• For 2024 Pilgrims: €50,- donation = 1 year with no ads on the forum + 90% off any 2024 Guide. More here.
    (Discount code sent to you by Private Message after your donation)
This is a mobile optimized page that loads fast, if you want to load the real page, click this text.

Power ADAPTER for charging cell phone?

Kevin Malinak

-kevin-
Time of past OR future Camino
Camino Frances, St Jean PdP, March 18 (2018)
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.
 
Altus 24 Liters daypack (DENON 24 H30)
Technical backpack for day trips with backpack cover and internal compartment for the hydration bladder. Ideal daypack for excursions where we need a medium capacity backpack. The back with Air Flow System creates large air channels that will keep our back as cool as possible.

€83,-
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).
 
More 2024 Camino Guides available
The 2024 Camino guides will be coming out little by little. Here is a collection of the ones that are out so far.
Kevin Malinak said:
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).
Click to expand...

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
 
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.
 
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.
 
Camino Ready, Backpacks, Boots etc
3rd Edition. More content, training & pack guides avoid common mistakes, bed bugs etc
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.
 
Discover the Northern Camino!
Join our full-service guided tour of the Basque Country and let us pamper you!
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/
 
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
 
Camino Ready, Backpacks, Boots etc
3rd Edition. More content, training & pack guides avoid common mistakes, bed bugs etc
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.
 
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.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_2007.JPG
    2 MB · Views: 4
  • IMG_2006.JPG
    2 MB · Views: 6
  • IMG_2005.JPG
    2 MB · Views: 5
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.
 
Altus 24 Liters daypack (DENON 24 H30)
Technical backpack for day trips with backpack cover and internal compartment for the hydration bladder. Ideal daypack for excursions where we need a medium capacity backpack. The back with Air Flow System creates large air channels that will keep our back as cool as possible.

€83,-
The smaller diameter pins are the right ones.
 
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-
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest Camino Photo

Most read last week in this forum

Similar threads

C
  • Tags phones/apps/gps/maps
    • Left adapter in wall & can't charge phone
    Replies
    35
    Views
    3K
    JillGat
  • Tags phones/apps/gps/maps
    • Power Adapter shape
    Replies
    16
    Views
    4K
    t2andreo
    Euro adapter
    Replies
    43
    Views
    2K
    WGroleau
    Menu
    Log in
    Register