Mediterranean question - travel plugs for Apple products

[FigmentSpark]

While I know the Magic has 'normal' 110 U.S. plugs, European countries don't. For anyone that's stayed before/after for a land tour in Europe (or had to recharge your phone on an excursion), did you use a transformer to plug in your Apple iphone or ipad? Or did you just get the 2 prong cover for the U.S. plug?

Also, if anyone has any experience with an Anker plug (as in the following link), same question, did you need anything special besides the 2 pronged plug cover?

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00VH8G1SY/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_25?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=AREE309N4XPXI

 

[IrishEye]

What is a 2 prong plug cover? Our chargers plug into either 220 or 110, we always carry a EU 2 prong to US 2 slot adapter in order to plug into anything. Most other electric items now days have a 220 or 110 setting so we have not packed a converter (I think you called this a transformer) for several years.

 

[NS8VN]

You shouldn't need a transformer, just an adapter. An adapter changes the plug to fit in other countries but just passes the power through, so in most of Europe you will still get 220v 50Hz. A transformer steps down the power to 110v, it will be much more bulky and cost far more.

Most AC-DC adapters (that is, what charges phones and laptops) these days work across a variety of voltages and frequencies. the Anker you listed, for instance, can operate between 100-240v and 50-60Hz so would work just fine with only an adapter needed to plug in to other style outlets. Most electronics should be the same and should also say somewhere what their "Input" voltage range is. You may need a magnifying glass and bright light to read it.

As far as Anker, we have one and it works just fine. It can be a bit slower when charging multiple items, it can output quite a bit of power but there are limits, and it will get very warm when doing so. Otherwise I'm pretty happy with it.

 

[nordkin]

You do not need a transformer for your Apple products, most computers, or cameras. They have all pretty much gone to dual voltage. You will need the plug adapter for Europe. We have this and love it.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01D...+converter&dpPl=1&dpID=41k4+mM0E4L&ref=plSrch

 

[FigmentSpark]

Thanks. That's what I was hoping you all would say.

I think I'll pick up the Anker 4 port, but I do like the travel adapter one, especially since it looks like it could be used for USB and regular plugs.

 

[aggiedog]

I found that the adapters I used in Italy did not fit French outlets, so it will pay to know which countries you will be in and plan accordingly. In Italy, I also found that there would be different outlets in the same room, besides the "shaver" outlet in the bathroom. One would require a 3 prong grounded adapter, and others a 2 prong round pin. France had only recessed grounded male/female combined outlets. On top of that, one of our hotels had straight USB ports at the bedside.

 

[FigmentSpark]

I found that the adapters I used in Italy did not fit French outlets, so it will pay to know which countries you will be in and plan accordingly. In Italy, I also found that there would be different outlets in the same room, besides the "shaver" outlet in the bathroom. One would require a 3 prong grounded adapter, and others a 2 prong round pin. France had only recessed grounded male/female combined outlets. On top of that, one of our hotels had straight USB ports at the bedside.

Hmm. That's adding a wrench. It'll be Spain. Any tips for Spain?

 

[aggiedog]

Sorry, no. I'd just google it to make sure you have ones that work for where you are. I was so excited about a USB plug I found in Italy that I bought one for all the kids. Little did I know it really only worked in Italy, and our family trip was to France. Ack!

I have seen "universal" adapters that are multifaceted and have different configurations per side. They seem really large to me, though.

 

[Gigi22]

Hmm. That's adding a wrench. It'll be Spain. Any tips for Spain?[/QUOTE

We were there in 2014 with our Apple products, I got Apple’s World Travel Adapter Kit and used the Round Thin Pins attachment designated for Continental Europe and attached it to Apple’s power adapter and USB cable. It worked fine. We were in Barcelona.

 

[aggiedog]

Regarding the World Travel Adapter Kit, on an Amazon review:

Yes... but this is just part of what you need. These are the PLUGS that go on your charger. It's the thicker apple charger with the folding plug. That plug slides off and one of these slides on.

I usually use the 5W USB adapter for my phone (the little square one.) It doesn't look like this would work for me. Still looking, as I'll be in the UK in March. After my Italy vice France experience, I'm gun-shy!

 

[FigmentSpark]

Regarding the World Travel Adapter Kit, on an Amazon review:

I usually use the 5W USB adapter for my phone (the little square one.) It doesn't look like this would work for me. Still looking, as I'll be in the UK in March. After my Italy vice France experience, I'm gun-shy!

You're right, it won't. You need the brick that comes with the ipad to use that Apple adapter kit. But you can get a prong adapter.... if, as people say, the plugs should all handle both US and European voltages. In your case, you need one for the UK that's different than the mainland and, if what a PP said is true, you might need something different for France than Italy.

 

[olafLover]

.

 

[aggiedog]

That FosPower adapter looks good. My issue is frequently that outlets in Europe are recessed, and round. Will that adapter work in an outlet like this? Can't figure out how to paste the pic, so here's a link.

https://francetravelplanner.com/details/electric.html

 

[olafLover]

.

 

[aggiedog]

Perfect. Dank je!

 

[ludari]

I just purchased the highest rated multi-plug adapter on Amazon (I don't recall the name) and it worked out fine for my Apple products. By the way, I remember on one trip to Europe I forgot to pack my adapter and for one day I used the hotel public computer to charge my phone with the USB plug. This was not ideal because if someone else was using the computers I had to wait. So one time I was waiting for a computer to become available I asked the hotel clerk and she open a drawer that had numerous adapters and loaned me one to use in my room.