5 Must-Know Rules for Expats about Electric Voltage

Let this serve as a warning to other U.S. expats.  If you plan on taking any of your electronic equipment with you, you absolutely need to know about voltage, converters, and plugs.  After seven years abroad, I’ve developed some good tips about how to enjoy your electronics without the fuss, muss, and burned equipment.  Take note of these tried and tested rules below—and send me any you have!

A few years ago I moved to beautiful Buenos Aires with my Sony stereo, HP laptop, HP scanner, HP printer, Fellows paper shredder, not to mention a Mr. Coffee, Sony digital camera, and probably a few other things that escape my memory. 

After I got here, I discovered how hard it was to get things to work.  First, I zapped the scanner by accidentally plugging it into a 220-volt outlet.  That’s usually hard to do because the plugs for 110 volts don’t fit into the 220 voltage outlets here, as a rule. 

But at a local store I had just recently purchased an extension cord with a power strip with outlets adapted to either 220-volt or 110-volt type plugs.  All it took was being in too much of a hurry to notice, and hsszzap!  The minute the acrid smell hit my nostrils, I knew the poor scanner adapter cord would need replacing!

 Rule #1:  Label your outlets with the voltage as necessary.  One of mine is now plugged into one of those voltage converters that steps the 220-volt current down to 110, so it is labeled “110.”  Treat yourself and get adeluxe automatic voltage regulator.

Rule #2: Label your electronics as necessary.  I’ve had to drop my computer and stereo off at the local repair shop, and I’m taking no chances.  I’ve labeled each clearly with warning tags that these are 110-volt items.  I also mention it clearly.  So far, so good.  Maybe this really isn’t necessary, but it costs me nothing and gives me piece of mind.

 Rule #3:  Get at least two high quality voltage converters for convenience sake.  My stereo, in the living room of course, is plugged into a converter hidden from view.  That is a little too far for recharging my toothbrush and running my KitchenAid mixer, so I installed a second voltage regulator on the kitchen counter for the mixer and other appliances.  Frankly, I’d like to hide it in a counter and run the wires out of sight, but well, you can’t have everything!

 Rule #4:  Know what you can plug in safely.  I took my lamps into a local electric shop to change them to 220-volts, and guess what?  It turns out that my U.S. lamps are so well made, with good thick electric cords, that they easily support the higher voltage.  All I needed to do was insert a 220-volt bulb, and voila!  Alas, when I plugged in my Christmas tree lights, they went fizzle and emitted that tell-tale burnt odor.  I went out and bought 220-volt strings.  Problem solved! 

Rule #5:  Forgive yourself if you make a mistake.  Part of the adventure of expat living is learning, so figure a few mishaps are bound to happen on the journey.  Learn to laugh at it and move on.