Hi

Buying a voltage converter to charge up my phone, shaver, camcorder etc whilst on holiday. The one I was going to get from Maplins says it is a USA to UK transformer, 110VAC to 230VAC. Are the plugs and voltage the same in the USA as in Canada?

The plug is a three pin (one round pin and two flat pins).

Can someone tell me whether this is OK

Cheers

Graham

Yes, it's OK and, yes, it's the same in the US. Sometimes sockets only have two pins, I deal with those by sawing the round pin off the plug. (I expect this is illegal, immoral, fattening and dangerous but it does work).

Thanks.

USA and Canada plugs/voltage are the same.

If you are going *to* North America, make sure you buy a transformer that 'steps-up' the voltage from the 110v the socket supplies to the 220v you'll need.

A 'step-down' transformer will be no good.

Some charger packs are dual voltage, look at the power pack as it may say this.

Jeremy

The one I looked at is a "step up" transformer, 100VAC to 230VAC. They had some dearer ones, which I suspect are dual voltage, but this one isn't. As long as it works, is all that matters.

Thanks

I've gotta get me one of those step up converter plugs too.
Where are you buying yours from? I havn't heard of Maplins (sounds like a holiday camp).
And how much do they cost ish?

Thanks

Pennyhp

Just check on the side of the applicances or their volatge adaptors that they say 50/60hz...

My gut feel is its 'not an issue' but check to be sure..

I have 'fried' a baby monitor by not checking

I bought the Maplins step up 100w one for 19.99 GBP before we left. Very big and heavy, had to put it in my pocket so my hand luggage wasn't over the 5kg limit! It lasted precisely 2.5mins with a 70w hair straightener in a Toronto hotel. Bang. Bin. Bollox.

Nice turn of phrase, like it

Rich.

LOL! Yes, anything with a heating element needs a serious transformer and probably isn't worth taking. We bought a dual voltage hair dryer for $20 for trips to Europe. It works fine, if unadjustably, and no one needs to know that we have the "Beverley Hills 90210" model.

Yes 50 - 60 HZ

Hehe, what does that do - auto-dry to give you "shelf hair" like VO5 man himself, Mr Priestley?

I'm unsure but I suspect the reasonable cost was related to having bought it three years ago; the other choice at $20 was the Spice Girls model.