Power Converters and Power Adapters for Germany and Austria

by Janis on July 9, 2014

Reader Kristin L. asked via a post on Facebook:

Wondering if you could comment on Power Converters and Power Adapters for Europe (Austria & Germany)?

We love questions from readers.

Kristin: here’s our take on Power Voltage Converters and Power Adapters for Europe, specifically Austria and Germany.

A German “Schuko” socket used in Germany, Austria and a number of other European countries.

Power sockets in Germany and Austria have a round, recessed shape with two-round pole plugs. They are commonly called “Schuko” sockets, and are also used in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Chile, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Republic of Macedonia, Republic of Moldova, the Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine, and Uruguay.

When we travel to Austria and Germany, we travel with two kinds of power adapters.

1. A USA to Europe Power Plug Adapter (photo above) that you “add-on” to the end of your US device power cord, which adapts the plug to fit German and Austria (and many other European countries power plugs.)

2. Universal All-in-One World-Wide Travel Adapter with Wall Surge Protector (photo above-back, and top of post-front.) This type of travel power adapter works (in theory) in any country around the world.

Both of these types of travel power adapters are readily available and inexpensive. They work great, as long as the computer, shaver, video camera, iron, or other device is a multi-voltage model. If the appliance is not a multi-voltage model (my Chi flat iron is not multi-voltage, for example) you will also need to buy a voltage transformer or converter, or avoid taking an electrical appliances that are not multi-voltage to Germany or Austria.

Rockstone Power 1000 Watt 5V USB Port Heavy Duty Step Up/Down Voltage Transformer Converter

The reason that you need a voltage converter is that the standard household electrical outlet in Austria and Germany carries a wallop of 220-240 volts, while a normal electrical appliance designed for us in the United States, Canada or Mexico has 110/120-volts.

Using an electrical appliance designed for use in the US, Canada or Mexico in a European outlet without a voltage converter will result in sparks and smoke, and often destroy your appliance as well as cause a power outage.

We generally try to avoid the need to travel with a Voltage Converter as they tend to be much heavier to carry and more expensive to purchase that voltage adapters.

If you do want to purchase a Voltage Converter for Germany and Austria, look for one specifically rated for Germany.

Note that most models of Voltage Converters with allow you to use 110V USA Laptops and Other Portable Electronics in Europe (and other 220 Volt Countries.)\

However, most of these Voltage Converters carry the following warnings:

Maximum capacity: 150 Watts. Good for laptops, battery chargers, iPods, shavers etc.
Cannot be used with any kitchen appliances, hair dryers, flat irons, etc.

As a result, I either travel with a hair-dryer and flat iron specially made for international travel with lower voltage (note: not as powerful.)

Alternatively, we now tend to stay in U.S.-based hotel chains (such as Marriott or Hilton hotels) that generally have local hair dryers, or on U.S.-headquartered cruise ships.

Or, my hair goes into a pony tail.

How do you deal with power converters and/or adapters when you travel? We’d love to hear your solutions in comments below.

Other travel trips you may want to check out:

Or check out 30 Travel Tips For Your Travel Toolkit.

If you have a travel question, we’d like to hear it. Please contact us here.

Or, reach out to us via Twitter or Facebook