Voltage Differences

The electrical voltage delivered via power outlets varies in different parts of the world. Some places, such as Japan, have a mains power voltage as little as 100V, while others, such as Kenya, have a mains power voltage as high as 240V. This means that when you wish to use a device from one country in another country's power outlets, you need to check the voltage of that country to ensure it is safe to use with your device.

Some appliances are compatible with multiple voltages, while others are built to work specifically with one voltage. To find out if your appliance is one of them, check the appliance label and/or instruction booklet. Some examples of appliance labels are below:

Appliance label showing a voltage of 240 volts — This appliance is only compatible with a single voltage as only one voltage (240V) is printed on the label.

Appliance label showing a tolerable voltage range of 100 to 240 volts — This appliance is compatible with a range of voltages as it shows two voltage figures with a dash in between them. In this example, the appliance may be plugged into any outlet ranging from 100 to 240V without a voltage transformer, though a socket adaptor would still be needed if the sockets don't match.

Appliance label showing two tolerable voltages: 115 volts and 230 volts — This appliance is compatible two voltages as it shows two voltage figures with a slash between them. Appliances displaying labels like this will have a physical switch located on them somewhere, allowing you to switch between the two voltages shown here. In this example, the appliance may be plugged into an outlet of 115V or 240V (provided the switch is in the correct position) without a voltage transformer, though a socket adaptor would still be needed if the sockets don't match.

If your device is compatible with the voltage used in the country you are visiting, then a plug socket adaptor may be all you need (assuming there is a difference between the plug type as well). Otherwise, if your device is not compatible with the voltage used in the country you are visiting, you will need to also use a Transformer to transform the voltage so it is safe to use your device.