One of the main questions students have is what kinds of electronics they should bring with them to Europe and what type of adapters they will need. Hopefully this information will be helpful:
What to bring?
In general, the fewer things you can bring that
will need electricity while in Europe, the better. For the things you
absolutely can't live without, be sure to talk to someone knowledgeable
about what you need to convert electricity properly for that particular
item BEFORE coming to Europe. You may have a difficult time getting what
you need in Europe!
Electronics
and appliances can be very heavy and take up a lot of space. Hair dryers often
have problems even with the proper adapters and transformers. You may want
to purchase an inexpensive
one in Germany that you will leave behind at the end of your stay.
Voltage
In
Germany 230 volts- 50 Hz is the standard. In the U.S., 110 volts - 60 Hz is
standard. Most electronics or appliances designed for international travel only
need a plug adapter to function properly anywhere in the world. You can
generally tell by looking at the power cord for a statement like “Input:
100-240V, 50-60Hz”.
If you try to use electronics or appliances that are not specifically designed to work worldwide without a transformer, you put yourself in a potentially dangerous situation (sparks will often literally fly!) and will likely ruin the item.
If you choose to bring electronic devices with you, it is best to go to a competent travel store or appliance store to make sure you have the proper transformer for voltage and the proper plug adapter.
If you try to use electronics or appliances that are not specifically designed to work worldwide without a transformer, you put yourself in a potentially dangerous situation (sparks will often literally fly!) and will likely ruin the item.
If you choose to bring electronic devices with you, it is best to go to a competent travel store or appliance store to make sure you have the proper transformer for voltage and the proper plug adapter.
Plug adapters
European outlets require
plugs with two round prongs. You will want to make sure you purchase an adapter that will work in Germany since within Europe there are fat and thin versions of the two-prong plug and in some countries, a hole in the plug itself is necessary because of a metal prong coming out of the socket. If you intend on traveling to other European countries while in Heidelberg, be sure to bring the proper adapters with you! It will be difficult to find plug adapters converting to European plugs in Europe, so please make sure to bring these with you!
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| A German electrical outlet Note it is recessed into the wall- make sure you buy an adapter that can go into the hole! |
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| An Italian electrical outlet-has 3 prongs instead of 2 |
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| A French electrical outlet that requires the plug itself to have a hole |
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