European USB C chargers
Author
Discussion

Craikeybaby

Original Poster:

12,048 posts

253 months

I’m heading to Europe next week, I thought I’d pick up a small European 2 pin 20W GaN charger for phones etc. I was surprised to find that this isn’t available in the usual places in the UK. Is a bulky UK 3 pin to EU 2 pin adapter still the best bet?

bennno

15,185 posts

297 months


Loads of cheap ones on Amazon

ninepoint2

4,047 posts

188 months

One 3 pin to euro 2 pin adapter and a UK plug bank...is an option we use.

Junglebert

198 posts

44 months

Craikeybaby

Original Poster:

12,048 posts

253 months

There weren't any when searching the USB C power adapters, but searching for "international power adapters" brought up loads. Mainly random alphabet soup ones which I try to avoid, but also some known names, like the UGreen one recommended above.

craigjm

21,266 posts

228 months

The ugreen one linked is good. Also remember though that there is no such thing as a European plug. While many countries use the same the sockets are different in Italy, Switzerland and Denmark for example

alangla

6,672 posts

209 months

Simplest solution (assuming you don’t mind having your devices sitting together charging or you’ve got long USB cables) - Euro to UK adapter and a UK bar socket, preferably one with a long cable as hotels inevitably have the sockets in inconvenient places.

Puggit

49,740 posts

276 months

Craikeybaby said:
There weren't any when searching the USB C power adapters, but searching for "international power adapters" brought up loads. Mainly random alphabet soup ones which I try to avoid, but also some known names, like the UGreen one recommended above.
Yes, avoid the cheap Chinese brands (unless you want a fire in your hotel room on the first night you use it).

First item in my bag, whether I'm travelling to UK or EU: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C2HQMYSK?ref_=ppx_hz...

Magic919

14,412 posts

229 months

I use a Ugreen one, but anything that can take one of these ‘figure eight’ type power leads would work. 118Ink 2 Pin Mains Euro EU Power... https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CDLRQD3C?ref=ppx_pop...

omniflow

3,795 posts

179 months

Buy one when you're there - if you actually need one.

Loads of hotels these days have USB ports by the bed, either built into the plug sockets, or via the clock radio or similar.

Guyr

2,541 posts

310 months

We just got back from Canada and bought some new charger plugs locally, with USB-C and they're absolutely tiny, about an inch cube. They are so much better than taking UK chargers and adaptors, which have to balance precariously in the socket.



It's perfect for the plug sockets next to the bed that every hotel we stayed in had.

I've just tried to find the same for the EU and there's no really small ones available here, so we'll look locally when out there next. That said we also take some much longer cables, as hotels in Europe tend to be much older and often only have plug sockets far away from where you want them.

It is also advised for security reasons not to use fitted USB ports anywhere, since they can (in theory) be used to link to the phone and extract data.

NormalWisdom

2,183 posts

187 months

ninepoint2 said:
One 3 pin to euro 2 pin adapter and a UK plug bank...is an option we use.
This

For over 40 years I've taken a couple of adapters and a couple of 4-gang UK extension cables. These days they come with built in USB chargers.

You can get them on Amazon with a Euro connector and 4-Gang UK sockets - Saves on the adapter....

SunsetZed

2,980 posts

198 months

It's all personal preference but I usually just take something similar to this when I'm travelling

https://www.amazon.co.uk/POWOMAO-Universal-Worldwi...

Dave Hedgehog

16,272 posts

232 months

NormalWisdom said:
ninepoint2 said:
One 3 pin to euro 2 pin adapter and a UK plug bank...is an option we use.
This

For over 40 years I've taken a couple of adapters and a couple of 4-gang UK extension cables. These days they come with built in USB chargers.

You can get them on Amazon with a Euro connector and 4-Gang UK sockets - Saves on the adapter....
with the amount of gadgets my tribe has we take an 8 bar lol

Truckosaurus

13,191 posts

312 months

craigjm said:
....Also remember though that there is no such thing as a European plug. ...
Indeed. As I discovered on a trip to Malta with my trusty 2-pin continental phone charger only to find that Malta still uses UK style sockets.

indigochim

2,079 posts

158 months

Magic919 said:
I use a Ugreen one, but anything that can take one of these figure eight type power leads would work. 118Ink 2 Pin Mains Euro EU Power... https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CDLRQD3C?ref=ppx_pop...
I do this too. I have a charger a bit like this and a bunch of the figure 8 cables for wherever I go. Everything I need to travel with these days can be charged via USB and I have adapters for my razor and toothbrush so they can be powered via usb too.

Craikeybaby

Original Poster:

12,048 posts

253 months

Truckosaurus said:
Indeed. As I discovered on a trip to Malta with my trusty 2-pin continental phone charger only to find that Malta still uses UK style sockets.
And Cyprus.

Matt..

4,013 posts

217 months

I travel a lot so have specific chargers for various places like the EU and US.

For EU you can buy from somewhere like www.amazon.de.