Perennial power problem - too few outlets

[pxlbarrel]

What do you guys do when you travel overseas and you need to charge about 7 electronic items - 2 cameras (1 for each person), 1 camcorder, 1 ipad, 2 iphones, 1 laptop. All the devices are dual voltage. (This is the worse case scenario ... everything drained at the same time -- at the very least, the half of those items need charging every night).

Hotel rooms typically have very few electrical outlets AND if you need a plug adapter, you're going to spend a fortune on adapters.

When we travel in North America or on the cruise, I bring one of these along:

http://www.cablestogo.com/product.asp?cat_id=1020&sku=29806

And it splits the one outlet into 4 outlets with room for those huge transformer plugs (or camera battery chargers). I don't think I can use that and stick an adapter on it, plug it in and hope it won't fry my electronics... I'm not sure this particular item will work (13A 125 V)

Some websites say just bring a cheap extension cord with 3 outelts on it .. and I think .... I wouldn't use a cheap extension cord in my house why would I bring one travelling.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I'm going to France next month and for under $10 from Amazon, including shipping, I got two 3-prong adapters and six 2-prong adapters.

 

[pxlbarrel]

I'm going to France next month and for under $10 from Amazon, including shipping, I got two 3-prong adapters and six 2-prong adapters.

But what if there's only 2 outlets you can use. I was in a hotel in Los Angeles last month where the only outlet we could use (outside of the bathroom and without having to crawl behind the tv and unplug something - I have a phobia of what's not been vacuumed behind furniture that never moves ) was the two outlets on the desk lamp.

 

[Gigi22]

Two ideas occur. I would drop into the closest Apple Store and see what they suggest about charging your Apple devices, hopefully they can recommend a charger to you. This would take care of at least 3 of your devices. I would try to solve the remainder of the problem through scheduling. You will have to figure out how long it takes to fully charge each item at home, make sure you start out with everything charged, and establish a schedule for your travels.
I do have one inquiry--is there a way to share the electronics you are taking with you? You're taking more equipment with you than a lot of people own.

 

[OKW Lover]

Problem is easily solved with a power strip or extension cord with multi-outlets. When traveling overseas you only need one plug adaptor/transformer, the rest of your stuff plugs into the power strip with their usual plugs.

 

[k5jm]

Here is my power primer...

While this is still fresh on my brain, I thought I would throw out some things we learned from our Recent Adventures by Disney Trip to London and Paris. I hope that this reference will help not only those traveling to London and Paris, but to other locations as well


Understand the Power requirements of the locations you are going.

• Check all of your devices and make sure they are capable of dual voltages!
• Learn what plug adapters you will need. London and Paris use different power plugs than the ones used in the US and they are different from each other.
• Get a dual voltage power strip that uses a universal power connector. If you get into a situation where you need to unplug a lamp to get power, you can plug in the lamp into the universal plug.
• Do not use US Power Strips!! They will not work and could cause a fire.

If you have an Ipad and want to avoid costly internet charges at the hotel, find a SIM Card provider that does not require a credit card on file.

• I used Vodaphone. They charged £5 for a Sim and 250mb of data. I was able to get an additional 750mb for £15. Very reasonable. I used about 500mb total while we were in London.

Think about the bag you will carry around and protecting your wallet.

• Think about using a messenger bag over a backpack. It is easier to keep a hand on a messenger bag. I carried a messenger style camera sling bag instead of my backpack. It is not as easy for someone to take items from a messenger bag.
• Watch your pockets and be aware of your surroundings at all times.

If you use the hotel internet, bring a small wifi router (not access point).

• When you purchase the hotel wifi or wired internet, you can only use it on a couple of devices. I had my travel router with me. This helped in connecting my Ipad, Blackberry, Iphone, and laptop. The router allowed me to use the wired connection and share that with all of my devices.

If you have free time, plan it out before you go on your trip.

• We made reservations at a couple of restaurants several months out. These were small cafes and the space went quickly.

Take time to plan out where you want to wander.

• Know that the most popular locations, in Paris especially, are popular targets for pickpockets and scammers. People will also sell "le crap" at these spots. AVOID THEM. We saw a person buy something and then he was then pegged as a "sucker." And was hit by every illegal "le crap" vendor.

XL = Sausage Skin in Paris.

• I tried to purchase an XL shirt in Paris but was not happy to find that XL in Paris means body condom in US sizes. They do not sell any thing above XXL, and that was even tight.

More to come....

If you are using anything with a motor, like a hair dryer, make sure that the device is able to run on 50hz. If it is not you have to be able to provide a corrected sine wave 60hz power source.

What happens if you connect a 60 Hertz motor to a 50 Hertz mains:
The motor turns 17% slower
The internal current goes up by 17%
The power (watt) goes down with 17 %
The mechanical cooling is less, because of 17% less turns
The result is a higher current, then designed by the manufacturer and the insulation of the electrical wiring deteriorate much quicker, which after sometime results in a burn-out, which could cause a fire.

Examples:
a hairdryer has a heating element and a fanmotor, the heating element is not a problem, but the fanmotor is made for 60 Hertz, so can burn-out
a mains adaptor for a battery charger , for a laptop, or for a cellular phone has a transformer in it and burns-out if it is only made for 60 Hertz

 

[pxlbarrel]

I do have one inquiry--is there a way to share the electronics you are taking with you? You're taking more equipment with you than a lot of people own.

Well, we are two people who live in separate households. I'm an amateur photographer and my brother isn't.... so we need two cameras (I'm not even proposing to bring my point and shoot with me and will be relying on the iPhone as my point and shoot). The camcorder is coming because the video on the iPhone isn't that great in quality (at least for me). My iPad is coming because I don't want to bring my laptop. My brother's laptop is coming because he doesn't have an iPad. They're both coming because we both want to be on the internet at the same time and while on the plane, we'll both have something to play with.

Now, I would admit this would be bad if there was only one of us but really I don't believe the amount of equipment is outrageous when there's two of us. Say you were travelling with your neighbour down the street ... would you share a camera or a cell phone?

 

[pxlbarrel]

sausage skins

Thanks for that ... I discovered that .... on the cruise no less ... after eating all the cruise food.

Ok, so a power strip is the way to go but not an ordinary one?

 

[sayhello]

Ok, so a power strip is the way to go but not an ordinary one?

I bought a power strip similar to the one Mike posted (just a tad smaller) and it worked wonderfully. Since the outlets are universal, I can use it in the US, on a cruise ship or in Europe, as long as I bring along the appropriate adapter for the wall plug. EXTREMELY useful!

Sayhello

 

[Gigi22]

Well, we are two people who live in separate households. I'm an amateur photographer and my brother isn't.... so we need two cameras (I'm not even proposing to bring my point and shoot with me and will be relying on the iPhone as my point and shoot). The camcorder is coming because the video on the iPhone isn't that great in quality (at least for me). My iPad is coming because I don't want to bring my laptop. My brother's laptop is coming because he doesn't have an iPad. They're both coming because we both want to be on the internet at the same time and while on the plane, we'll both have something to play with.

Now, I would admit this would be bad if there was only one of us but really I don't believe the amount of equipment is outrageous when there's two of us. Say you were travelling with your neighbour down the street ... would you share a camera or a cell phone?

OK, the reason for all the technology is clearer now. I thought that you were travelling with your significant other, hence my confusion.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[pxlbarrel]

I bought a power strip similar to the one Mike posted (just a tad smaller) and it worked wonderfully. Since the outlets are universal, I can use it in the US, on a cruise ship or in Europe, as long as I bring along the appropriate adapter for the wall plug. EXTREMELY useful!

Sayhello

Hmmmm...I left this to the last minute so I can't order one of those strips online. I wonder if I can buy one in Beijing at one of those famous markets (and hope it doesn't fry everything). LOL

Guess that's what I'll try to do and hope for the best.

 

[kermit116]

Best Buy has a power plug that allows you to plug in two USB plugs into one outlet plug. I use this on trips to charge my iPhone and iPad at the same time. It's also useful at the airport for a quick charge. I think it cost about $15. It won't solve the issue of an adapter for European plugs, but it will allow you to charge two devices from one plug.

 

[pxlbarrel]

Best Buy has a power plug that allows you to plug in two USB plugs into one outlet plug. I use this on trips to charge my iPhone and iPad at the same time. It's also useful at the airport for a quick charge. I think it cost about $15. It won't solve the issue of an adapter for European plugs, but it will allow you to charge two devices from one plug.

A friend just told me there's a 220 Volt store near my work so I'll pay them a visit tomorrow night and see if they have those universal strips.... cross your fingers.

 

[jcb]

I don't think I would take the chance that you'll find something Beijing. I've read not to count on finding North American power strips and adapters overseas. I suggest you check your local travel stores before you leave. Toronto has to have some kind of a travel store.

 

[pxlbarrel]

I don't think I would take the chance that you'll find something Beijing. I've read not to count on finding North American power strips and adapters overseas. I suggest you check your local travel stores before you leave. Toronto has to have some kind of a travel store.

Actually, most of those power strips are made in China so I think they'd be easy to find. LOL However, I don't like risking it either. I have enough adapters, just not enough outlets The only travel store I know of in Toronto is downtown and there's not enough hours or money in the world that would get me to go downtown. Anyway, we'll try the store near my work and hope. I found another 240 Volt store just a little farther way too so if the close one doesn't have it, I can try the farther one.

I shouldn't have left it to the last minute. It was only today when I was gathering the electronics that I thought .... hmmmm.... that's a problem.