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Travel adapter for Australians: plug types by country
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A travel adapter for Australians fixes one problem: the pins on your plug do not fit the wall socket abroad. It does not fix a second problem, which is that the voltage may differ. Check both before you pack, because one is a small annoyance and the other can ruin a device.
This guide covers the Australian plug, the plug types in popular destinations, and what an adapter can and cannot do.
Sources for this section: Wikipedia, AC power plugs and sockets; International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), World Plugs.
The Australian plug: Type I
Australia uses the plug the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) calls Type I. It has two flat pins in a V shape, plus a round earth pin below them. Some devices have a version with only the two flat pins. The mains supply is 230 volts at 50 hertz.
The same Type I plug is used in New Zealand, Fiji, Papua New Guinea and a few other places. The IEC also notes that the Australian plug works in sockets in China. So a trip to New Zealand or Fiji needs no adapter at all. Fiji is listed at 240 volts and New Zealand at 230 volts, both close to home.
Plugs are not exactly identical everywhere. Wikipedia notes that Type I plugs from different countries can have different pin lengths, and that newer Australian plugs have insulated pins.
Sources for this section: IEC, World Plugs, Plug Type I; Wikipedia, AC power plugs and sockets.
Plug types in popular destinations
This table uses the IEC's World Plugs list. Countries often list more than one type, so buy an adapter that suits the one your hotel is likely to have, or a multi type adapter.
| Destination | Plug types (IEC) | Voltage (IEC) |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | I | 230 V |
| Indonesia (including Bali) | C, F | 220 V (110 V also listed) |
| Singapore | C, G, M | 230 V |
| Thailand | A, B, C, F | 220 V |
| Vietnam | A, C, F | 220 V |
| Japan | A, B | 100 V |
| United States | A, B | 120 V |
| United Kingdom | G | 230 V |
| France | C, E | 230 V |
| Italy | C, F, L | 230 V |
Two patterns help. Most of Europe uses the round two pin Type C or its earthed cousins, so one Europe adapter covers a long trip. The United Kingdom and Singapore use the big three blade Type G, which has a built in fuse.
Sources for this section: IEC, World Plugs, list view by location; IEC, World Plugs, Plug Types C and G.
What a travel adapter does not do
An adapter changes the shape of the connection. It does not change the voltage or the frequency. Wikipedia makes the same split: adaptors allow a physical connection but do not change voltage, while a voltage converter does both jobs.
That matters because Australian devices are built for 230 volts. Much of Europe and Southeast Asia is close to that, at 220 to 240 volts. The United States, at 120 volts, and Japan, at 100 volts, are far lower. Also, the IEC lists South Korea at 60 hertz, while Australia runs on 50.
The IEC adds a caution. Its pages list older plug types that are still found in some countries, so what you see in a hotel may not match the current standard.
Sources for this section: Wikipedia, AC power plugs and sockets; IEC, World Plugs.
Check the label on your charger
Look for a small line of print on each charger or power brick. It shows the input range. If it says something like 100-240V, with a number range, the device can take the local supply and only needs an adapter. If it says only 230V, plugging it into a 100 to 120 volt supply will not work properly, and you would need a converter.
Phone, tablet and laptop chargers are usually the multi voltage kind. Hair dryers, straighteners and shavers often are not, so check them first. Wikipedia also notes that some dual voltage appliances come with cords rated for only 125 volts, so use a cord with the right rating.
Sources for this section: Wikipedia, AC power plugs and sockets.
A short packing list
- Find your destination in the table and note every plug type listed.
- Read the input line on each charger before you leave.
- Pack one adapter per device that charges at the same time, or one multi socket adapter that fits the local plug.
- Leave heavy heating devices at home if they are single voltage and your destination is not near 230 volts.
- Bring a spare adapter if you travel for weeks, since they are small and easy to lose.
With the right shape and a matching voltage, a charger will behave exactly as it does at home.
Sources for this section: IEC, World Plugs; Wikipedia, AC power plugs and sockets.
Sources
- IEC, World Plugs: iec.ch/worldplugs
- IEC, World Plugs, list view by location: iec.ch
- IEC, World Plugs, Plug Type I: iec.ch
- IEC, World Plugs, Plug Type C: iec.ch
- IEC, World Plugs, Plug Type G: iec.ch
- Wikipedia, AC power plugs and sockets: en.wikipedia.org