The DSLR Field Guide

Electricity Abroad

If you’ve traveled relatively extensively, you’ll be aware that voltages vary in different parts of the world.

Generally, voltages are divided between 110–120v and 220–240v. Countries with 110–120v are principally the US and those falling under its sphere of influence for reasons of proximity or history (Latin America and Japan, for example), while those on 220–240v tend to be European and former colonies. A few countries have both, though not necessarily in the same place.

Cycles are in Hertz (Hz), usually either 50 or 60. Almost all of the plug-in electrical equipment associated with cameras and computers (chargers, transformers, and so on) are designed to switch automatically between these voltage ranges, so there should ...