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U.S. Travel Information
Electricity in the United States
110/120 Volt AC, 60 HzLine voltage in the USA is 110/120 Volt AC, 60Hz.
If you intend to bring your own devices / appliances you may be need two things:
1) An adapter plug
2) your device must be prepared to be switched to 110/120 V, otherwise you either can't use it or you have to buy a (relatively heavy and expensive) voltage converter, which is not advised. Better consider to buy devices especially designed for travel purposes - they're mostly small, light-weighted and of course switchable to 110/120V.
Adapter Plugs
These small helpers are really usefull, because they just have one single purpose: to adapt your type of device plug to fit into American sockets. Usually you can buy them as a 'worldwide variety pack' in shops which sell electronic devices, luggage or you even get them in some larger supermarkets. In this package you find an adapter for many countries around the world. But you should buy it in your home country, because you need all the adapters to fit on your original plug. Costs are low, approx. 10-20 Dollars/Euro, depending on quality and brand.
Is your device switchable?
You can easy find out whether you can switch them when you turn the device and look at each side and the bottom. There should be this little switch labeled '110/120V'. If you can't find it, your device is probably not switchable.
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Notebooks, cell-phone charger etc.
This kind of travel proofed gear is always capable to adapt to 110/120 V and vice versa to 220/240 V. They come with an voltage converter by nature, all what you will need is a adapter for the plug. A note regarding cell phones: only if your cell phone standard is capable of working on a American frequency it makes sense to bring it to the US. If not, it also might not have the capability to manage 110/120V !
Always check all devices before traveling and decide whether it makes sense to take them with you.
This kind of travel proofed gear is always capable to adapt to 110/120 V and vice versa to 220/240 V. They come with an voltage converter by nature, all what you will need is a adapter for the plug. A note regarding cell phones: only if your cell phone standard is capable of working on a American frequency it makes sense to bring it to the US. If not, it also might not have the capability to manage 110/120V !
Always check all devices before traveling and decide whether it makes sense to take them with you.
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Source: magazineUSA.com
Last modified: 20040801