Juliana L Holm

I'm headed to Germany for two months in the fall and want to take a digital
camera, ipod, pda, videocamera. I want to get a good voltage convertor that
I can plug multiple things into, so I can recharge all these things without
breaking them. Thinking of getting a Voltage Convertor/transformer for
continuous use and plugging a power strip into it. Would that work? Would
I have problems? Anyone done this?

Julie


--
Julie
**********
Check out the blog of my 9 week Germany adventure at www.blurty.com/users/jholm
Check out my Travel Pages (non-commercial) at
http://www.dragonsholm.org/travel.htm

Juha-Pekka H?glund

On Tue, 21 Jun 2005 18:44:53, Juliana L Holm <[email protected]> wrote:
    > I'm headed to Germany for two months in the fall and want to take a digital
    > camera, ipod, pda, videocamera. I want to get a good voltage convertor that
    > I can plug multiple things into, so I can recharge all these things without
    > breaking them. Thinking of getting a Voltage Convertor/transformer for
    > continuous use and plugging a power strip into it. Would that work? Would
    > I have problems? Anyone done this?

I suggest you check wether the chargers are "multi voltage" chargers. Most
modern chargers and powersupplies can take anything between 110 - 230 VAC.
This is usually mentioned in rather small text on the charger. If this is
the case, you would need only a plug adaptor.

--
Hymyile, huomenna on huonommin.
Smile, tomorrow will be worse.
hoeg (a) hoeg (dot) net
juha-pekka höglund

Dave Smith

Juliana L Holm wrote:

    > I'm headed to Germany for two months in the fall and want to take a digital
    > camera, ipod, pda, videocamera. I want to get a good voltage convertor that
    > I can plug multiple things into, so I can recharge all these things without
    > breaking them. Thinking of getting a Voltage Convertor/transformer for
    > continuous use and plugging a power strip into it. Would that work? Would
    > I have problems? Anyone done this?

It shouldn't be a problem if they are all low draw. I used a converter to recharge
camcorder batteries and had no problems. You can pick up a decent converter set at
any decent luggage store with enough adapters to get you juiced up anywhere in the
world.

John Bermont

Juliana L Holm wrote:
    > I'm headed to Germany for two months in the fall and want to take a digital
    > camera, ipod, pda, videocamera. I want to get a good voltage convertor that
    > I can plug multiple things into, so I can recharge all these things without
    > breaking them. Thinking of getting a Voltage Convertor/transformer for
    > continuous use and plugging a power strip into it. Would that work? Would
    > I have problems? Anyone done this?
    >
    > Julie
    >
    >

It would work with a transformer. I've done that. Do not use the so
called "converter." I suggest a transformer rated at twice the combined
power of all of your devices.

For more info see my chapters at
http://www.enjoy-europe.com/hte/chap22/living.htm "Living in Europe" and
http://www.enjoy-europe.com/hte/chap11/electric.htm "Electricity in
Europe."

A transformer can be very heavy so you might want to buy that at a
hardware store after you get to Germany. Bring the power strip from the
USA or you'll need plug converters for each device.

John Bermont
--
------------------------------------------------------
* * * Mastering Independent Budget Travel * * *
http://www.enjoy-europe.com/
------------------------------------------------------

Juliana L Holm

Juha-Pekka Höglund <[email protected]> wrote:
    > On Tue, 21 Jun 2005 18:44:53, Juliana L Holm <[email protected]> wrote:
    >> I'm headed to Germany for two months in the fall and want to take a digital
    >> camera, ipod, pda, videocamera. I want to get a good voltage convertor that
    >> I can plug multiple things into, so I can recharge all these things without
    >> breaking them. Thinking of getting a Voltage Convertor/transformer for
    >> continuous use and plugging a power strip into it. Would that work? Would
    >> I have problems? Anyone done this?

    > I suggest you check wether the chargers are "multi voltage" chargers. Most
    > modern chargers and powersupplies can take anything between 110 - 230 VAC.
    > This is usually mentioned in rather small text on the charger. If this is
    > the case, you would need only a plug adaptor.

I have a mix of this. The hard drive and the digital camera are multi voltage. The videocamera and the PDA, being older, are not. The ipod I've had trouble
determining. They don't say one way or the other.

Julie
--
Julie
**********
Check out the blog of my 9 week Germany adventure at www.blurty.com/users/jholm
Check out my Travel Pages (non-commercial) at
http://www.dragonsholm.org/travel.htm

Douglas W. Hoyt

    >>>>> I have a mix of this. The hard drive and the digital camera are multi
    >>>>> voltage. The videocamera and the PDA, being older, are not. The ipod
    >>>>> I've had trouble determining. They don't say one way or the other.

Wow--they must be pretty old--I can't imagine a hard drive not running
110-220 but if it says it can't, then you need a transformer. Be aware
(when I last bought one, at least) that there are sometimes two different
transformers you can get, a smaller lighter one for larger appliances that
use a lot of current (like hair dryers) and a bigger heavier one for small
electronics--you need to check the specs on your unit to be sure which one
to get (and hopefully you don't need both). If hardware stores don't have
them, try Radio Shack.

Juliana L Holm

Douglas W. Hoyt <[email protected]> wrote:

    > Wow--they must be pretty old--I can't imagine a hard drive not running
    > 110-220 but if it says it can't, then you need a transformer. Be aware
    > (when I last bought one, at least) that there are sometimes two different
    > transformers you can get, a smaller lighter one for larger appliances that
    > use a lot of current (like hair dryers) and a bigger heavier one for small
    > electronics--you need to check the specs on your unit to be sure which one
    > to get (and hopefully you don't need both). If hardware stores don't have
    > them, try Radio Shack.

I double checked them today. Only the PDA is truly not dual voltage (it's a
three or four year old Handspring Visor). The camera is as is the other
electronic equipment.

So for a 30 watt PDA that I charge up every week or so, do I need a transformer,or can I get by with a converter?

Julie


--
Julie
**********
Check out the blog of my 9 week Germany adventure at www.blurty.com/users/jholm
Check out my Travel Pages (non-commercial) at
http://www.dragonsholm.org/travel.htm

Miss L. Toe

"Juliana L Holm" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > Douglas W. Hoyt <[email protected]> wrote:
    > > Wow--they must be pretty old--I can't imagine a hard drive not running
    > > 110-220 but if it says it can't, then you need a transformer. Be aware
    > > (when I last bought one, at least) that there are sometimes two
different
    > > transformers you can get, a smaller lighter one for larger appliances
that
    > > use a lot of current (like hair dryers) and a bigger heavier one for
small
    > > electronics--you need to check the specs on your unit to be sure which
one
    > > to get (and hopefully you don't need both). If hardware stores don't
have
    > > them, try Radio Shack.
    > I double checked them today. Only the PDA is truly not dual voltage (it's
a
    > three or four year old Handspring Visor). The camera is as is the other
    > electronic equipment.
    > So for a 30 watt PDA that I charge up every week or so, do I need a
transformer,or can I get by with a converter?
    > Julie

Maybe its time to buy a new PDA ???

Juliana L Holm

Miss L. Toe <[email protected]> wrote:
    > Maybe its time to buy a new PDA ???

I don't like replacing things that are working well. It's a philosophical thing
disposable society and all that. The PDA works very well, I'd just as soon kee
it.

Plus, I think I can borrow a convertor if that is all I need.

Julie


--
Julie
**********
Check out the blog of my 9 week Germany adventure at www.blurty.com/users/jholm
Check out my Travel Pages (non-commercial) at
http://www.dragonsholm.org/travel.htm

Larry

Juliana L Holm wrote:
    > I double checked them today. Only the PDA is truly not dual voltage (it's a
    > three or four year old Handspring Visor). The camera is as is the other
    > electronic equipment.
    > So for a 30 watt PDA that I charge up every week or so, do I need a transformer,or can I get by with a converter?
It would be cheaper to buy a universal charger for the PDA, if that is
the only thing that you need 110v for. You can probably find a
"universal" with the right voltage at Radio Shack, but, if not,
www.brando.com.hk However, be sure to take a power strip to plug them
all in to!

Larry