Italy
Italy Travel Adapters
You will need to consider what to pack, to ensure you can use your personal electrical appliances safely while you are abroad. This normally includes the use of a travel adapter, which is a device that simply allows you to plug any US electrical appliance into a foreign electrical socket. It is important to note that it does not convert the voltage or frequency.
General Information: Italy
For Italy, there are three associated plug types: types C, F and L.
- Plug type C is the plug which has two round pins
- Plug type F is the plug which has two round pins with two earth clips on the side
- Plug type L is the plug type which has three round pins.
Italy operates on a 220V supply voltage and 50Hz.
Power plugs and sockets
In Italy the power sockets used are of type C, F and L. Use the photos below to help identify the right plug and socket.
Plug adapters are the interfaces between the American flat-pronged plug and Italy’s two (or three) round-prong socket. These allow you to plug your electrical device into the Italian wall socket, but they do not convert the electricity to the American 110 volts. If your appliance is designed to run only on 110-120 volts, you are likely to see smoke, if not fire, from this potent miss-mating. You will need a step-down voltage converter to safely step the voltage down from 220 to 110.
Buy a power plug/travel adapter for Italy
Amazon has an great selection of adapters. We don’t sell directly, just want to make sure you have the right one for your travels!
Shop Amazon: Italy Plug Adapters for Sale
Voltage and frequency
You can use your electric appliances in Italy, if the standard voltage in your country is in between 220 – 240 volts. Manufacturers take these small deviations into account. If the standard voltage in your country is in the range of 100-120 volts, you need a voltage converter in Italy. (In the US, electricity comes out of the wall socket at 110 volts, alternating at 60 cycles per second.)
If the frequency in Italy (50 Hz) differs from the one in your country, it is not advised to use your appliances. But if there is no voltage difference, you could (at your own risk) try to use the appliance for a short time. Be especially careful with moving, rotating and time related appliances like clocks, shavers and electric fan heaters.
To be sure, check the label on the appliance. Some appliances never need a converter. If the label states ‘INPUT: 100-240V, 50/60 Hz’ the appliance can be used in all countries in the world. Devices like this include most laptops and phones, most recently produced battery chargers, and many small, electrical gadgets, especially those designed for world travel.
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