One thing we know about technology - it progresses. Things that were true last year are no longer true this week. Everything changes in technology, usually in the direction of more convenience. With that said, there have certainly been some changes in the realm of electrical compatibility. With the advent of 110 to 220 volts consumer electronics, do you still need voltage converters when you travel?
Built-in Voltage Transformers
Some new consumer electronics have built-in voltage transformers. The most common of these are cell phone battery chargers, laptop chargers and other personal electronics. You'll know that you have one of these if the label on the back, bottom or interior of your device reads something like: 110v/220v. Many of these devices can figure out which voltage is being supplied to them from the outlet and adjust accordingly, but many of them have to be manually set for the right current. Before you plug one of these devices into an outlet, check the switch to make sure it's set for the right voltage. You don't need voltage converters with these, just a little extra caution and care.
If your device doesn't fit the 110 to 220 volts consumer electronics niche, though, you'll need to provide either a voltage transformer or a voltage converter if you're planning to use it in a country that supplies a different voltage than your device consumes. That is - if you have a device that requires 110v electricity and you want to use it in a country that supplies 220v electricity, you'll need to use a step down voltage converter. If you have a device that requires 220v electricity and you intend to use it in a country that supplies 110v electricity, you'll need a step down converter.
How do you know which one you need? The label on the back of your device will tell you how many volts it needs to operate safely. You'll find charts online that tell you which standard various countries use so you can figure out what voltage the country you're visiting provides. Some high-end European hotels do provide 110v outlets, and they'll be clearly marked. In most cases, though, if you're outside North America, Japan or a few scattered countries in South America, the electrical current will be 220-240v. If you're bringing your North American devices with you, you'll need a voltage converter.
Tip: If you want to be on the safe side, check out the selection of voltage converters that do it all. Step up and step down voltage converter transformers can convert electricity in either direction and sometimes offer other options for regulating electricity for high-end devices such as multisystem LCD plasma and LED TVs.
Finally, you may also want to invest in a plug adapter kit. Even in the countries that deliver electricity at 220 volts, there are many different plug configurations. In order to plug voltage converters into the wall, you'll need a plug adapter that fits the plug configuration in that country. You can buy plug adapter kits that will cover you in just about every country in the world for about the price of a cup of coffee.
Whatever you do, though, don't use the plug adapter to plug your device directly into the outlet unless you're certain that it uses the same voltage of electricity as the outlet. If you're not sure, opt for one of the better voltage converters that automatically detect the voltage and adjust accordingly.
Author Resource:
Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the world's MOST popular internet marketing companies on the web.
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