If you're planning to visit the beautiful Philippine islands for a short vacation or an extended stay, your going to have plenty of things to do and new places to see. Embarking on a foreign adventure among a different culture is always enjoyable and exciting, but it's best to make sure that you research your destination and arrive prepared to avoid any unnecessary complications. Before packing your bags and catching your flight to the Philippines, please be sure to consider what you're going to do about using your electronics.
Many countries have varying standards when it comes to electricity. Certain regions, and even individual countries utilize a standard voltage at which electricity is delivered at. In North America, the standard voltage is 120 Volts. Devices that are made and sold in North America are designed and manufactured to operate specifically at 120 volts. However, in the Philippines the standard electrical voltage is 220 Volts. This means that the electronics sold there are designed to be used specifically with the 220 volt system. If you were to try and use electronics from North America in the Philippines, the voltage would be too high for the device to handle and will likely result in your electronics being damaged or ruined. The higher voltage also poses a serious risk of electrocution or fire when using electronics that are meant to be used at a lower voltage. On the other hand, electronics from the Philippines cannot be used in North America because the lower voltage means that there isn't enough electricity to properly power the device. While this can also result in damage to the device from improper voltage, the risk of electrocution or fire is significantly lower.
Now that you're aware of the varying voltage, the next step is deciding what to do about it. This depends on a few things, from the length of your stay to the particular electronics you plan to bring along for your travels. If you plan on moving to the Philippines, living abroad or staying for an extended period of time, it's likely that you'll be bringing more things along for your trip than you would if you were taking a short vacation. In this case, you'll most likely be in search of a simple, all-encompassing solution that allows you to use the electronics that you already have. Thankfully, there are devices that do exactly that - allow you to use your electronics in a foreign country without having to worry about the difference in voltage. They're called
voltage converters, or voltage transformers.
A voltage converter or transformer is a device that transforms (or converts) the electricity from one voltage to another, either up or down. While your electronics are plugged in directly to the converter itself, the converter plugs into a standard wall outlet and then transforms the voltage and delivers the electricity to your devices at the safe and proper voltage that they were designed for. This eliminates the hassle of purchasing new electronics and ensures your devices can be used both safely and effectively.
There are different types of converters available, depending on your destination and the functionality required. The simplest, most common type of voltage converter is the Step Down Converter. This type does exactly what it says - it steps the electricity down. A step-down converter is ideal for using 120 volt electronics in a 220 volt country because it converts the 220 volts down to 120 volts. There is also the Step Up/Step Down Converter. This type is capable of transforming voltage down (just like a step down converter) but it can also step the voltage up - from 120 up to 220 volts. A Step Up/Step Down Converter is typically ideal for someone who is living abroad or traveling frequently because it can be used anywhere in the world to properly power devices designed for any voltage.
For more information on purchasing a voltage converter, including how to choose a model with the correct wattage for your electronics - check out this helpful
voltage converter buying guide. Traveling is supposed to be fun, not a hassle. Being prepared with a voltage converter for the Philippines will give you more time to enjoy your trip without worrying about the little things such as charging your phone or laptop, or drying your hair.
