Germany is a beautiful country with a rich culture and many interesting things to see and do. If you're planning an extended visit to Germany and will be living there for awhile, it's important to take note of what you'll be bringing along on your travels. If your list includes any electronic devices or appliances other than a cell phone or laptop, you're going to need a voltage converter to ensure your electronics can be used safely and efficiently.
A voltage converter is a device that converts electrical voltage, either up or down. Since different areas of the world utilize different electrical voltages, electronics from foreign countries are not always compatible. In the case of Germany, you'll need to know that the standard voltage is 220 volts. This means that the wall outlet delivers 220 volts of electricity. Electronics from North America (which are manufactured for 120 volts) are not compatible with Germany's higher voltage. Attempting to use a 120 volt hair dryer for example, could result in a damaged item, a fire, and even dangerous electrical shock. However, there's no need to worry about that because a voltage converter is a safe and effective solution to using foreign electronics in any country.
The voltage converter plugs directly into the electrical outlet and internally converts the electricity from 220 volts down to 120 volts, creating a safe voltage for your electronics. The face of the converter has its own electrical outlets and that's where you'll plug your devices in to be used with the properly converted voltage. This specific type of converter is called a step-down converter because it's actually stepping the voltage down from 220 to 120 volts. There are a variety of types and sizes of voltage converters for Germany, and the one that will best suit your needs is a converter capable of handling sufficient wattage for your electronics or appliances. The wattages available vary from 50 watts up to 25,000 watts. The higher the wattage capability, the higher the price. However, the price doesn't increase drastically.
To determine the wattage that you'll need to check the wattage of your appliances. This can usually be found on the manufacturers label, a instruction manual, or the devices electrical cord. If you have a device like a coffee maker that uses 900 watts, you'll need to purchase a converter with an absolutely minimum of 900 watt capacity. In fact, due to voltage fluctuations and to ensure proper function, it's always recommended to purchase a converter for double the wattage of your device(s). A 1500 watt step-down voltage converter would be a great purchase for a 800 watt North American coffee maker being used in Germany. Since you're dealing with electricity, it's always better to be safe rather than sorry. Aiming for double the necessary wattage is practically a must.
One other thing to note is that most electrical outlets vary from country to country. You'll need to be sure to have the proper plug adapter for Germany so that your converter can be plugged in! If you can't plug it in, you can't use it and then you can't use your electronics. The good news is that anyone who sells voltage converters also sells foreign plug adapters.
Now that you know what you're up against, you can make an informed purchase of a voltage converter for Germany. Remember that you'll need a step-down model with sufficient voltage for your devices. To see a variety of voltage converters for Germany and purchase your own, check out our selection here. Enjoy your travels in Germany!
Voltage Converters for Germany
- By Josh Vick
- Mar 18, 2017
Germany is a beautiful country with a rich culture and many interesting things to see and do. If you're planning an extended visit to Germany and will be living there for awhile, it's important to take note of what you'll be bringing along on your travels. If your list includes any electronic devices or appliances other than a cell phone or laptop, you're going to need a voltage converter to ensure your electronics can be used safely and efficiently.
A voltage converter is a device that converts electrical voltage, either up or down. Since different areas of the world utilize different electrical voltages, electronics from foreign countries are not always compatible. In the case of Germany, you'll need to know that the standard voltage is 220 volts. This means that the wall outlet delivers 220 volts of electricity. Electronics from North America (which are manufactured for 120 volts) are not compatible with Germany's higher voltage. Attempting to use a 120 volt hair dryer for example, could result in a damaged item, a fire, and even dangerous electrical shock. However, there's no need to worry about that because a voltage converter is a safe and effective solution to using foreign electronics in any country.
The voltage converter plugs directly into the electrical outlet and internally converts the electricity from 220 volts down to 120 volts, creating a safe voltage for your electronics. The face of the converter has its own electrical outlets and that's where you'll plug your devices in to be used with the properly converted voltage. This specific type of converter is called a step-down converter because it's actually stepping the voltage down from 220 to 120 volts. There are a variety of types and sizes of voltage converters for Germany, and the one that will best suit your needs is a converter capable of handling sufficient wattage for your electronics or appliances. The wattages available vary from 50 watts up to 25,000 watts. The higher the wattage capability, the higher the price. However, the price doesn't increase drastically.
To determine the wattage that you'll need to check the wattage of your appliances. This can usually be found on the manufacturers label, a instruction manual, or the devices electrical cord. If you have a device like a coffee maker that uses 900 watts, you'll need to purchase a converter with an absolutely minimum of 900 watt capacity. In fact, due to voltage fluctuations and to ensure proper function, it's always recommended to purchase a converter for double the wattage of your device(s). A 1500 watt step-down voltage converter would be a great purchase for a 800 watt North American coffee maker being used in Germany. Since you're dealing with electricity, it's always better to be safe rather than sorry. Aiming for double the necessary wattage is practically a must.
One other thing to note is that most electrical outlets vary from country to country. You'll need to be sure to have the proper plug adapter for Germany so that your converter can be plugged in! If you can't plug it in, you can't use it and then you can't use your electronics. The good news is that anyone who sells voltage converters also sells foreign plug adapters.
Now that you know what you're up against, you can make an informed purchase of a voltage converter for Germany. Remember that you'll need a step-down model with sufficient voltage for your devices. To see a variety of voltage converters for Germany and purchase your own, check out our selection here. Enjoy your travels in Germany!
