Before transporting and using your electrical appliances overseas it is essential to know what type of electrical voltage is used in your destination country. 

Three things can be different about foreign AC power compared to power at home – the supply voltage, supply frequency and the physical shape of the socket. Most electrical appliances made for use in the U.S. work at 110 volts. Most countries in Europe and other parts of the world have 220-volt electrical outlets. Some South American countries use 110-voltage, some use 220-voltage. Most of the Caribbean, and most of Japan use 110-voltage.  International Voltage-Finder Search Engine.

For short term travel you can buy travel style voltage converters that will convert 110-volt appliances to 220. That's good enough for laptops, netbooks, and standard appliances. For permanent stays you will require a converter specific to your destination and capable of servicing heavier loads. Small electronics, razors and non-heating appliances may only need a 50-watt converter. However, heating appliances such as dryers, irons, coffee makers and other high-power electrical appliances probably need at least a 1600-watt converter. You can purchase larger converters for even heavier wattage of course, even one that will service an entire house. 

How big? Check the label on your electrical appliance to find its wattage and multiply, or add up, the number of appliances. Of course it is doubtful that all your appliances will be running at once, but prepare for the worst, hope for the best.

To complicate matters only slightly, some electronics such as TV's, VCRs and desktop type computers are designed for 60 cycles-per-second electricity (that is called frequency,) and cannot tolerate the 50 cycles-per-second electricity found in some countries. Even if you have the right converter you run the risk of blowing a fuse or burning out your electrical appliances if it's not a matching frequency. It's probably better to buy a new TV and computer at your destination than try to fit a size 12 foot into a size 10 shoe.

It is easy to learn the requirements of using your electrical appliances overseas in safety. Here are a few possiblities that you may want to consider: If you plan on staying in another country for awhile, you might want to buy inexpensive devices like hair dryers and electric razors there and avoid the necessity of voltage adaptation. Battery operated appliances are another option, especially for travelers, if you don't mind occasionally replacing batteries. If those options do not appeal, and you want to take existing appliances with you, then a voltage converter is required.

For permanent conversion it is possible to convert anything ranging from a small number of appliances to an entire house; so that the house has both 110 and 220 throughout.  A professional must install a large converter.  You end up with two sets of plugs side by side, but that may be preferable to throwing away valuable or antique appliances.

Travel (or temporary) conversion: Here's what I do for for travel. I take extended trips, often with heavier devices, because I want to stay in a nation long enough to determine if I'd like to live there part time, or even full time. I also what to know a nation well enough to write about it for others. Hence I travel with a portable office. But I also travel with gear gauged to make my stay a little bit pleasanter ... I want to plug in what I want to plug in.

For longer trips, and heavier devices I need a converter sufficient to the task. I use a (heavy as a cannonball) 2300 watt converter, but anything from 200 watts on up will run more than one device. Calculate your watt necessity. I am a believer in being over-prepared; ( ... a good boy scout). I've learned the hard way that being power-ready is great, being power-poor is the worst kind of nightmare. 

Buy a converter before you go, don't expect to find one when you arrive. [nobody at you destination needs a converter]. Also buy the proper plug adapter and some electric plug strips with surge protectors — 1] plug your converter into the local electric current and 2] plug your electric plug strip into the converter. Hopefully your converter has multiple outlets for multiple plug strips.  I find that I use at least two strips even when I am traveling lightly, but I'm spoiled.  I do know that for a long stay abroad it is an absolute necessity for me to have multiple power plug strips. It allows me to use multiple devices without fear of having insufficient plug outlets.

Be prepared. Whether preparing a complete overseas home or merely a portable office; learning how many watts and what voltage you will be using makes the preparation a straight-forward task.

1] Plug adapator(s) as required.
2] Step up, or step down converter based on destination voltage
3] Power plug strips (with surge protectors,) to plug into your converter 
4] Your alien appliances plug into your plug strips

Also note: While many devices such as digital camera chargers and laptop power supplies are designed to work with various power supplies, don't rely on it. Safe-guarding your equipment is a practical and fairly inexpensive option. 

 

It looks like this:

. . . determine the local power supply [the voltage] and get the right converter plugs - voltage worldwide can be determined using the voltage finder search engine - [link posted below] . . . this goes to your converter - for the number of watts you require - remember, watts are like spaghetti, more is always better than not enough . . . you then plug your power plug strip(s), [with surge protectors] into the converter; connecting your . . . . . . netbook, your printer, your vonage phone, 2nd laptop with online television, online radio player, etc. ...  . . . with a minimum of preparation your small portable office or overseas residence is properly connected

International Voltage-Finder Search Engine See Diagrams Of Adapter Plugs EscapeArtist Online Radio Player EscapeArtist Online Television Player