Travel Adapters: Where to Start

The great thing about traveling is getting to see and experience new things. The idea of interacting with a culture different from what we are used to can be an eye-opening experience. Just as the world around us can be different, so too can electrical needs. When you are researching places to see and things to do, make sure you take a moment and make sure your devices will fit another country's outlet. The shape of electrical outlets vary throughout the world and you may need to buy an adapter to fit your specific destination.

First of all, check how many prongs your devices' need. It may be a two-pronged plug (also called "unearthed" or "grounded") or the three-pronged plug (also known as a 'grounding pin). The extra prong is a safety feature to reduce the chances of electrical shock.

Next, check your plug type. Electrical outlets will vary between countries or even regions. It is important to check each area you are traveling to so you can find the correct adapter shaped to match. Outlet and plugs are described in letters. American devices with two prongs to the plug are known as Type A and American devices with three prongs are Type B. There are currently 15 types of plug adapters in the world today so you can see, a little research into your needs will save a headache, time and even cost later on. 

Finally, when deciding on grounded or ungrounded, don't be surprised to find more than one plug listed for almost all countries. When two are listed, one most likely will be for grounded electronics and the other for ungrounded electronics. After you have determined the power adapter type you will need, count the number of prongs. If the devices you are bringing have three prongs, that is the type of grounding adapter you need. If your devices have only two prongs, it is usually cheaper to just go with an ungrounded adapter.

Today, we are faced with many choices. At Ceptics, they have already done the work for you. There are adapters listed for each country you may be visiting or an all-in-one adapter featuring multiple plug types. However, remember, some may work with grounded devices, while others are intended solely for ungrounded types. If you are planning on using multiple devices at once, you could buy an adapter that accepts more than one at a time. Ceptics has this as well and includes USB ports for your phone or other devices.

Maybe one day our world will standardize an electrical outlet. It's been thought about and discussed but the problem is, each country thinks the power adapter type used in that country is the best. As our global world continues to advance, one day this may indeed become a possibility. Until then, we have Ceptics to help us survive in an electrical jungle and streamline our choices to co-exist.