African power converter

Do I need a portable charger for South Africa? How well do solar chargers work in South Africa? What is the difference between a power converter and a power adapter? Do I need a power converter for South Africa? What converter do I need for South Africa? What is the difference between a converter and a power transformer? How to convert volts to volts What voltage does South Africa use?

How to tell the voltage of my device What type of adapter do you need for South Africa? Which type of adapter will you need to bring to South Africa? How many devices will you be packing for South Africa? What types of electrical devices do you need to charge? Do your devices only work with volt power outlets? Will your trip include visits to countries other than South Africa? How many wall outlets are available when you get to South Africa? Do you intend to visit elsewhere in the future?

What is your budget? Do you still need use your charger when returning to America? Do you intend to bring hand luggage to South Africa? Will you always have reliable access to electricity? How long will it take to fly to South Africa? Warning: If your device won't handle volts used in South Africa you run a risk of damage to your device, an electrical fire hazard or a blown fuse.

Prior to using your device in South Africa please read the instruction manual first to ensure safe operation. South Africa power adapters Power adapters for South Africa When packing for a trip to South Africa it can be helpful to know in advance if you can power your important electronics when you get there.

What is the best power adapter for South Africa? Straightforward design makes it easy to use. Bringing a Type M plug adapter will be ideal for South Africa. Disadvantages of a power plug adapter This plug adapter only alters the actual shape of the plug to fit in a Type M South African power outlet and not the actual voltage, so if your device doesn't work with volts and isn't dual voltage you will still need to pack a voltage converter.

If you intend on visiting more than just South Africa then you may need to bring along more than one type of power adapter. Accomodation in South Africa might only have a single wall outlet available, so you will only be capable of powering one appliance at a time. Get a travel USB wall charger. Get a travel power strip. Get a universal travel power adapter. Get a plug adapter set. Get a voltage converter. South Africa power outlets and plug sockets What plug sockets are used in South Africa?

There are four different types of power outlets used in South Africa, these are type M, C, F and N with the primary power outlets being type M: Plug Type C - You can identify the power socket by the two holes adjacent to each other.

Plug Type F - The sunken circular wall socket also called the Schuko plug or type F power outlet can be identified by the two circular holes 19 mm apart from each other where the two plug socket pins slide into and a pair of thin grounding clips at the top and bottom. Plug Type M - You can recognise this plug outlet by the three circular holes in a triangle shape. Plug Type N - You can recognise this squashed hexagon shaped plug outlet by the three round holes in a flattened triangle pattern.

Should I bring a power converter? There are potentially monthly power outages in South Africa. Almost a quarter of the population has access to electricity in South Africa. Get a portable charger. Get a solar backpack.

Most travel USB chargers include 4 or more USB charger ports, meaning you should only need to bring one charger to charge all your devices. It helps reduce the size and weight of your luggage by only bringing a single USB wall charger instead of needing to bring several individual USB chargers with you. All travel USB chargers will include interchangeable plug heads for various regions. This is suitable if travelling to different countries which are likely to use a different standard to South Africa.

A good power charger is compact, rugged and lightweight; ideal for the rigors of travel rather than risking packing a domestic charger which might be impossible to repair in South Africa. USB travel chargers will accept both the volt power outlets in South Africa along with different voltage standards in other countries. There is a possibility that some hotel rooms in South Africa might only have one wall outlet, by bringing a travel charger with multiple USB ports means you can share the single power supply with all your devices rather than waiting to charge each device one by one.

Due to their flexible nature a travel USB charger takes the worry out of visiting any unknown destination as they are guaranteed to work almost anywhere on the planet. Power outlets found in airports are often sparse and demand for charging multiple cell phones during departure can be high, so a USB travel charger with multiple ports and the ability to fast charge is perfect. The power grid in some countries can be unstable, a good travel USB charger allows for unexpected fluctuations and prevents damage to any devices attached to it.

Trying to repair an overloaded cell phone in South Africa could prove difficult and expensive. Larger USB chargers should also incorporate power outlet strips to allow you to power multiple low powered domestic appliances such as laptops, but note these will be unsuitable for high wattage domestic such as hair dryers or clothes irons. See the section on using travel appliances with a South African power outlet for guidelines and advice on the best power adapter for a high powered appliances with a South African power outlet.

Some tablets and cellphones could pull more than the usual milliamps produced from a normal 5 volt USB power adapter to charge or provide fast charge. Higher priced USB travel chargers will support fast charging incase any of your devices draw extra power. Travel USB chargers can still be useful when returning home by charging multiple mobile phones and tablets overnight using only one power outlet.

Get a step down power converter for South Africa now. What voltage does South Africa use? Substantiations See the power adapter substantions section for more information on how we compared travel adapters October What type of adapter do you need for South Africa? Before choosing which adapter to use we suggest using the following checklist: Family may need to recharge devices too How many devices will you be packing for South Africa?

List all the electrical items you want to pack for South Africa for example tablets, mobile phones, eReaders, hair dryers or clothes irons. Remember to allow for more electrical items in the future. Are you thinking about buying a new mobile phone computer soon? There is an increasing amount of USB powered rechargeable electronics such as electric shavers that utilise a USB port as a power source, the next time you have to replace a device it could use a USB power adapter so remember to ensure your travel adapter has enough spare ports for these additional items too.

Are you also bringing a partner to South Africa that might need to recharge their phones too? If you intend to pack USB electronics such as phones or cameras then it is recommended to just bring a travel USB wall charger. If you only use a simple power plug adapter in South Africa you will still need to use your domestic USB power charger too.

There are 3 different types of electrical devices or appliances: Low wattage electrical items which plug into a power outlet - for example laptops and cameras. High wattage electrical appliances that plug into a power outlet - for example curling irons and hair straighteners. If you only have to take just USB powered devices to South Africa you'll find that a travel USB wall charger is ideal because you'll only have to bring one charger with appropriate charging cables.

A travel power strip is built for powering and converting voltage for many low wattage devices, but won't work with high wattage appliances which require voltage conversion. South Africa uses volts, should you originate from a country that doesn't use volts and you're not using a dual voltage appliance how you can tell then you'll either need to pack a bulky voltage converter or a power strip with a built in voltage converter. It might be more expensive to buy a power converter than buying a dual voltage travel appliance for example a dual voltage clothes iron, hair dryer, hair straighteners or curling iron for South Africa which is ideal for travel and often includes an assortment of plug adapters.

A simple power adapter only operates in a single country that it was designed for, so if you need to travel to more than just one country you may need to pack additional plug adapters which can add to the number of adapters you have to carry. However, universal travel adapters and travel USB wall chargers are made for travelling to multiple countries becuase of their interchangeable heads.

Are multiple outlets available How many wall outlets are available when you get to South Africa? Hotels may offer only one power outlet.

This will be a problem if recharging batteries of more than one electronic item overnight because you will only be able to charge a single device at a time then need to keep swapping after each device has finished charging. To recharge multiple devices at the same time we recommend bringing either a travel power strip or travel USB wall charger that are capable of powering multiple USB ports and power outlets.

A versatile universal travel adapter or USB charger with interchangeable heads can potentially be reused for other trips in the future to other countries as well as South Africa. Some types of travel USB wall chargers and travel power strips could also work when you get to America. Are you bringing just hand baggage Do you intend to bring hand luggage to South Africa? Because of their increased size and weight most models of power converters and travel power strips might be too bulky for packing in hand baggage, consider bringing a smaller universal travel power adapter or USB wall charger.

The power in South Africa will often fluctuate and this might possibly cause damage to your devices, it is advisable to look for an adapter which has built in surge protection such as a travel power strip.

Because South Africa suffers from power outages or having partial coverage of power in certain areas you might discover that whatever power adapter you use in the country won't function anyway. Be prepared for limited electricity or power cuts in South Africa by bringing a portable charger or a solar backpack.

With long journeys consider packing a convenient charger which is ideal for airports that can be used with different power outlet types, one that can be packed in hand luggage and can quickly top up phones and tablets right prior to an extensive flight. Not all flights actually have power outlets therefore we recommend packing a portable charger which will recharge on the go. After arriving you could need to rely on a mobile phone to make telephone calls, messenging, using mapping or reading your itinerary; ensure that your phone has enough charge left.

Corrections We endeavor to ensure all details on this page are correct and relevant to travellers visiting South Africa, if you wish to contribute any useful information or feedback please email travel wikiconnections. Therefore, expect blackouts and power surges to occasionally occur, especially in rural regions. These days, the vast majority of personal electronics are dual-voltage, which enables them to run on either system.

A common exception is a portable hairdryer, which often uses a fixed V. Always check the label should you have any doubts. In addition to your US to South Africa power adapter these items will help you on your travels:. As a result, tourists are strongly advised to take extra care of their safety. The best way to safeguard your passport and cash in South Africa—and anywhere else, for that matter— is by wearing a discreet neck wallet under your shirt.

These comfortable and lightweight accessories hide your valuables out of sight, keeping them safe from pickpockets and muggers alike. View on Amazon. Gone are the days where you had to empty the contents of your luggage all over the hotel room to find your last clean pair of underwear.

Simply use one cube to stow a specific article of clothing together, which allows you to fetch and retrieve whatever you need with the utmost ease. The easiest way to ensure you never run out of juice is by carrying a lipstick-sized charger on your person. South Africa is not the rainiest of countries, but large and unpredictable variations are common, so best to be prepared.

An umbrella can also be a great reprieve from the sweltering sun. Luckily, you can mitigate the issue by taking the prescribed dose of jet lag relief pills. These days, cybercriminals have begun hanging around public Wi-Fi hotspots to steal personal information—including sensitive bank details—off other users. The best way to protect yourself is by installing a VPN, which encrypts your web traffic to keep it safe from prying eyes. View options at NordVPN. All manner of things could go wrong in South Africa.

And without adequate travel insurance, you could be faced with an eye-watering bill for medical or evacuation expenses. Grab yourself a comprehensive travel insurance policy to safeguard your trip. View their plans at WorldNomads.

Unlike equatorial Africa, South Africa is a land of four distinct seasons. Summer December to February is the best time to visit Cape Town thanks to the warm weather and a distinct lack of rain. The summer does bring plenty of rainfall to the north of the country, however, so you might think twice before booking a safari this time of year.

Whale-watchers will want to arrive between July and November, while safaris are best in the cooler months from May to September. As for the best time to visit?

Be sure to check current South Africa travel advisories before you go. The weather in South Africa varies considerably depending on the climatic zone. On the whole, the country is relatively temperate, especially in the coastal regions where the climate is not unlike Europe. Winters get chillier than many might imagine, with the temperature occasionally dipping below freezing point in Johannesburg.