Electricity - (110 vs. 220)

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This is pretty strait forward stuff. The USA and Canada use 110 Volts. The rest of the world uses 220. If you are based in the United States or Canada and have anything electronic, using it in any other country will require the use of a step-down adaptor. This means that the adaptor steps the voltage coming out of the wall DOWN to the voltage that your device expects. In the opposite scenario, if you live outside the United States and Canada and expect to use electronic devices, you will need an Step-Up adaptor. This adaptor will step the voltage that comes out of the wall UP to the voltage that your device expects. 

A couple of suggestions on this topic:

When in doubt, don’t. If you are not sure if you are about to plug something into the right wall out let, don’t do it, and go ask someone. You risk damaging the device or blowing a fuse.

Don’t confuse plug converters with step up / step down adaptors. Plug converters only allow you to fit odd shaped plugs in to their respective outlets and do NOT convert voltage as is required.

Most step up / step down adaptors are rated for under 50W or above 50W. This is important, don’t mix and match. Don’t plug a blow dryer or similar hair care device into a 50W converter. You will fry the converter and worse, run the risk of injury

Overall, remember that when you are traveling in a foreign county, the voltage available from a wall outlet is most likely not the same as the voltage back home. Be careful and take 5 extra minutes to be sure you are using the appropriate step up or step down adaptor, otherwise you will run the risk of damaging valuable electrical equipment.

 
This is an excerpt from our eBook "Pro Tips for Touring Musicians ". Visit our Our eBay Store for more info.