Traveling is fun yet stressful especially when deciding which device to bring. It’s a no-brainer to bring your mobile phone but an extra device can add to the bulkiness of your luggage. If you’re planning to bring an extra device, a tablet is sure to be one of the handy devices to bring. But the question is, can you charge your tablet overseas?
You can charge your tablet overseas if your device supports dual voltage. But if your device doesn’t support it, you must bring a converter with you. A converter adjusts the voltage coming from the outlet then converts it to the right voltage.
Yes, you read it right. You need a converter and not an adapter when you travel to another country if your device is not dual voltage. You can find several converters in the market today that are bulky and heavy. However, it’s not the converter you want for travel. In this post, I’ll give you recommendations on the right converter to bring during travel. I’ll also help you to understand better the difference between a converter and an adapter as well as a dual voltage device.
How do I charge my tablet overseas?
You can charge your tablet overseas by using the right adapter for your device. Every country has its socket type and an adapter can solve the problem.
An adapter has two sides. One side has a port where you can insert the plug of your device then the other side is the appropriate plug that fits a socket. If your plug doesn’t work for an Asian socket, an adapter is necessary. So, before leaving your country, you must check the socket and the voltage information of the foreign country you’ll stay in. In this way, you can buy the right adapter needed for your device.
Currently, there are 15 types of sockets ranging from Type A to Type O. If you’re traveling to the USA and Canada, you must buy an adapter with the socket types such as Type A and Type B. Some countries in Asia use Type A while Japan uses Type B.
If you’re traveling to Europe, your adapter must be in Type C and Type F. Russia uses Type F but the UK and Ireland don’t use this socket type.
For Type D, the countries using it include Sri Lanka, Nepal, India, and Namibia. For Type E, the countries included are France, Poland, Tunisia, Belgium, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic.
UK, Malta, Singapore, Ireland, and Malaysia use Type G while Israel uses Type H. If you’re traveling in Australia and New Zealand, you must use the Type I adapter. Other countries that use Type I include Papua New Guinea, China, and Argentina.
Switzerland and Liechtenstein use Type J while Denmark and Greenland use Type K. Italy, Brazil and Thailand use Type L, N, and O. For Type M, the countries that use it are Lesotho, South Africa, and Swaziland.
Best universal adapters available
With the various types of sockets used in different countries, finding a universal adapter can be challenging. In this post, I’ll share with you the best power adapter in the market today. However, most of the adapters that I’ll share with you work with the US, EU, and Australia. But the port can work with other countries.
Xcentz Universal Power Adapter
The Xcentz Universal Power Adapter is perfect for dual voltage devices such as mobile phones, tablets, laptops, and digital cameras. It also works with Bluetooth speakers and headphones. It’s considered a worldwide power adapter because it fits all the socket types on its port side. However, even though it can fit all socket types in its port, the plug available on the other side of the adapter can only match EU, UK, US, and AU sockets.
You need to press and slide one of the three buttons to switch between plug types. Each button locks in place so you can use the plug type without any problem. You can charge up to five devices at once with ports for the plug and USB. It uses Xcentz’s smart xPower technology to protect the adapter and your device from overload, short circuit, over-current, and high temperature.
Fuse Chicken Universal
The Fuse Chicken Universal uses a slide-on plug section and not the press and slide style like the Xcentz Universal Power Adapter. The difference between the two is that a slide-on plug requires you to remove the plug attached to the adapter before you can switch and attach your desired plug attachments. On the other hand, the press and slide style is already integrated with the adapter. There are no separate plug attachments.
For the Fuse Chicken Universal, it has the main adapter plus the three separate plug attachments. The Xcentz is only a one-piece adapter with no separate plug attachment.
The Fuse Chicken Universal has different plugs fit for US, Europe, UK, and Australia sockets. This adapter has two USB ports such as USB-A and USB-C.
Zendure Passport Go
Zendure Passport Go comes with a travel adapter, 4-port USB charger, and one AC device. It can power five devices all at once. It uses the GaN technology, which can charge the latest devices in the market. Because it uses Gallium Nitride as a semiconductor material, it can produce less heat and it can tolerate high current. It also runs at a higher efficiency compared to its silicon-based counterpart.
It works like the Xcentz Universal Power Adapter where it uses the press and slide plug section. Because of its small size, it won’t add too much weight to your luggage.
3-pin plugs
If you’re traveling to the UK and the US, it’s highly recommended to use an adapter with a 3-pin plug because it supports earth pins. The earth pins help in protecting you from electric shock, which is common for electrical devices. The pins add an extra level of protection so considering it when choosing an adapter is important.
Do I need a voltage converter for my tablet?
You’ll need a voltage converter for your tablet if your device is not dual voltage. As the name implies, a voltage converter changes the electrical power source’s voltage that matches equipment or a device. So, if your device runs on a 220V but you’re staying in the US, you need a converter because the US operates at 110V.
However, some voltage converters are heavy and bulky. Bringing it with you during the trip is not a good idea. But, some genius manufacturers make it portable so you can bring it during travel. Here are the best voltage converters available in the market today.
FOVAL International Travel Adapter Power Step Down
The FOVAL International Travel Adapter Power Step Down voltage converter can convert 220V to 110V. If you’re traveling to countries outside the US, this is the best converter for you. This is one of the best converters to bring if you plan to travel in Europe as you need both an adapter and power converter for your device. FOVAL has both features. It comes with USB ports, two outlets, and multiple adapters. It also comes with a fabric pouch so you can easily keep the converter set.
It’s well-configured so that you don’t need to worry about damaging your device. You can also use it with other devices such as CPAP machines, electric toothbrushes, hair straighteners, hairdryers, and breast pumps. It has an internal fan that gives you a humming sound when you use it.
BESTEK Universal Travel Adapter
The BESTEK Universal Travel Adapter allows you to charge up to seven devices simultaneously. It has four USB charging ports and 3 AC sockets. This is a heavy-duty device despite its portable feature as you can charge your phone, camera batteries, projector, and even a Raspberry Pi console. It also has a fan but it produces less noise. Bonnaza Power Adapter Voltage Converter
Bonnaza Power Adapter Voltage Converter is one the lightest voltage converters available in the market today. It can convert the voltage of the device from 220 V-240 V to 110-120 V. This power adapter converter is safe to use in that it won’t overload or short circuit. It can withstand high temperatures and has built-in surge protection.
When you use this product, keep in mind that you must only use it with electric products that have a maximum wattage of 2000 watts. You must also remember that you can only use its adapter mode for devices that have dual voltage.
2000W Voltage Converter Adapter
I added the 2000W Voltage Converter Adapter to the list to help you understand how to buy the right converter. This type of converter also works as an adapter. So, wherever you are in the world, you can charge your device on any socket.
However, its converter function is restricted only to an electric device and not to an electronic device. It means that you can’t use its converter mode for your tablet, phone and laptop because they are electronic devices using electronic chips. On the other hand, you can use its converter mode with hairdryers, steam irons, and electric kettle because they are electric devices. The electric devices only use a mechanical motor and a simple heating device that this converter can manage.
So, if you plan to buy this model, your electronic device must be dual voltage.
Does dual voltage tablet work in Europe?
A dual voltage tablet works in Europe. If you plan to visit Spain, Monaco, Poland, Austria, and other countries within mainland Europe, your tablet works without having any short circuit. Any device that is created to be dual voltage works as well. If you plan to bring your phone or laptop with a dual voltage feature, all you need to buy is an adapter.
So, how do you know if your device is dual voltage? You can check that information by finding INPUT: 100-240 V and INPUT: 120 V on your device or its packaging. The information tells you if your device is multi-voltage or single voltage. A single voltage provides a label — INPUT: 120V, which means that the device only runs on a 120 V. On the other hand, multi-voltage provides a label — INPUT: 100-240 V.
As you notice, the multi-voltage device has a wide range of voltage ranging from 100 to 240 V. It means that it can operate in the US with 100 V and Europe with 220 V. Before you buy a converter, you must check the label of your device.
Yet, if you bought your tablet or any device in the past five years, it’s more likely to have a dual voltage feature. Most manufacturers improved their devices by adding this feature. Older models of laptops and phones older than 10 years need to use a converter because they are not designed to have a multi-voltage.
Any device with a dual voltage or multi-voltage can work in any country. So, if you have one, you can use it in whichever country you go to. This feature is not exclusive to Europe’s voltage output as it covers a complete range of voltage. Even if you go to Asia, you can use your device because it can operate at 220 V. The same thing goes if you live in Asia and you’re visiting Canada, you can use your dual-voltage device without worrying about a short circuit. Your device is created to cover the volt range used anywhere in the world.
As we rely a lot on our devices such as the tablet, mobile phone, and laptop, bringing them everywhere we go is a must. Although it’s challenging when the voltage and the socket in the country you’ll travel to is not the same as the country you’re staying in at the moment, an adapter and a converter are the solutions. Always remember the function of the two to avoid a short circuit. An adapter helps your device’s plug to be compatible with a socket style. On the other hand, a converter can change the voltage of your device.
