Travel Adapter USA

Travel Adapter USA - Recharge your devices abroad without problems

If you are going on vacation or traveling in the USA, you probably want the option to take your various electronic devices with you, so you can for instance work on your laptop or take pictures with your camera.

In that case, you should investigate what types of plugs and voltages they use in the USA, as you will likely need a travel adapter if you want to access some power while you are over there.

If you do not have the right type of travel adapter with you, it can become difficult to use the devices you bring from Denmark, as they will not use the same plugs as they have in the USA.

It can quickly make it inconvenient just to be able to dry your hair or shave in the morning if you do not have access to electricity.

You will thus have a much more pleasant travel experience if you ensure that you bring the right travel adapters, so you can both charge your camera and smartphone, as well as provide power to your other devices.

4 Things you should consider when buying a travel adapter for the USA

If you are going on a trip to the USA, it would be a good idea to have a travel adapter that can give you access to the American power grid, so you can use your devices while you are over there.

We will provide you with a few considerations below that you can use to assess which type of travel adapter is suitable for the upcoming trip you will take.

#1 - Types of plugs for travel adapters for the USA

One of the first things you should consider when you are going to get a travel adapter for your vacation to the USA is what power plugs they use, so you can be sure to find an adapter that fits them.

In the USA, you primarily find 2 types of plugs, Type A and Type B.

The Type A plug consists of two flat pins that you insert into the socket to access power from there.

Type B is very similar to the Type A plug but instead has two flat pins and a third pin that has a curved shape, which functions as the ground connection.

Where in many other countries it is possible to use the Europlug (Type C) plug in one way or another, this is not the case in the USA, and you will therefore always need a travel adapter for the devices you bring with you.

Plug types in the USA:

• Type A
• Type B

Therefore, you should carefully investigate which types of sockets your travel adapter supports, so you are sure to get access to power when you visit the USA.

#2 - Voltage for travel adapters for the USA

When you are going to have a travel adapter for your trip, it is also important to investigate what voltage your upcoming destination has, as it can affect whether your devices will work normally during the visit.

Most countries in the world use the standard that operates on 230 V - 240 V, which applies to most of Europe, including Denmark.

However, there are other countries that use a different type of voltage that is lower than 230 V, so if you visit a country with a power grid that only uses, for example, 110 V, your devices will receive significantly less power than they are used to.

In the USA, they use a standard voltage that is between 110 V - 127 V, and this means that if you want to use your devices, you should have a transformer with you that can change the voltage of the power.

Most smaller devices would probably be able to use the lower voltage, but it wouldn't be healthy for them in the long run, as it could potentially damage their circuitry.

European devices are designed to use 230 V - 240 V, and if they do not receive the voltage they require, they may become slower or start to behave strangely.

Here it is not enough just to have an adapter for the USA, as it only allows you to connect your devices to the power grid, but you also need to use a transformer that can change the voltage to 230 V.

That way, you can ensure that you can recharge and use your devices so you can continue to take photos and videos while you are on vacation.

#3 - Frequency for travel adapters for the USA

If you are traveling to other countries, you should also be aware of which frequency their power grid operates at, as it may mean you need to use a transformer to use your devices.

In many countries, they primarily use the standard where the power grid's alternating voltage oscillates at a frequency of 50 Hz.

This is also the frequency we use here in Denmark, and most of your devices will be designed to function with this frequency in mind.

However, there are other countries that use a different frequency for the power grid, and this can mean that your devices will be incompatible with this power grid unless you use a transformer.

In the USA, the power grid uses a higher frequency than we are used to in Europe, as it is at 60 Hz.

This means that you should ideally not use your devices without connecting a transformer to it that can convert the frequency to 50 Hz.

In the worst-case scenario, this may cause your connected devices to get damaged, especially if they are connected for too long.

If your devices are connected to a frequency that is higher than they are used to, they will also start to behave strangely, where for instance watches may start to run faster, and your razor vibrates at a higher frequency than normal.

It is therefore important that when you are going to the USA, you also pack a transformer in your luggage so you can use your devices while seeing all the sights over there.

#4 - Extra power on the trip - Consider a power bank

If you are for example going on a road trip in the great expanse of the USA, it may be that you do not always have access to a socket when you need to charge your smartphone or camera.

Here it can be a good idea to have a good power bank in your luggage, as you will have the opportunity to recharge your devices while you are on the go.

A power bank is essentially just a large battery that can be connected to your devices, so you always have some form of power available.

It will generally be a bit slower than regular charging, but here you have the chance to recharge your devices, no matter where you are.

So if your smartphone is running low on battery because you've used a lot of power filming the Grand Canyon, you can quickly connect your phone to your power bank and leave it in the car while you continue driving.