Electricity and plugs - Elektriciteit en stekkers

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Electricity and plugs are not always the same everywhere. Sometimes 50 Hz is used, sometimes 60. Sometimes the store runs on 110-120V, sometimes 220-240V. Some areas have electricity all the time, barring an earthquake or new ice age, others can manage with a few hours a day. Finally, you have various plugs; all in all, prepare equally well for the world traveler.

Info

Map of the world colored by voltage and frequency

Universal plug

Map of the world colored by plug type

Dealing with all these variations may seem complicated, but in practice it is not that bad. There are really only two major types of electrical systems in the world, albeit with various connections:

• 110-120 Volt, at a frequency of 60 Hertz (roughly: North and Central America, Western Japan)
• 220-240 Volt, at a frequency of 50 Hertz (roughly: the rest of the world, with exceptions)

Every now and then you come across something special, like Tokyo, Japan with its 110-120 Volt and 50 Hz; or vice versa, 220-240 Volt and 60 Hz in Manila in the Philippines. However, there are still exceptions.

If the voltage and frequency match the device you thought you were taking with you, then you just have to pay attention to the plug. (The small difference between 110V and 120V, or between 220V and 240V is normally within the limit of what is acceptable for most electrical appliances.) A device that allows you to plug plugs of one type into a socket of the other is called a adapter: these are small, cheap, safe and almost unbreakable things.

However, if the voltage for your device not correct, then you need a transformer to convert the voltage. At its core, a transformer is actually a heap of iron with a lot of wire cleverly wound around it, so that they quickly turn out large and heavy. In addition, you have to be careful that the voltage is increased or decreased correctly. After all, if you have a transformer that increases from 110V to 220V in a 220V socket, you have 440V and perhaps free fireworks. You also have to be careful that the power, namely the amount Watt your device draws, does not exceed the limit of the transformer; otherwise the thing will get too hot and in the worst case it will catch fire.

For the conversion from 240V to 120V there are so-called switching converters that are lighter, and can withstand more consumption, up to 1600 Watts. They only work to lower the voltage, not to increase it. Plus, it produces a kind of electricity that's waveform makes it unsuitable for digital electronics, so you can't use it for that. (By the way, it's always a good idea to use a surge protector with sensitive and/or expensive electronic equipment.)

Finally, if the frequency is not right, there is really nothing to do. Unlike voltage, frequency cannot be easily converted. "Not easy" here means that, for example, foreign embassies have to use gigantic generators to control equipment from their home country. Fortunately, most devices intended for travel are suitable for both 50 and 60 Hertz. If that device does nothing more than produce heat or light, then that entire frequency doesn't really matter. It makes well something off for devices with a motor (which does not have an option for batteries) or if there is a time display. Exceptions are appliances with a motor that are specifically intended to be taken on a trip, for example a hairdryer. In that case it says 50/60 Hz on the label and are both safe.

Many devices that operate on a low voltage, such as a laptop or mobile phone, have a transformer built in that works on almost anything. Check the label to find out what can and cannot be done. For example, if it says: "INPUT: 100-240V, 50/60 Hz" then you win the top prize and you only have to look for the right adapter. If, on the other hand, only a single voltage is listed, you should check whether your destination matches, or purchase a transformer. For charging batteries or using small electronics, the frequency can often be ignored.

In fact, if the unit can run on batteries, but also has a cable to conserve those batteries when a plug is nearby, it can often operate at either 50 or 60 Hertz (but note that the voltage must be correct). Some caution is advised with extra sensitive or expensive equipment, because the power supply mechanism that converts AC to DC (i.e. from AC to battery-like DC) is indeed built for a specific frequency. 60 Hz is slightly easier to convert than 50 Hz, but because there is typically enough tolerance, you can ignore this for most small devices and gadgets. Again, use no switching-type converter in this situation. je must use the heavier iron core transformer if the voltage is not right, and you want to go from AC to DC (to save or recharge the batteries).

An example: between England and Germany you just need an adapter. The British plug goes into the adapter, connecting the rectangular phase and neutral plug to the German round versions, putting the ground where the German contact wants it — and everything works. If you come to Europe from America, you will need a voltage converter, except for appliances with a power supply that accepts any voltage. If the frequency is not correct, do not bring a timepiece with a plug; you will then see either 20 or 28.8 hours in a day.

If you are staying somewhere for a longer period of time, and you find it difficult to find an adapter, you can also simply buy a plug locally and mount it on the cable instead of the current plug.

Transportation

Laptop computers

Almost all laptop computers (including those with built-in power supply) can handle both 220 and 120 Volts, but you still have to check whether the plug matches the contacts in the destination country.

radios

Also radios continue to work normally from country to country. The exact range of the FM band varies, so you may not be able to receive every station. In the US only odd channels are used (88.1, 88.3, ​​100.1 etc). So a radio from the US will not work well in most other countries. Japan, in particular, uses a narrow FM band, from 76 MHz to 90 MHz instead of the more common 87.5 MHz to 108 MHz. Ditto for the countries of the former Soviet Republic. On the medium wave, the space between two transmitters is either 9 kHz or 10 kHz (the US). On a digital radio you therefore need a switch that indicates which system you want to use, otherwise you will not have reception outside their home market. An old-fashioned analog receiver does not suffer from this.

Mobile phone and digital cameras

The charger for these things often works with both 110V and 240V, although you have to make sure that the plug and contact match. Sometimes you can buy a charger that works for the "other" voltage, or maybe a charger that accepts both voltages. Nevertheless, this may not be of much use, as your phone must also be compatible with that country's network, and the phone may also be attached to a particular operator's network, typically by selling as a package.

Devices with standard batteries

The size and voltage of batteries is normally exactly the same everywhere, so equipment that uses day-to-day batteries does not present any problems.

Handle with care:

Generators

In countries where there is not yet a well-developed power grid, generators are often used. The electricity that comes out can be excellent, but in most places it isn't and sensitive equipment can be damaged if you connect it to this. This is due to the variation in voltage, frequency and waveform produced (the would must be a perfect sine). Sometimes the generator is tampered with so that the thing spins faster. Then more voltage and current come out, but also a higher frequency. Normally the speed is controlled by the governor. If it is tampered with, the voltage can literally rise high enough that devices break down. The safest advice is not to attach valuable items, or at least disconnect the item once you're done.

If you have any doubts about a particular installation, you can use some rules of thumb. First, if the engine is running on oil/gasoline, forget it — any serious user will have a system running on diesel. A good quality generator will run at a low speed — 1500RPM (rpm) for 50Hz or 1800RPM for 60Hz. If the engine is hiccuping at 3000RPM or more, something is wrong.

lamps

Lamps — and the bulb they contain — are particularly sensitive to voltage. If you switch from one voltage to the other, a new light bulb will have to be put in, unless you explicitly have a bulb that is made for both, eg via a low voltage adapter. If you buy a lamp while traveling, you may be allowed to have an electrician re-wiring until the lamp meets the required safety standards. This is not a problem for a one-time purchase, but if you thought you were going to import it can still weigh on you.

Also watch out for the connection of the bulb. In 110-120V systems this is typically a bayonet connector while in 220-240V systems it is typically a thread. You also have both in two sizes. So make sure that you can get bulbs of the correct voltage, size and connection back home, and for a reasonable price, otherwise the fun will soon be over if your first bulb has burned out.

Electrical motor

The electric motors in things like refrigerators, vacuum cleaners, washing machines and other household appliances are sensitive to the frequency used. The same goes for older hair dryers and razors. Even with an increasing or decreasing transformer, it is possible that the motor will run at the wrong speed, or simply burn out, due to the difference in frequency. The bigger and more powerful the engine, the greater the chance. For example, don't import a vacuum cleaner from the US to Europe (or vice versa). That will almost certainly break, even with voltage conversion.

Shaver

Hotels often have a separate outlet for razors. Any voltage may be poked in for safe use in front of the bathroom mirror. With a bit of luck, the charger for your mobile phone or similar low-consuming device can also be inserted. Most — but not all — razors on the market today operate at 50 and 60 Hz, some can even charge the battery from 12V DC (i.e. the plug in the car). Check the label and instructions for compatibility details.

Hair dryer

You have to be extra careful with a hairdryer; if you accidentally put a 120 Volt copy in a 240 Volt box it can literally catch fire! Pushing a 240 Volt dryer into 120 Volt has the effect that the thing spins too slowly and does not generate enough heat. A decent hotel or motel can provide you with a hairdryer, if one isn't already built into the bathroom. Or else you should consider buying or borrowing a hair dryer that's right for your destination — so don't experiment.

Most new appliances for sale in countries with 100-120V support both voltages, with a speed for 100-120V and a speed for 220-240V. Although it still has a motor, the unit operates at both 50 and 60 Hz.

Watches

An electric timepiece of any type is extremely sensitive to the type of current. If the voltage is halved or doubled, the clock will either not work at all, or it will burn out. In addition, the frequency (50 or 60 Hz) is used to keep track of time, both for analog and digital. That means that if you were to use a clock from North America in Europe, it would miss ten minutes every hour, voltage adapter and all! Not really ideal if you don't want to miss your train tomorrow morning. Conversely, a European clock in the US is going to gain twelve minutes per hour; the simplest thing is to use a timepiece with batteries.

Video equipment

Television sets, radios, video and DVD players, as well as the video cassettes themselves, are often made specifically for the broadcasting system of the country of sale, which in turn depends on the power. For example, North America uses 60 Hz and the television shows 30 frames per second, while Europe has 50 Hz and televisions that show 25 frames per second. This leads to three important systems, namely PAL, the most widely used worldwide, NTSC, especially in America and some Far East countries (especially Japan, South Korea, the Philippines and Taiwan) and SECAM, derived from France and widely used in Eastern Europe and the Middle East; even within such a "standard" you still have all kinds of compatibility problems. For unconverted digital image, like DVDs, there is no distinction between PAL and SECAM. Analog output, on the other hand, should be in the format of the country the TV is from. Brazil has a mixture of PAL and NTSC called "PAL-M". DVDs and videotapes are the same as NTSC (minus region encoding, see below), but players and TVs are normally unusable outside the country unless they have a separate NTSC setting.

Before purchasing video equipment, you should carefully read the manual and warranty. For a TV and VCR, you also have to pay attention to the frequencies of the cable channels; they can vary even if all other technical aspects are the same. Even if the tension, video standard and the whole thing are perfect, TVs often just go not work in a different country than where you buy them. For example, a TV from the US will skip some channels in Japan. Unless you buy a device that is explicitly intended for the international market, it could well be that your neat installation in another country becomes a lot of mess, because there are no channels to watch. The warranty is probably only valid in the original country of purchase, sometimes you may even have to go back to the exact same store if there are problems.

To complicate matters, DVDs have a completely artificial system called region coding; its purpose is to limit the region where a DVD can be played, so that the whole world cannot become a large market. For example, North America is Region 1, so cannot play Region 3 DVD from Hong Kong. To get around that, you either have to buy a DVD player that ignores the region code, or buy discs that don't have a region code, called Region 0 DVDs.

Technically speaking, there is no difference between an NTSC or PAL DVD, as they store exactly the same color information. If there is something like that, it usually concerns the size of the image and the number of images per second, numbers that correspond to the most (but not all!) countries where the broadcasters broadcast in that standard. As a result, many NTSC players can't play PAL DVDs unless it's specifically built-in (eg many Philips and JVC models do). PAL DVD players can handle NTSC reasonably well, but nothing is certain. If nothing works, you can always use a computer to watch any movie via the DVD-ROM drive, although they have a limit built in that limits you how many times you switch region codes. Unlike analog TVs, computer monitors have no problems with an image that sometimes runs at 25 (PAL & SECAM) and then again at 30 (NTSC) frames per second, and the resolution is no problem either.

A video camera can usually be charged with both power systems, intended to allow you to film while traveling and then watch it at home. Digital cameras and video cameras can usually PAL, NTSC, if SECAM so you can view the recordings while travelling. If you're coming to Europe, a phono to SCART plug may come in handy.

Although now slightly antiquated, VHS and other tapes still exist. The compatibility between NTSC and PAL is nil. A professional conversion will cost more than the original. Samsung Electronics has several VCRs in its catalog that can record and play any foreign format, but they are hard to find (try online/on order) and they are relatively expensive. With that, you can't make copies of tapes where both the original and the desired copy are in a foreign format (unless of course you are wealthy enough to buy two of these devices at once). You can do a double conversion, but the quality will deteriorate rapidly. Another solution is to create a DVD in the foreign format, and then play that recording back to the multi-format VCR. You still need a computer that can record video in both formats (most can't), DVD production software that can handle that foreign format, and a DVD player that can play both formats. outside (so more than just being able to handle it internally! Usually not possible, unless with the Philips models. Once you have it on DVD, you can also consider forgetting about the VCR and making copies on DVD.

Also converting DVDs themselves from one format to another is not a job for amateurs (if at least something of the quality is to remain). It is best to pay a pro to arrange that (in the telephone book under Video.) You can then make as many copies as you want from such a converted disk. Regular blank discs and copy software work fine with a strange format, because in the end it's just zeros and ones and copies as smoothly as anything. The problems only start when you want to convert and play on a "wrong" TV.

Safety

If you're using a device for the first time in unfamiliar territory, pay extra attention to detecting excessive heat, strange odors, or smoke. This is especially true if you come from a country that has 120V (US, Canada, Japan, etc.) and travel to a country with a higher voltage. With smoke you can be one hundred percent sure that your device has problems.

If there is indeed an abnormal heat, burnt smell (burnt electronics have a typical odor of their own), or smoke, switch off straight away Turn off the power at the wall or at the main switch, then carefully unplug the power cord. Unplug the device not by touching the appliance itself, the plug or the wire, because they are at the very least dangerously hot, and in the worst case can melt, creating a risk of electrocution due to melted insulation.

In the worst case, your device will be destroyed and in need of renewal due to a wrong voltage. However, if it just got hot and didn't produce any smoke or strange smells, you may be in luck.

Finally, don't rely on fuses to protect your devices. They are usually not sensitive enough, and if they do jump when you turn something on, have a local electrician check what's going on before you try again with the "suspicious" appliance.