Recharging iPhone3 in Italy
On my last trip I zapped my iPhone trying to use voltage adapters
to recharge my phone and only the car adapter had worked (albeit very slowly).
I see that the Power Monkey Extreme is advertised a lot, but haven't tried one. Does anyone know of a battery type charger that REALLY works?
suzanne
pukalani, HI US 3/18/13
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You do not need a voltage converter, only a plug adapter. iPhones are dual voltage.
Nancy's wrong - iPhones are NOT dual voltage rather it's the charger that is. You need to have an Apple (or other brand) 100-240v charger along with the correct 2 round-plug adapter.
Thank you very much for your help!
Yes, you are right, it is the charger that is dual voltage. But the distinction isn't very important since you use the dual voltage charger to charge it - and to adapt that to Euro outlets, all you need are plug adapters, as I said. There is no instance where the phone itself would be exposed directly to European current.
suzanne,
As the others have mentioned, the most important component is the Charger for the iPhone, which is designed to reduce line voltage to that required by the phone (typically USB voltage levels at 5 VDC).
As you "zapped" your iPhone, is it still working or did you obtain a new one?
If you check the lettering on the side of the small iPhone charging block, you'll likely see the wording "Input 100-240 VAC, 50/60 Hz". DO NOT use that with Voltage Converters!
Again as mentioned, you'll need Plug Adaptors specific to the countries you're visiting. For the continent, the Plug Adaptor with two round pins is the correct type, and for the U.K. the model with large rectangular pins. It's a good idea to carry at least two of each type, as they're easy to misplace.
As you'll be travelling with a smart phone, I'm assuming you're aware of the issues with data roaming charges? Be VERY careful as data roaming can result in five-figure bills!
Cheers!
I bring a few plug adapters (bought at the RS travel store) and attach them to each electronic device - cuts down on the possibility of losing them.
Well, I think my problem was that by the time I realized that just having the plug adapter wasn't enough and that the iPhone wasn't dual voltage, it was too late.
I did buy a dual voltage converter, but I think it was fried by then. So,
yes, I bought a new one when I got home. That's why I'm trying to be sure to get the right setup now. I have all the various plugs (staying in some of the older B&Bs, there are often 2 or 3 different types even in the same room). It sounds like if I use the dual voltage charger with the right plug I might be OK.
Yes, I am aware that I need the international calling plan. I've used it
for a month and then cancelled, which worked great.
Thank you all again for your input!
suzanne,
If you're using the small charging block supplied with the iPhone, you can confirm that it will work in Europe by having a look at the lettering on the side (you'll need a magnifying glass). It should say "Input 100-240 VAC, 50 /60 Hz", so if that's the case you'll only need a few $3 Plug Adaptors.
Cheers!