go by the voltage rule.
When I was back in NY last December, I was easily able to charge my laptop, digital camera, cellphone, and other dual voltage items with only the adapter (the opposite on that appears in the ADAPTERS (one for each item) by buying the strip and just using one to plug it into the funky rounded prong Spanish outlet.
I think that some power strips are only made for 110V and use in the U.S.A. so be sure you get one that is good for the 100-240V range or you willend up frying the power strip itself when you plug it in here, although the devices plugged into it would not be harmed as long as they can handle the higher voltage (laptop, dig. cam., electric shaver, etc...).
>>>> The most important thing is the "V" for Voltage and that it is able to deal with the 100-240 range (110 in the U.S.A. and 220 here in Spain).
YES, JER, ALL MY GADGETS SHOW V 100-240 50-60HZ.
I think that some power strips are only made for 110V and use in the U.S.A. so be sure you get one that is good for the 100-240V range or you willend up frying the power strip itself when you plug it in here, although the devices plugged into it would not be harmed as long as they can handle the higher voltage (laptop, dig. cam., electric shaver, etc...).
OK, THANKS. THIS IS THE TICKET, GOTTA FIND A STRIP THAT CAN HANDLE THE SAME CURRENT CRITERIA, 100-240 50-60 HZ. GOT IT!
NOW, YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT BEING IN NY AND USING A POWER STRIP BUT ONLY ONE OF THE OUTLETS? SOMEONE (NOT TOTALLY RELIABLE) TOLD ME THAT EVEN WITH AN ADAPTER/CONVERTER IF YOU USE A POWER STRIP, ONLY ONE ELECTRONIC ITEM SHOULD BE PLUGGED INTO THE POWER STRIP (WHEN CONVERTING POWER)??? IS THIS TRUE?
THIS KIND OF DEFEATS THE PURPOSE OF A POWER STRIP, DOESN'T IT?
I GUESS IF I HAD A 100-240 P0WER STRIP AND ALL OF MY GADGETS WERE 100-240, THEN A SIMPLE GOING FROM THE STRIP PLUG END INTO THE EU ADAPTER THEN INTO A SPANISH WALL SHOULD WORK?
THANKS! EDR
Posts: 13 | Location: Los Angeles, CA | Registered: 18 June 2001
"SOMEONE (NOT TOTALLY RELIABLE) TOLD ME THAT EVEN WITH AN ADAPTER/CONVERTER IF YOU USE A POWER STRIP, ONLY ONE ELECTRONIC ITEM SHOULD BE PLUGGED INTO THE POWER STRIP (WHEN CONVERTING POWER)??? IS THIS TRUE?"
... it is true but that is aplicable when you are using a voltage adapter which is a whole different story. There are the dirt cheap $2 OUTLET ADAPTERS for getting your world voltage compatible devices into the foreign socket and there are voltage converters which are bigger, more expensive and almost always have a fuse in them. They are used for lowering the voltage current from the Spanish 220V to the U.S.A. 110V and are made for juicing up only one gadget at a time. That is why that person told you not to use a power strip with a voltage converter.
So, as you see, these are two entirely dfferent ballgames here buddy. Since your gadgets are all good for 100V-240V you will not be using the voltage converter.
As an anecdote, when I first came to Spain many moons ago to study, I brought both a laptop and a printer. While the laptop needed no voltage converter the printer did and I did not realize it until it was too late, I plugged the printer into the wall socket anfd fried it bigtime (it almost started smoking :eek .
Hey, some power strips even have fuses to protect them and the appliances they have plugged into them, look into that as it is an added bit of security.
Also, another option is to buy a Spanish power strip here (they run between $6 AND $15 depending on the # of outlets you want) and get a few of those OUTLET ADAPTERS for a few bucks each (you can buy them here as well at just about any electricity store). Surely you will not have all the gadgets plugged in/charging at the same time so you do not need one adapter for each gadget. I think this is your best bet since you will not run any possible risks of frying a U.S. power strip.
Final question on this one. Are there "settings" on newer gadgets where you are supposed to change from 110 to 220VAC or is it automatic? Will the unit recognize the difference when it's plugged in.
I ask because, I don't see any settings on the gadgets I have, so I'm assuming that it must be automatic?
As long as I have the plug adapter to get into a Spanish wall, it should be ok?
I'll most likely purchase the adapters from you. What do they cost, and do you ship them?
My next trip to Spain may be directly to Barcelona, so I may not be able to stop by in person in Madrid to see you to buy them. Therefore, what do you charge for let's say 4 plug adapters and to ship them to the U.S.?
Thanks and Happy New Year! EDR
Posts: 13 | Location: Los Angeles, CA | Registered: 18 June 2001
Hey EDR, you got this electricity thing down pretty well.
I have not seen switches on any appliances except for maybe a dual band VCR once that had a Hertz switch to go from 50 to 60 fo for either the U.S.A. or Europe so I would not fret it. The device charger can "read" the voltage coming out of the wall and it is all automatic
As for the adapters,I may not have explained myself clearly. You can and should get them before you leave the U.S.A. at.. gulp... radio shack or any other electrical supply store or even K-mart or similiar stores. THey are very inexpensive and there is no reason to have them sent from here (unless you are just dying to throw your money away),
Saludos, jer...
p.d. I just love this banter back and forth, even if it is just 2 people, imagine how many people will benefit from this thread in the future
Well, since this thread may be of some benefit to others, I thought I'd ask one more main question here, instead of sending you a private email.
I went to Radio Shack today and there's no power strip that says "Range 100-240V", but there are some that say "Maximum voltage allowed through = 150V" and others that say the same but up to 330V, such as "Maximum voltage allowed through = 330V."
I'm assuming the ones that are less than 220V shouldn't be used in Europe but the ones that say 330V are ok?
I'm being diligent about this because I can't afford to "fry" anything via an experiment.
Perhaps it may be better to buy a power strip and adapter in Spain? They probably run into this situation more (Americans going there with 110V gadgets) instead of Spaniards going to the U.S. needing to convert from 220V to 110V ??? Hmmm?
Thanks again for your assistance! EDR
Posts: 13 | Location: Los Angeles, CA | Registered: 18 June 2001
Below is a link to the Tiger Direct page for surge strips, some up to 330 V, some offer warranties against equipment, etc. Some even have an RJ11 port for a phone line! I don't mean for you to necessarily buy any online, but you can get an idea of what is available.
I consider tiger direct to be the best source for computer equipment. You can also check out TCWO.
Hola Ben, thanks for the link to those online suppliers. I was just on TigerDirect and they have loads of stuff for me to spend my Euros on
edr, you got it buddy, do not even think about using a strip that can only handle a max. of 110V, the 330V one would do you fine if that is the max. voltage tolerated.
I still advise you to buy one here and use a few of those inexpensive ADAPTERS to get the gadgets into the strip. I see no real advantage to purchasing the strip in the U.S.A. or anywhere else over buying it here.
One more thing, the powerstrip/surge protector combo I bought from APC for my DELL desktop PC came with a no-fry guarantee on the appliances that are used with it (up to a certain dollar amount that is).
Although websites like the ones mentioned by Ben above are ok for power supply solutions, APC is at www.apc.com and they are leaders in their field, check them out.
Saludos, jer...
p.d. thanks for keeping your questions on this thread edr instead of asking me personally via e-mail since, as we all agree, it will be helpful to others in the future I do not mind giving individual 1 to 1 advice when it comes to very personal or touchy subjects but for the most part it is better to talk about things on the forums.
Thanks for fixing me up to this link, Jer. It answered my questions. I bought for only $34.95 a power supply that switched voltage up or down,110-2220 or 220-110, and when doing the latter, it can easily handle a number of appliances safely, up to 5,000 watt's, with built in surge protection and equipped with euro-style outlets as well as u.s. I still wasnt sure if this is what I needed or not, but I see it will work nicely. A power strip never occured to me, 'duh. haha, thanks again.
jonzrqlz
Posts: 92 | Location: central Missouri, USA | Registered: 03 October 2002
wait wait wait, just to clear this up, if I plug my laptop into an adaptor, it will be fine? I dont need to buy a european version of it's plug from Apple? Really!?!? YAY! Jer, let me know if this is true man! Thanx, Joy
Posts: 537 | Location: Madrid (but from Boston) | Registered: 16 December 2002
Well, there should be no one single "European version" of its plug since all outlets in European countries are not the same Are you referring to the kit that comes with adapters for most European outlet types?
Voltage wise you are fine as laptops do the world voltage thang but you will need to get it into the Spanish outlet. That is what THESE ADAPTER THINGYS (that is the technical name for them by the way ) are for.
Can you post a URL to the adapter Apple wants you to buy. Considering a normal Apple mouse costs around $100 I can only imagine what the official Apple adapter will hit ya for
I brought a powerbook over many moons ago and although the charger cord had a 3rd ground prong (3 prongs total), I simply used the NORMAL ADAPTER THINGY for a whole year here and it worked fine. The 3rd prong was simply left out all year. Guess I was risking a PC BarBQ if I had been caught by surprise by a power surge but guess I got lucky.
With the seriously high prices of MACS these days (especially laptops), I would probably go for the real deal and get the 3 prong adapter (assuming your power cord has 3) and not take any risks.
- rent or buy a cell phone from me for your stay in spain, more info at 
- already have a cell phone, get a spanish SIM card for it at 
.
Are you referring to the kit that comes with adapters for most European outlet types? 
