should i buy a converter or adapter

[pamelaann]

what the hell is the difference between the two? i need to plug my camera charger for my trip to italy and i don't know whether to buy an adapter or a converter. PLEASE HELP! i leave in about 2 weeks.

[joe7f]

I am assuming you are referring to an electrical converter/adapter.

A converter will change the voltage from Italian levels (220 V) to American levels (120V). An adapter is ONLY something that will change your plug to fit an Italian recepticle (two circular pins next to each other about an inch apart).

Which to get? Well, for low power electronics you can never go wrong with a converter it just may not be necessary. Look on your power supply and see if the input voltage ranges from 110-230 or some such value (those values are nominal anyway). If so then just go with the adapter.

Be alert as to the power rating. A 15W converter can only draw 140mA at 110 or 70 at 220. That is why hairdryers and the like are nonos because they are dissipating 50+ Watts.

Edit:This doesn't apply to your camera but is just FYI for others that might have the same question...

Also keep in mind the frequency does not change in a converter (unless you have a very fancy converter) which is not a problem for AC-DC converters but items such as alarm clocks depend on the line frequency (50 or 60 Hz for time). If a clock is expecting 60hz a second, then at 50hz 1 second of clock time becomes 1.2 seconds of real time which means you lose 4 hours a day.

--Joey

[LiveFreeorDie]

Your camera charger likely already has a converter built in, but double check as Joe mentions, and all you really need is an adapter. You can pick up an adapter kit at most office supply stores, like Office Depot or Staples and it will have most of the various plug sets you could need. From memory, I think Italy uses round/tubular plugs. Good luck.

[McHopsky]

A converter is something crazy that actually converts the format of electricity into another. You don't want that considering most phones and camera chargers and whatever else usually has that kinda stuff built in. Just buy an adapter.. any electronics, travel or office store should have them. I think europe should all be on the same page.. 2 round prongs.. Best of luck.