About Europe Adapter Plugs and Wall Outlets
Wall outlets in Europe will have different pin configurations than in the United States. Many countries in Continental Europe share the same type of wall outlet while others, like the United Kingdom with have a unique wall outlet ...
Europe uses a two round pin style of adapter plug that fits into Europe's wall outlet that has two round holes to accept the adapter pins.
Before leaving for your trip, inventory all of your electrics and appliances that you will need to plug in.
First look at all of your plugs. If all of your US style plugs only have two pins then you will only need a non-grounded adapter for your trip. If any of your appliances have a plug with three prongs, two flat pins and one round pin, then you will defiantly need a grounded adapter plug for your trip.
Denmark Grounded Adapter Plug
Denmark , Italy, Switzerland
Europe Wall Outlet
When traveling to most countries in Europe, the Europe Adapter Type Plug will be sufficient. However, some European countries use additional adapters, such as Denmark and Switzerland. Denmark uses a unique, three round pin grounded adapter plug. Switzerland also has a unique grounded plug.
Italy uses a grounded plug that has three round pins all in a row. Europe, two pin non-grounded plug will work in Denmark, Italy and Switzerland. Just be aware that these countries all have a unique grounded plug. Use Going In Style's Adapter Plug A to Z list to check the adapter for each European country you are visiting.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom uses a completely different set of adapters than most of Europe. UK, including England, Wales, Northern Ireland ect. use a large, square, three pin type of adapter plug. If you are traveling from England to France on your Europe trip, this means you will need two different sets of adapters.
You can purchase travel adapters for Europe, Scotland, UK, Italy and France locally at our flagship travel store at Stanford Shopping Mall in Palo Alto, California. We carry European adapter plugs for world wide travelers at Going In Style Travel Accessories, 609 Stanford Shopping Center, Palo Alto, CA 94304 - Visit the Stanford Travel Store website www.stanfordtravelstore.com for directions to Going In Style.
Heavy Duty Transformers
Photo by Jackl
Heavy Duty Transformers are used when continuous power is needed for large electrical equipment such as a refrigerator or power tools. Transformers can either step up or step down electrical voltage. Usually if you are using a United States appliance in another country, you will need a step down transformer.
Step down transformers decrease voltage. In North America, 110 - 120 volts electricity is used and appliances are designed for this amount of electricity. In many foreign countries 220 volts of electricity is used. If you plug a United States television into an outlet in Germany (230 volts) without a transformer, you are likely to damage the television permanently.
If you are traveling to Japan you will need a Step Up Transformer, since Japan uses 100 volts electricity, compared to 120 volt electricity in the United States.
Appliances that require a Transformer:
- Computers
- Microwaves
- Refrigerators
- Medical Equipment
- Power Tools
- Stereo Systems
- Answering Machines
- Breathing Machines
- Cordless Telephones
- Fans
- Fax Machines
- Printers
- DVD Players
- Blenders
- Juicers
- Monitors
- Televisions
- Sewing Machines
- Bread Machines
- Food Processors
- Meat Slicers
- Coffee Machines
- Clothes Iron
- Waffle Maker
- Vacuums
All appliance require different transformer wattage so be sure to check the wattage of the particular appliance.