What exactly do i need to buy to run american appliances in germany?

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Vermont Kendo Hero

a lot of time

fliege52000

Transformers. Than all your appliances will be working in Germany, I think except the stove. I don't know but we get the transformers by the Thrift shop, they are used but function perfect and cheaper. If you coming to Germany "Army, Air Force" check by the Thrift Shop's.

flicka

you need a transformer

meee

converter or adapter

passat_hobby

You have to buy an transformer and european plugs.
You can get that stuff at "Radio Shack".
May be a little expensive but I am sure you get it there.
I bought that stuff several years ago and it still works.

Watch for a transformer with more than 1 steps (voltage)

Jorge R

transformers about 50 bucks depending on wattage and european plugs about .25 cent each

usually you can buy adapters that you can plug into walls. u c buy them at most convince stores and probably at walmart and heb. Beauty stores also have them.

Alwin E

To make it short:

European power runs on 230 Volts/AC, whereas American power runs on 120 Volts/AC. The 60/50 Hertz difference doesn't matter, because internally, most appliances (like computers) run on something like 5/12 volts DC, and have an in-built power adaptor. Most of them (and here we are at laptops, handhelds, portabale hard disks, and the like) do adapt automatically, but there's no guarantee! Read the manual! -- All devices you can use and/or charge on a USB port an ANY computer in the world will work fine, as USB is a worldwide standard.

Stronger household appliances will either need a new adaptor, or a total rewiring. Don't bring a kitchen oven with you to Europe, it's not worthwile. You'll love those running on 230 (or even 390 Volts, like mine) even better. Microwaves go for less than 100 euros, and hairdryers and stuff are also available at cheap prices.

For the time in between, use a power adaptor as mentioned before. It will do for a while, and your stay in Europe will provide you with a much better opportunity:

As we have the higher voltage here, it's easy to buy appliances here and ship them to a 120-Volt country. Worst thing that can happen there is that the appliance won't work due to low voltage, but it's easier to change a transformer than to kill a fire caused by a dishwasher gone haywire.

-- edit:
And to avoid you get crazy here, get used to the metric scale. Everything you'll need is measured in meters and centimeters instead of inches and feet. So telling someone he has a "tenner" might not really be a compliment...

Davey Deadman

EU current is 210-250v (volts) and US is 100-120v.

If you plug something in, the plug will likely fit but it would explode as it is recieving too much voltage. Bye bye appliance.

Ebay is a good online place to look for voltage converters.
You need a transformer input 220v output 110v

IF your appliance says on a sticker with the other power information on it (near plug, on rear or on transformer) "110v-240v" or something that ranges from 100s to 200s of volts then it should work anyhow, assuming the plug will be fine.

If it only has US voltage (in the 100's not 200s), then for a low power device up to aruond 100w (tv, lamp, laptop) you can get a cheap transformer.

For higher power stuff (full pc at around 250-400w, kettle 1200w) like heaters (iron, straightener, hair dryer) and machinery, you will need a heavy duty one which could cost up to $100.

If your device comes with a standard-enough power block type transformer where the power gubbins is in the plug itself, you can usually switch this for a euro version (make sure it has the same end connector for yoru device and has the same output voltage rating) and it will work. most of these plug transformers output only up to 12v (phone chargers etc).
IF your appliance has a very standard plug which is wired straight into the appliance or its transformer is an unusual one, or the lead socket is one without a transformer (such as the figure-of-eight style stereo lead, or a kettle-style IEC lead) your only hope is that the appliance takes 240v or so natively (there is sometimes a power current changeover switch but it is often enough automatic) failing that you will need a transformer.

What im trying to say here is that if your item has a power pack which, for example has an output (it converts your wall socket input power to something more suitable for the device) of around 9volts, then that 9v is the same whether its being converted from 110v or 240v... so you can change that plug to a euro equivelant and it will work fine. Dont plug your original pack in unless it is compatible. cos that power pack works by converting 110v into that 9v, but in reality it is recieving a charge of 240v so too high and just blows up. In the UK you can buy universal power blocks that have changeable power (from say 0.5v to 12v) and multiple different socket ends for different styles of DC ends.
If you could buy a euro version of this, then youre laughing.
This would only work for devices up to 12v or so. you can get similar universal laptop devices, but chances are your existing plug for the laptop would work as they usually convert power internally (they are for travelling!).
always remember the ampage as well.

You CAN use a US power strip on an EU transformer to plug multiple applicances in without needing EU transformers for each one, providing that adding up all the wattages together does not exceed the wattage rating for the transformer. It will overload and you could lose everything.

NOTE, that dont assume your appliance has automatic voltage conversion. check the manual or look at the rating plate/sticker on it to be sure.
Dont worry if your appliance says something like "110-220v" when you believe that the current in europe is 240v, a few volts are ok and will be compensated for. Anything in the 200's of volts is ok for europe. If you just GUESS that it is compatible, you may have bricked your device and maybe done some more damage in fuses, wiring, circuits, other devices or even to yourself and your home or building. It is electricty which means explosions, electrocution and fire hazards.

*=Voltage works in the UK as europe (but different plugs) and our voltage is either 220, 230, 240 or sometimes 250v. As long as our appliances have ONE of these (it is rated for 200-and-something), then it will work along the whole range. This is the same with the US, as theirs are rated at 100v, 110v or 120v but all appliances work if their item is rated for 1XXv. Its when there is a big dfference in vltage, like when you use a 110v in a 220v system, thats 100v difference and will go bang.

If it was the opposite way around and you plugged a 220v* appliance in a 100v* system, it prolly wouldnt blow up but just not work due to lack of power. DONT risk it though.

In answer to your question (lol), you need a transformer. But not always.

If your item IS 220v* compatible you wont harm it by using a transformer anyway, unless there is a manual voltage switch which has been flicked to 220v, in which case your item is NOW 220v and wont work on a 110v circuit (until you swich it back). Your transformer is now outputting 110v and so your item is not geting the power it needs. In this case, either remove the transformer or change the switch setting (DONT do both). If you use an item which has automatic conversion, it wont make a difference.

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