Power adapter for Europe?

[Marci]

I'll be traveling to Italy and need to know what kind of power adapter to get for my 17 inch macbook pro, and iPad mini retina display.

Alos, where to purchase them.

Thanks!

 

[GGJstudios]

I'll be traveling to Italy and need to know what kind of power adapter to get for my 17 inch macbook pro, and iPad mini retina display.

Alos, where to purchase them.

Thanks!

Something like this is all you need, unless you also want to get a surge protector. They're widely available. Just search for "power adapter europe"

 

[Marci]

Thanks!
Are there any surge protectors that are lightweight?

Also, I heard there is a smaller, lighter charger for my laptop that is now available. Where can I find information on that?

 

[GGJstudios]

Thanks!
Are there any surge protectors that are lightweight?

Yes, just search for "power adapter Europe surge protector".

Also, I heard there is a smaller, lighter charger for my laptop that is now available. Where can I find information on that?

Check the Apple site. I would not recommend using any charger other than Apple chargers.

 

[FuNGi]

Thanks!
Are there any surge protectors that are lightweight?

Also, I heard there is a smaller, lighter charger for my laptop that is now available. Where can I find information on that?

I doubt you'll need a surge protector above what Apple's power brick will provide. I've even charged a macbook pro on a remote colombian island where the flickering lights of an intermittent hydroelectric generator produced wildly fluctuating currents. Just get a cheap adaptor like the one above. Many universal ones can be found in major airports too.

 

[campyguy]

I respectfully disagree with GGJstudios recommendation, since you're wanting to travel to Italy. Italian power systems have slightly different "issues" than the rest of Europe, more so if you're traveling with a computer.

Most of Europe offers 220/50 power, but Italy (and its former colonies, like Uruguay) use 230/50 and a different adapter for devices that should be grounded. The "C" and "F" adapters work OK for your shaver and electric toothbrush, but not necessarily for your cell phone or laptop. Look for a "Type L" adapter that indicates it's specifically for devices like PCs and laptops - they have a third, middle, prong. When I travel to Italy, I use one of these:
http://www.adaptelec.com/wa12a-trav...ii-p-12.html?zenid=jv3n1pqh9vulidcckv7l8ll956

When I travel - wherever - I use one of these as a surge suppressor:
http://www.staples.com/Staples-2-Ou...or-with-USB-Charging-Ports-and/product_199006 - I've been really happy with this unit, and it works with the Adaptelec adapter.

I wish I was in Italy right now. The Giro is going on right now, and I would love to see the Stelvio or Zoncolan. Sigh . Two of my friends are there right now, getting ready for the last week of the race and they're using both of the above products. Under $30 for both - cheap insurance to keep your Mac safe.

 

[GGJstudios]

Most of Europe offers 220/50 power, but Italy (and its former colonies, like Uruguay) use 230/50 and a different adapter for devices that should be grounded. The "C" and "F" adapters work OK for your shaver and electric toothbrush, but not necessarily for your cell phone or laptop.

Apple devices will work fine in Italy. They are designed to work in most of the world, needing only power adapters for the different plugs.

 

[westom]

Thanks!
Are there any surge protectors that are lightweight?

Anything adjacent to electronics that would avert a destructive surge is already each electronics. Making it lightweight would only make bad worse.

Some numbes. Destructive surges can be hundreds of thousands of joules. Show me this adjacent protector that claims to absorb that much energy. None. Will that 2 cm part inside a protector stop what three miles of sky could not? That is what you are asking for.

Best protection adjacent to the appliance is already inside the appliance. Best plug is an adapter such as shown by GGJstudios. However you might need a three prong version.

 

[raptor402]

For the matter of surge protection, you should really not bother. The worst case scenario (and I mean really bad and unlikely) is that your MagSafe adapter dies.

On my last European trip, I purchased an overpriced adapter in my hotel in Switzerland. I would advise any cheap adapter like one mentioned above. Get both a three pronged and two pronged version.

Best of luck!
Raptor

 

[Cmd-the-World]

... Look for a "Type L" adapter that indicates it's specifically for devices like PCs and laptops - they have a third, middle, prong. When I travel to Italy, I use one of these:
http://www.adaptelec.com/wa12a-trav...ii-p-12.html?zenid=jv3n1pqh9vulidcckv7l8ll956 ...

This is only useful if the OP uses the long extension cable attached to the charger (In the case of the laptop). If the OP decides to use the normal wall plug then that adaptor is useless since the normal wall plug isn't grounded.

 

[Brian Y]

I respectfully disagree with GGJstudios recommendation, since you're wanting to travel to Italy. Italian power systems have slightly different "issues" than the rest of Europe, more so if you're traveling with a computer.

Most of Europe offers 220/50 power, but Italy (and its former colonies, like Uruguay) use 230/50 and a different adapter for devices that should be grounded. The "C" and "F" adapters work OK for your shaver and electric toothbrush, but not necessarily for your cell phone or laptop. Look for a "Type L" adapter that indicates it's specifically for devices like PCs and laptops - they have a third, middle, prong. When I travel to Italy, I use one of these:
http://www.adaptelec.com/wa12a-trav...ii-p-12.html?zenid=jv3n1pqh9vulidcckv7l8ll956

When I travel - wherever - I use one of these as a surge suppressor:
http://www.staples.com/Staples-2-Ou...or-with-USB-Charging-Ports-and/product_199006 - I've been really happy with this unit, and it works with the Adaptelec adapter.

I wish I was in Italy right now. The Giro is going on right now, and I would love to see the Stelvio or Zoncolan. Sigh . Two of my friends are there right now, getting ready for the last week of the race and they're using both of the above products. Under $30 for both - cheap insurance to keep your Mac safe.

The only point of the third prong is to earth the connection. Your MacBook doesn't need to be earthed (the short plug supplied by Apple isn't earthed). They make no difference to the voltage supplied.

If you don't have a surge protector, the worst that will happen is that a surge will blow your MagSafe, any surge won't go beyond this, so I'd save your money. Electricity in Europe tends to be very clean anyway.

All you need is a European plug adapter, or a new "duck head" which you can probably get from eBay for a couple of bucks - in fact, they're a buck each: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Apple-MacBo...=US_Audio_Cables_Adapters&hash=item3f1a649f61

Alternatively, your local apple store might have some lying around.

 

[raptor402]

The only point of the third prong is to earth the connection. Your MacBook doesn't need to be earthed (the short plug supplied by Apple isn't earthed). They make no difference to the voltage supplied.

There is one more point to a three pronged adapter: stability. In my country, I need to use an adapter very similar to the European one. The tiny two pronged adapter and the heavy magsafe power brick are not a good match. I've found that a bigger three pronged adapter is far better. No harm in carrying both.

Raptor

Edit: I seemed to face forgotten that the third pin lies in the center of the other two in the Italian plug. So basically, my recommendation wouldn't exactly be just for a three pronged adapter but rather for one with a larger context area between the magsafe brick and the adapter.

 

[Barney63]

The magsafe only uses two prongs, the earth isn't connected to anything.
It has the double square logo on it showing that it is a double insulated class 2 device.


Barney

 

[Brian Y]

The magsafe only uses two prongs, the earth isn't connected to anything.
It has the double square logo on it showing that it is a double insulated class 2 device.


Barney

Not quite true. There is a ground in there - it's just not necessary and is only included on the "long" plug that Apple supply (in most countries, anyway).

 

[JustinCPA]

I'll be traveling to Italy and need to know what kind of power adapter to get for my 17 inch macbook pro, and iPad mini retina display.

Alos, where to purchase them.

Thanks!

I'm American and I have family in Italy. Every few years I try to go back. Somehow despite being American I seem to blend in since when I'm out people come up to me and try to start a conversation in Italian.
Having said that, Italy has three different plugs. One is compatible with the EuroPlug, the other two are only found in Italy.
If you look at my attached pictures, the first one (white with brass) is designed to take all three. My hotel was very modern, and the maids looked like models (Yes I got their FaceBooks).
Receptacle 2 accepts both 2-prong EuroPlug and the weird Italian 3-prong plug.
Receptacle 3 accepts ONLY the Italian 2 & 3-prong plug.

The problem is, the holes on the Euro and Italian plugs are of different sizes so you can't force a EuroPlug into an Italian receptacle. By far, the Italian plug was the biggest hemorrhoid. I was unaware of the above differences and had only one adapter that happened to fit. So we had to share.
Two years later, I went adapter crazy. I bought a EuroPlug cord off eBay, Apple's World Traveller Kit, and a five (each) EuroPlug & Italian 3-prong adapters. Why that many? Because I came home with two of each. They were really cheap off eBay.

I searched for "Italian plug adapter" I had a bunch of the purple and beige ones.
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_sacat=0&_from=R40&_nkw=Italian+plug+adapter&LH_PrefLoc=1&_sop=1

I searched for Europlug adapter" I bought the beige ones.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-Pin-Euro-to-Universal-Travel-AC-Power-Socket-Plug-Adapter-Converter-EU-US-UK-/200981610615?pt=Travel_Adapters_Converters&hash=item2ecb700077

Here I searched for "EuroPlug Apple Cord" and bought one because I like to be grounded.
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.XEuro+apple+cord&_nkw=Euro+apple+cord&_sacat=0&_from=R40

 

[Barney63]

From Wiki :-

Class II


Class II symbol
A Class II or double insulated electrical appliance is one which has been designed in such a way that it does not require a safety connection to electrical earth (ground).

The basic requirement is that no single failure can result in dangerous voltage becoming exposed so that it might cause an electric shock and that this is achieved without relying on an earthed metal casing. This is usually achieved at least in part by having two layers of insulating material surrounding live parts or by using reinforced insulation.

In Europe, a double insulated appliance must be labelled Class II or double insulated or bear the double insulation symbol (a square inside another square).

Insulated AC/DC power supplies (such as cell-phone chargers) are typically designated as Class II, meaning that the DC output wires are isolated from the AC input. The designation "Class II" should not be confused with the designation "Class 2", as the latter is unrelated to insulation (it originates from standard UL 1310, setting limits on maximum output voltage/current/power).

Barney

 

[laurihoefs]

From Wiki :-

Image

Barney

What Bryan Y probably meant, was that while it's not necessary per regulations, the adapter actually has safety grounding. The metal pin the cords and adapters attach to, acts as a grounding connector.

See the picture here: http://blogs.kmfa.net/sque/files/2010/02/DSC06876.jpg

You can see a wire attached to the pin, with black shrink wrap around it.

 

[JustinCPA]

What Bryan Y probably meant, was that while it's not necessary per regulations, the adapter actually has safety grounding. The metal pin the cords and adapters attach to, acts as a grounding connector.

See the picture here: http://blogs.kmfa.net/sque/files/2010/02/DSC06876.jpg

You can see a wire attached to the pin, with black shrink wrap around it.

Look at the size of those caps! No wonder those AC adapters get hot!

 

[pacmania1982]

I just bought one of these today

http://www.walmart.com/ip/QVS-PA-C3...Travel-Adapter-with-Surge-Protection/22907081

pac

 

[loon3y]

I'll be traveling to Italy and need to know what kind of power adapter to get for my 17 inch macbook pro, and iPad mini retina display.

Alos, where to purchase them.

Thanks!

if nobody already posted this, than don't listen to them


http://www.skross.com/content/product


one stop shop for all countries don't buy one type of convertor and end up having to buy another one.

plus it saves space, i use this everywhere i go. China, UK, Italy, France, Korea, India. doesn't matter

and plus mine came with dual USB ports so i can charge two devices at one time.