Getting a Travel Adapter? 5 Things to Keep in Mind

People are different. And so are power sockets. 

There are a total of 12 different power sockets around the world, and that number is enough to demand your attention. What this would mean for you, is a charger that cannot be used when abroad. It just won’t fit. 

Unless of course, you’ve got a travel adapter.

What IS a travel adapter? 

To put it simply, travel adapters allow you to plug your device into the power sockets of other countries. And no, this isn’t possible without them. 

There are some things you have to keep in mind while getting one for your devices. Don’t get us wrong though, it’s quite simple. Yet, messing this up might end up damaging your devices for good. So, it wouldn’t harm you to know what you’re doing. 

We’ll just cut to the chase here. You’re traveling, you’re packing, you’re looking to get a travel adapter, and here’s everything to keep in mind–

Bigger might not mean Better 

If you’ve been looking for travel adapters, you probably would’ve come across the big “universal” adapters. And just like it sounds, these adapters sport the pins for almost every available power socket. Convenient, right? Not quite. 

As appealing as it may sound to just get one and be done with it, we wouldn’t recommend it. We’ve got our reasons- 

• For one, not even the best international travel adapters are actually “universal”. There are many power sockets for which they don’t provide the pin. 
• They’re unnecessarily bulky. 
• Due to its build, it’s got a tendency to fall off the power socket if the plug is heavy.
• And of course, they’re quite more expensive than regular travel adapters. 

What we’d recommend in its place is a set of small travel adapters. Just take note of the places you’re likely to visit and get individual adapters for these places if needed. 

This brings us to our next point–

Don’t get TOO many of them

When we suggest you not buy too many of them, we mean you need not get multiple ones of the same kind. If you’re traveling with friends or family, you’ll probably have a lot of devices to deal with. And getting an adapter for each one of them is 1. Unnecessary 2. Inconvenient, and 3. Expensive. 

Just get a power strip.

A power strip will simply extend the connection from one power socket to multiple plug points. Plug the travel adapter into the wall, and your power strip into the adapter. That’s it. Simple, right? 

Remember! It won’t convert voltages 

Okay, this is important. These different power sockets around the world supply different voltage ranges. And you must make sure your adapter, charger, and device support this voltage. Why? Because the incorrect voltage might damage your device forever. That’s a good enough reason to be worried, right?   

Plus, your travel adapters do not convert voltages. 

In most countries, the voltage supply falls in the 220-240V range. And most of the devices and chargers today are dual-voltage devices. Meaning, they would accept both 110-120V and 220-240V. Just take a look at the teeny tiny sticker on your devices for their voltage specs. If they are dual-voltage devices, no worries here. We can pick up a travel adapter and be on our way. 

But,

If they run on lower voltages, like let’s say in the 110-120V range, you’ll just have to bring along a voltage converter with you. It’ll transform the voltage coming from the power socket into the voltage required by your device. 

That’s all. 

Don’t get one from the Airport

We get that this is sort of a simple point, but do not shop from the airport! All of us have done some snack shopping for airports at some point, and all of us know how over-the-board expensive it is! 

It’s not any different for travel adapters. Some of them may even cost you over 1,500/-, each. But actually? You can get a high-quality power adapter for just around 350/-. 

So, it’s simple. Just get one beforehand, since there’s money to be saved. 

Own a USB charger? That’s better!

Remember we suggested you get a power strip if you’ve got multiple devices to charge? You won’t need that if you own a USB charger. You’ll get travel adapters with 2-4 USB sockets, allowing you to plug every one of your chargers into that single adapter. 

There’s space, and money to be saved. 

Before you leave 

Most importantly, it’s the issue of compatibility that you must look out for. Always carry your devices with you when shopping for adapters. Try plugging them in, see if they all fit, and make sure the charging speed hasn’t dropped. 

Apart from that, it’s just the voltage issue that’ll demand a bit more of your attention. Make sure the voltages are all within range, and nothing is lower or higher than it should be. 

And that is all! Happy shopping!