Powering devices in Iceland from USA?
I'm from USA and I'm traveling to Iceland soon. I read that Iceland power outlets are:
a) Iceland sockets are Type F. USA sockets are Type A or B.
b) Voltage in Iceland are 220V. Voltage in USA is 110V.
So, that means I need a voltage converter to convert Iceland's standard 220V down to 110V. And to have an adapter from Type A/B to Type F.
I found a device that supports both: http://a.co/hS8XZ1E
It supports 4 usb ports, two 2A ports and two 1A ports. It's also got 3 outlets I can plug devices with Type A/B sockets. And it steps the 220V down to 110V.
I have the following I need to power:
GoPro Hero 3+ battery
ANKER battery Powercore II 20000 mAh (charging through USB only)
iPhone SE/6/6s/8 and some Androids for friends
My questions are:
Can I power all of them safely without burning the devices out?
Do I need a surge protector in addition to the voltage converter? Can I do without one?
Can I use the USB ports safely for charging on all the devices mentioned? I am a bit confused because Apple says:
Apple's iPhone power adapter takes AC input that is between 100 Volt (The U.S. is typically 110 Volt) and 240 (Europe is typically 220 Volt) and lets out a nice regular stream of 5 or 10-volt power for the iPhone
But if I don't use the power adapter and plug straight into the USB ports on the voltage converter, will that damage the phones? Same concern applies to the other devices/batteries I need to charge, potentially only through the USB ports.
Or is it going to underpower things, because the phones and other devices expect more than 2A or 1A from the usb ports?
My understanding of electrical things is pretty much layman. Can someone with electrical knowledge chime in on whether the converter will be okay for my use case? Or if you have a recommendation for a quality converter, I'd like to know!
Best Answer
When I went to Iceland, Germany, and the Netherlands last year (they all use the same plugs), I only needed the plug adapters. I plugged my USB chargers and Macbook Air power supplies into the plug adapter and they did just fine. I also bought a USB charger brick from Amazon with six USB ports, so that I could charge many devices at once. That was nice to have.
Most electronics will adapt to the different voltage and frequency just fine. When in doubt, look at the charger/power supply. It almost always says what sort of voltage it will accept. It's usually 110-230, or something similar.
Hairdryers and other appliances don't usually adapt to different electricity standards, so pay attention.
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Quick Answer about "Powering devices in Iceland from USA?"
- If you're planning on visiting Iceland from America you will need to bring a suitable power adapter to fit a US plug in an Iceland power outlet. ...
- If your device is 230 volts or is dual voltage and the plug fits in an Iceland power outlet then it should work in Iceland.
Do I need a voltage converter for Iceland?
Iceland uses Northern European electrical standards (50 Hz/220 volts) so converters may be required for small electrical appliances brought from home. Some appliances such as chargers for laptops, digital cameras or mobile phones, may already be compatible with multiple voltages and may just need a travel adapter.What plug can I use in Iceland?
For Iceland there are two associated plug types, C and F. Plug type C is the plug which has two round pins and plug type F is the plug which has two round pins, with two earth clips on the side. Iceland operates on a 230V supply voltage and 50Hz.Can I use my US hairdryer in Iceland?
If you're using either a dual voltage hair dryer or your hair dryer is designed to operate using 230 volts and you have the correct power adapter then you'll be able to use your hair dryer in Iceland.Do I need a converter to charge my phone in Iceland?
In order to power any mobile phone from the Iceland power outlet you will need to use a Type C USB power adapter and a USB 2.0 A Male to Micro B cable. Start by plugging the Type C USB power adapter into the Iceland power outlet.Electrical outlets in Iceland - what kind of plug do you need?!
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