Teacher22 Loc: Texas

I'm just wondering if I need to buy a conversion unit to charge my camera batteries in Italy or buy a unit here. And, if so, what is a good brand?

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

Welcome to UHH

traveler90712 Loc: Lake Worth, Fl.

Welcome to the Hog.

Yes, you will need a conversion unit to charge your batteries.

JoeB Loc: Mohawk Valley, NY

I see your questions has been answered, welcome to UHH.

Teacher22 Loc: Texas

Thanks for the reply.....should I buy one here or wait until I get to Italy? What brand would you recommend if I purchase one here?

Shakey Loc: Traveling again to Norway and other places.

Buy in the US, a universal transformer. Here's why:

Electricity in Italy, as in most of the rest of Europe, comes out of the wall socket at 220 volts alternating at a 50 cycles per second. In the US, electricity comes out of the wall socket at 110 volts, alternating at 60 cycles per second. Not only the voltages and frequencies, but the sockets themselves are different.

Plug adapters are the interfaces between the American flat-pronged plug and Italy's two (or three) round-prong socket. These allow you to plug your electrical device into the Italian wall socket, but they do not convert the electricity to the American 110 volts. If your appliance is designed to run only on 110-120 volts, you are likely to see smoke, if not fire, from this potent miss-mating. You will need a step-down power converter or transformer to safely step the voltage down from 220 to 110.

You can get along with just a plug converter if your electrical devices designed to run on dual voltages. Devices like this include most laptops, most recently produced battery chargers, and many small, electrical gadgets, especially those designed for world travel. You can check the back of the device or the "power brick" for the electrical input specifications. Here's one that you can just use with a plug adapter:
power brick 110 volts 220 volts electricity

The device above only needs a plug adapter to work in Italy, since it can use any voltage between 100 and 240, as long as it's AC voltage alternating at 50 or 60 hertz. Sometimes called a "universal power supply," this battery charger can be used throughout Europe with the right plug adapter.

Info found online. BTW, UK is 240 volts but within 10% voltage of 220 volt therefore OK with a universal (110 - 220 volt) transformer (power converter).

Turbo Loc: Raleigh, NC

I use an adaptor plug from Radio Shack ( $10)

Most chargers these days are good for 110 - 240 V at 50 to 60 Hz

h2odog Loc: Brooklyn NY

Went to Italy last year. Only need an 110 to 220 adapter.

TimS Loc: GA

I went to Italy last year. I found that a simple plug adapter, bought in the Amsterdam airport, was by far the cheapest option. Adapters in the USA were pathetically expensive. I bought a simple adapter in Amsterdam for 4 euros. All of my power bricks (including the small iPhone plug adapter) are all dual voltage rated. Look on them. If you see 110/220 then you are fine with just a cheap plug adapter. You do not need the more expensive converter.

If everything you have is dual voltage, bring a power strip and get one grounded adapter. It will look like a circular plug with two prongs. It literally plugs into the outlet. Plug the power strip into the wall outlet and then plug all your electronics into the strip. Problem solved.

bsinpgh Loc: Pittsburgh PA USA

I have traveled through Europe, Asia, Central and South America with one of these Radio Shack adapters and have never had a problem charging camera batteries, phones or laptops. We don't travel with hair dryers or irons or other appliances, so never found a need for a transformer. And transformers are heavy, and contribute to possible overweight baggage charges. If you have chargers more than a decade old, be sure to check that they are good for 110 - 240 V at 50 to 60 Hz.

pjarmit Loc: UK, now in Texas

If you are renting a car another useful alternative is to get a 12v to 110v inverter. These are less than $20 and plug into the standard car 12v outlet.
This way you can charge all you low amperage stuff while you are driving. Don't leave something on charge overnight though or your car battery my be two low to start the next day!

02Nomad Loc: Catonsville, MD

Look at your battery charger, it should say if it accepts 50/60 Hz. If it does (like my Canon chargers), all that you'll need is the adaptor plug. I went last October and found family. Where will you be going??

dave sproul Loc: Tucson AZ

When preparing to travel overseas (outside the USA) I research the following two sites:

http://www.adaptelec.com/info-by-country-c-15.html

http://countrycode.org select country scroll down to veiw on the left hand side the power source(s)

Enjoy the trip

moriti Loc: California

Do not get confused between an adapter and a converter. Adapters usually well work for batteries, but hairdryers and larger units you will need a converter.

riverlass Loc: northern California

I used this one in Germany last November...
http://www.amazon.com/Universal-World-Wide-Travel-Adapter/dp/B001ISWA0G/ref=sr_1_24?ie=UTF8&qid=1366595537&sr=8-24&keywords=universal+plug+adapter+europe
...and for $3.52 it was the bargain of my trip. I used it to charge my camera batteries every night.
I was told not to use it with a hair dryer, but most hotels have hair dryers now so that wasn't an issue.