Where to buy a European power adapter

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Hey CP folks.
I'm off to Poland next week and I need to pick up a plug adapter (just the prongs, I'm only charging USB devices, so voltage/frequency don't matter).

Anyone know where to buy this stuff, preferably downtown?
Thanks in advance.

[VladtheImpaler]

Originally Posted by Bring_Back_Shantz

Hey CP folks.
I'm off to Poland next week and I need to pick up a plug adapter (just the prongs, I'm only charging USB devices, so voltage/frequency don't matter).

Anyone know where to buy this stuff, preferably downtown?
Thanks in advance.

Are there any Radio Shack (whatever they are called now) stores downtown? They would certainly carry this.

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Hey, didn't think of The source.

I've actually found a place, who'd have thought googling "Travel Store" would actually work.

Thanks for your help CP.

[Kybosh]

Radioshack, Bestbuy, Futureshop etc. all carry these. They aren't super expensive, so you might consider buying two brands (just in case). Also, charge up some inconsequential piece of electronics first to just make sure the adapter works. I fried something once before in France.

Edit: Didn't see you mentioned downtown.

[Regulator75]

Maybe Staples on 9th?

[Icon]

I got one at the travel store in Willow Park.

Then I lost it somewhere early on in the trip.

One of the hostels we stayed at sold them for 1/3 of the price that I paid for it here (not that it was expensive to begin with but still)

[FlamesAddiction]

CAA sells them.

[Olao32]

100% The Source. I travel often to Asia and Europe and am constantly going back to buy them because I either forget or lose them.

Make sure you know the difference between a converter and an adapter, and when to use each...otherwise you'll fry your gizmo.

[Rubicant]

If you're staying at a hotel, they sometimes have them for you to borrow for free. I think I actually bought one in Paris once I got over there as I forgot to bring it as well.

Bump.
Going to France, GB and Ireland. Have the adapters. Do I really need a converter? What would I need a converter for?

[GoinAllTheWay]

A real man makes his own adapter out of paperclips and snot.

[GoinAllTheWay]

Perhaps I should also supply a useful answer.

Almost all portable electronics sold these days (cell phones and laptops are pretty much guaranteed) come with plugs that will "stepdown" European voltage to what we have in NA. Look at whatever you are plugging in, if it shows 110-240 on the actual plug, you don't need a converter, just a plug adapter.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Puxlut

Bump.
Going to France, GB and Ireland. Have the adapters. Do I really need a converter? What would I need a converter for?

You likely don't need a converter. Most chargers have a 110 to 240 range. I just went to the Source by Circuit City and bought mine. It was 10 bucks. Double check the actual component that plugs into the wall and it will tell you the voltage range.

edit: ^ yeah, what he said lol

[smoothpops]

walmart sells them, (in the luggage department). took awhile to find them in there, but i did.

[MoneyGuy]

You don't have enough time for this trip, but for anyone else a really good way to buy one so through Groupon or one of the other daily-deal sites. One site has one now now. They're really inexpensive.

[btimbit]

Even Walmart has them now, near the luggage. Usually a little stand with Air Canada branded converters, adapters, passport covers, etc.

[Cheese]

amazon.ca can get em to you cheaply and quickly as well.

[combustiblefuel]

Surprised no one has said the airport yet.

[billybob123]

UK and continental Europe have different adapters. I have a multi plug adapter that works for everywhere that I got at The Source. It has spring type prongs that pop out depending on which adapter you want.

[Street Pharmacist]

Be careful with many devices and understand that there a difference between converters and adaptors