It's finally time for you to take a vacation or business trip to the UK! Whether you plan to stroll along the Thames at Tower Bridge or visit the British Museum to see the treasures of the past, the UK is a wonderful place to visit, not to mention the small towns in the British countryside and unforgettable natural landscapes.
But have you ever thought about how to charge your electronic devices? The United States and the United Kingdom have different power systems, charging plugs are also different, in the market there are so many UK adapters for you to choose, how can you choose a best uk travel adapter? Don't worry, this article will give you the answer you want.
Understanding the UK electricity system
In order to choose the best uk travel adapter for you, you need to understand the UK electricity system first.
The standard voltage in the UK is 230V, which is the same as most of Europe, but it is different from the 120V in the US, which means that you may need a converter when using appliances in the UK that are adapted for use in other low-voltage countries (such as the US). Plugging these low voltage adapted appliances directly into a UK socket will result in the appliance receiving too much voltage. The appliance will not be able to withstand a higher voltage than it is designed for and may overheat and burn out internal components or circuits.
What's more, even if the appliance works under high voltage for a short period of time, it can cause the electronic components to age faster, and reducing the life of the device. These components, when operated at voltages higher than those for which they were designed, may lose their functionality, resulting in the failure of the appliance. We'll focus on which appliances may require a converter in the latter part of the article.
Another point to note is that the frequency of current in the UK is 50Hz, which is different from 60Hz in the USA, and some equipment, particularly motorized equipment, can be slowed or spun too fast, which can lead to abnormal functioning or damage in the long term.
The UK uses a Type G plug, which is a three-prong plug consisting of two horizontal parallel flat pins and a vertical round earth pin. This is shown in the diagram below:
Ireland, Hong Kong, UAE, Singapore, Botswana, Saudi Arabia, Cyprus, Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya also uses this kind of socket. Choosing to buy a 3-prong plug with this shape is an important step in purchasing a uk travel adapter, because when you choose the wrong uk travel adapter, you're choosing a useless liability. The result is that you won't be able to put your US-applicable charging head into the UK socket, and you'll be searching all over the UK for the adapter you need, which will delay your trip considerably and have a negative impact on your travel experience.
What else do you need to be aware of besides choosing a Type G socket and paying attention to voltage and frequency? Let’s dig further and explore.
How to choose the perfect travel adapter for a great trip to the UK?
Choosing the perfect uk travel adapter will not only allow you to charge safely, but you'll also need to choose a uk charger that is relatively lightweight and has usb ports that allows you to skip the step of connecting the cable to the charging head! Now, let’s dive in to see what do you need to pay attention when buying a uk travel adapter!
1. Check your device's voltage compatibility
In the previous paragraphs, we know that the voltage in the UK is at 230v, which is different from the standard voltage in the US which is 120v, fortunately most of the modern charging devices nowadays have a dual voltage feature, which means that these appliances can be compatible with 120v as well as 230v, most of the smartphones, tablets, laptops and cameras have this feature because the manufacturers of these appliances have taken into account the needs of people traveling.
Dual voltage operates in the sense that it is compatible with voltages ranging from 100-240V and these appliances automatically adjust to the voltage of the country in which they are used, so there is no need for a step-up or step-down converter to convert the voltage. It is worth noting that while most small electronic devices are dual voltage, larger appliances such as hair dryers, curling irons and some kitchen appliances may still be single voltage. If these devices are not dual voltage, you will need a voltage converter in addition to a uk travel adapter. Be sure to check the label on the device or charger to verify the input voltage range.
2. Choosing the right type of plug
From the above we understand that the plug type in the UK is a type g socket, which is a three-prong plug consisting of two horizontal parallel flat pins and a vertical round grounded pin.
To ensure that your device will connect to a UK socket, you will need a uk travel adapter that can accommodate the UK Socket.
3. Check the power rating
The power rating of a travel adapter is the maximum power that the adapter can safely handle without overheating or causing electrical problems. This rating is vital as it ensures that the adapter can support the device you are plugging it into without overloading the circuit.
Always be careful that the power rating of the power-using device is not higher than the power rating of your uk travel adapter. When the power rating of an electrical device exceeds the power rating of your adapter, your adapter will overheat and break down quickly.
Before purchasing a uk travel adapter, check the power requirements of your device to make sure the adapter can handle the necessary power output. It's also a good idea to leave some extra power capacity for possible power surges or fluctuations.
4. Consider purchasing a travel adapter with multiple ports
If you have multiple electronic devices to charge (laptop, portable power bank, electronic watch, cell phone,kindle, headphones, tablet, camera etc...) Consider purchasing a travel adapter with multiple ports so you can charge them all at the same time, it saves your time and ensuring all your devices working properly.
Choose a uk travel adapter that has at least two or three ports to charge your devices. Some uk travel adapters also come with USB ports, providing an additional charging option for devices that use a USB cable.
If you're traveling with family or friends and need to charge multiple devices at the same time, it's more useful to have a uk travel adapter with many ports.
5. Go for a compact and lightweight design
Choosing a compact and lightweight design uk travel adapter can save you more space in your luggage, you can use the saved space for clothes, toiletries, shoes, etc. If you want to buy some travel souvenirs and handicrafts in the UK, owning a compact and lightweight uk travel adapter can greatly free up your space, allowing you to take your happy memories back home.
6. Choose a uk travel adapter with surge protection (optional)
Power surges usually occurs in extreme weather conditions such as thunderstorms, where lightning strikes a power line or a nearby building, causing an dramatic increase in voltage and creating a strong electrical surge. Even if there is no direct hit, the surge may be triggered through the power grid, damaging electronic equipment. Moreover, when power is restored after a power failure, the grid is momentarily powered, creating brief voltage fluctuations that can also cause surges.
Surges can also occur when high power devices are switched on or off or when the grid switches or fails, sometimes you may find that the place where you live suddenly trips a circuit breaker, and all the electrical devices are not working, this is also a sign that a surge has occurred.
A uk travel adapter with surge protection generally has a substance called MOV, which absorbs excess current when the voltage exceeds a safe level, converts it to heat and disperses it so that the excess current is not conducted to the power-using equipment, thus protecting the equipment.
Since cruise ship passengers are currently not allowed to bring travel adapter with surge protection function on board, many socket manufacturing companies have to take into account for cruise ship passengers, so they do not add surge protection function to the travel adapter.
What's more, the manufacturing of surge protectors requires the addition of extra parts that will increase the size of the adapter, which is not conducive to carrying.
Not only that, the surge protector's varistor will have a voltage range limitation, and many current manufacturers choose not to give the travel adapter surge protection because they need to meet the voltage needs of multiple countries.
Lastly, it is worth mentioning that choosing a travel adapter with a high-temperature and fire-resistant plastic casing is not only flame retardant, but also prevents the risk of fire due to high temperatures or short circuits.
Perfect Travel Adapter for UK
Tessan's UK TRAVEL ADAPTER not only has 4 AC jacks, but most importantly, it also comes with 2 usb a and 1 usb c ports, so you can connect your cell phone, tablet, or kindle directly to this adapter! 4 AC ports are for traditional charging heads, while the 3 usb holes are for electronic devices that can be connected to a usb port.
What's more, this tessan travel adapter is compact and lightweight, perfect for traveling and regular carry-on, you can put this uk travel adapter into your suitcase, backpack, or even your fanny pack! This makes it easier for you to enjoy your journey without worrying about running out of batteries, as you can plug this compact uk travel adapter into an outlet anywhere and enjoy the joy of being charged up!
As mentioned above we need to check the power rating, when the rated power of an electrical device exceeds the rated power of your adapter, your adapter will overheat and break down quickly. A typical cell phone uses 10-15w, a laptop uses 60-100w, a hair dryer needs 1000-2000w, Tessan Travel Adapter can reach up to 3250w, allowing you to use your power devices without stress!
Another thing to note is that Tessan's UK Travel Adapter is not a voltage coverter, as the voltage in the US is 120v, which is lower than the UK's voltage of 230v, so you must be careful when using non-dual-voltage electrical appliances (e.g. hairdryers) that you need to use a voltage coverter.
Although Tessan travel adapter need to be reduced in size, accommodate cruise ship passengers, as well as to meet multinational voltages so that it does not have surge protection feature, however, the Tessan Travel Adapter's body is fire resistant to high temperatures, which greatly reduces the risk of having fire hazard.
Overall, Tessan's UK Travel Adapter is a smart choice for American travelers going to the UK because it comes with 3 usb ports, and 4 ac ports that can charge up to 7 powered devices at once, and its compact and lightweight size allows you to take it wherever you want to go. Not to mention its high power rating, which is up to 3250w so you can use most of your power devices.
Conclusion
In conclusion, choosing the right travel adapter for your UK trip will ensure your safety and will make sure that you can charge multiple electronic devices, knowing the UK's electricity system including voltage, frequency, plug type and power rating is the first step in choosing the perfect adapter.
Considering the number of powered devices to match the appropriate charging port, and going for a compact and lightweight device is an important second step in finding the perfect uk travel adapter.
By following the above guidelines and choosing the right travel adapter, you will be able to enjoy a stress-free and fully charged electronic device experience during your trip to the UK.
