Power ADAPTER for charging cell phone?

[Kevin Malinak]

Hello, I've narrowed it down to only 2 choices... Which of these is the correct one for France, Spain, Portugal? Both are identical except the diameter of the pins.
The one with the small diameter? Or,
The one with the large diameter?
Sorry if this is a duplicate question, but I could not find the answer using the search.

 

[Robo]

Hard to tell as they are both so similar!
It normally tells you on the packaging!

They might actually both work? See specs here.
https://www.worldstandards.eu/electricity/plugs-and-sockets/

 

[Kevin Malinak]

Thank you for the link, but it didn't show the diameters of the pins. I don't have the packaging, but i see there's words on the side, one says So-Europe(sm dia), other says Nor-Europe(lg dia).

 

[Robo]

Thank you for the link, but it didn't show the diameters of the pins. I don't have the packaging, but i see there's words on the side, one says So-Europe(sm dia), other says Nor-Europe(lg dia).

Probably refers to South and North Europe?
I would guess the smaller diameter will be the right one.


Having lived and travelled in Europe, my 'gut feel' is that both will work.
What would I do?
Take both ......

If they both work, give one away.
If one works........toss the other one

 

[trecile]

I thought that this thread was going to be about a power adapter/converter, which isn't necessary for phone chargers as they can work with multiple voltages.
I actually bought a European plug charger with two USB ports on Amazon. That way I couldn't accidentally leave the adapter in the outlet. One trick for that is to tape the adapter to the plug.

 

[Deleted member 43780]

Hard to tell in the pic.
Both may work.

This type of plug adaptor can be purchased in many stores in Spain.

Take both.

Didn't know there is a S and a N Europe plug like those. My suspicion is both will work.

If you want to plug in USB, you can buy in Spain a USB charger that has the proper plug on it.

 

[C clearly]

I have used both successfully in Spain and elsewhere in Europe. Sometimes you need to push harder to get the bigger one into the outlet.

 

[SMBHNL]

I brought the fatter one to Spain with me and promptly left it in an outlet. So, take Trecile's advice and tape the charger to the adapter. Anyway, I went to a hardware store and bought a replacement which had the smaller prongs. The store clerk swore that it was the right size and stuck it in an outlet to show me. So I bought it. It fell out of almost every outlet I ever plugged it into. It would make contact ok, the prongs just didn't have the girth necessary to stay plugged in. My advice is also to bring both.

 

[Rikke Visby Wickberg]

I live in northern Europe and just bring the one I use at home. They work fine in Spain.
I didn’t know there was a difference between northern and southern Europe plugs.

 

[Kanga]

The smaller pins work in France, Spain and Portugal. It is easy to buy one when you get to Spain. Preferably with at least two usb ports so you can share with others in your albergue!

For a definitive list of all the pins used throughout the world - and you can see that several may be used in Europe (the two pin types). https://www.worldstandards.eu/electricity/plugs-and-sockets/

 

[Jeff Crawley]

I think you'll find the thinner (4mm pin) so-called Europlug or C-type on low power appliances such as bedside lights. the socket won't take the larger pin (4.8mm) to prevent a higher demand appliance (such as an iron or heating coil) from tripping out the power supply. The socket tends to be a flatish plate with just two holes in it:

and the plug looks like this

The other socket (4.8mm pin) called a Schuko in Germany is more deeply recessed and looks like this:

and takes plugs like this

which you'll see on fridges, washing machines etc.

Obviously you can fit a C into a Schuko but not the other way around. If you do use a C plug in a Schuko socket the trick is to gently squeeze the 4mm pins towards each other then it won't wobble so much and fall out.

Considering the size and weight of the adaptors I'd take both - you don't want to be in a situation where your room only has C type sockets and you have a Schuko adaptor!

Hope this helps

 

[trecile]

If you want to buy a European plug charger here's the one I have.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MV6UBIC/?tag=casaivar02-20

 

[Anniesantiago]

I'd take both. If not, you can buy the correct one on the Rick Steves shop page for $1 and you can pick them up pretty much anywhere in Spain.

 

[hotelmedicis]

I think I have both thin and fat prongs on my continental European plugs. Here are some photos that you can compare. The fat prongs are from my MacBook Pro bought in France. The others are for my toothbrush, two-way radio and camera. I hope this helps.

 

[jonarv]

Bought the adapt in Spain with 4 USB socket's wife farther in law and me worked great and bonus it also works in Thailand.

 

[tomnorth]

Hello, I've narrowed it down to only 2 choices... Which of these is the correct one for France, Spain, Portugal? Both are identical except the diameter of the pins.
The one with the small diameter? Or,
The one with the large diameter?
Sorry if this is a duplicate question, but I could not find the answer using the search.
View attachment 39549View attachment 39550

The smaller diameter pins are the right ones.

 

[Kevin Malinak]

I want to thank you all for all the great advise and all the time and effort you have given. You are a blessing to me, thanks again, -kevin-