18 Days!

So, building off my last post, I've decided to start a count-down series about getting details and logistics ready for my trip. When I first realized it was all 100%, I didn't know where to start with anything. Hopefully this series can help some other people who feel like they're in the same boat and help me get some feedback along the way. So here's to us empowering each other.

But really. Today we're talking about power. When living overseas for an extended period of time, it's important to think about how you're going to power your electronics from the US. The first step is to take an inventory of all the electronics you expect to need to power. For instance, I have my laptop, 2 hard drives, my camera battery, and my iPad charger, bare minimum. I may also take some things like my rechargeable batteries and charger, so I can use my mouse and keyboard if I decide to take them. That makes at least 6 items that I'll need to plug in, though not always at once. This gives me an idea of the size of the solution I'll need.

Next, while taking inventory, you'll need to look at each power supply, find the labels, and determine whether the power supply is 110-240V compliant or only 110V. Also makes sure they're 50-60Hz compliant. Most modern power supplies are both, but you need to double check. This can't be stressed enough, because it determines whether you need a step-down transformer or not. If you plug a 110V only power supply into Europe's 220/240V grid, you run a very high risk of doing serious damage to the power supply and whatever electronics are on the other end. Even with non-electronics. I've heard horror stories of burnt-out hair dryers and singed hair from straighteners that were being used without a converter.

So if you have a few devices that need 110V, you will need to get a converter or look at how expensive it may be to simply purchase the device(s) needed while overseas. It's always a cost benefit analysis. If you only have one 110V device that you could get fairly cheaply there, it may be worth the money and saved luggage space to buy it in your destination country. If you have several, you may save more money by purchasing a converter with several outlets built-in. Many converters, such as the one linked above, are also surge protectors and others even provide more than one outlet, but the important thing is that it is, indeed, a 220/240V to 110/120V converter.

Another option to save some packing weight is to purchase a universal powerstrip. This is only an option if all of your devices are rated for 220/240V power, since most don't have a built in converter. They provide several universal plugs for you devices, so you can plug in any foreign purchased devices alongside your North American ones. There are several models out on the market, but remember, you tend to get what you pay for, and it may be worth investing in a good powerstrip if it saves your expensive electronics later on.

So with all the talks of converters and powerstrips, you may think that it would be a great idea to get a converter, plug an American powerstrip into it, and gleefully use all of your North American devices without care. I thought this would be the way to go as well, but after some Google-ing and digging around, it's proving that electricity is more tricky than previously thought. Gson posted a personal experience, exposing the dangers of using powerstrips/surge protectors in conjunction with transformers over on his webpage. The basic summary is that because many of these transformers and surge protectors are made very cheaply, sometimes the electricity can end up flowing in reverse, which wouldn't be a problem for most 220V rated power supplies, but can lead to sparking, shorting, and overheating of components of 110V rated surge protectors. With all that being said, I would strongly caution against the use of this configuration, and would talk to an electrician or other very knowledgable person before considering it.

So, luckily for me, all of my power supplies are rated for 220/240V, so I'll be able to use just a basic universal power strip. I'll probably still pick up an adapter for my laptop so I can plug it in when I'm not in my apartment, but when I'm "home" I'll just use the cords I have. Plus it'll be nice to be able to plug my French cellphone (a future post topic) in alongside everything else without worrying or fiddling with adapters or searching for another wall outlet.

In other news, I have just one final standing between myself and winter break. It's exhilarating to know that I'm so close to being done with this semester and closer to leaving, but it's also really hectic knowing that I have to completely move myself out of my room by the end of the week. Everything's falling into place though, and it's all going to work out nicely.

That's it for today. No photo because I have to save up some of my backlog, especially since the dark room I used was closed for break, so I won't be making any new film prints until I figure out the situation with printing in Paris. I'll make sure to find a real beauty for the next count-down post, though.