Thailand And Laos Journey: 3. Electrical Adaptors

Thailand and Laos (and Myanmar if I can manage it)

Hello, Sawatdee kaa and Sabai dee,

My next trip will be Thailand and Laos, and this is all about the before, the trip and the after - similar to my Malaysia/Cambodia blog. I am putting together from start to finish - tickets, do's and don'ts, tours, where to stay, places to see, things to do, as well as useful extras like transport, good places to eat, what to wear, climate, tourist traps, tricks and tips and whatever else I can think of that will be useful.

If you have any tips or advice, please, feel free to leave a comment and add your bit - whatever you think may be helpful or interesting.
Cheers.

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

3. Electrical Adaptors

What electrical adaptors are useful in SE Asia? As long as your gadgets accept the worldwide 100-240v range (most of them do but make sure first) you can either buy them before you depart or get some cheap locally-available plug adaptors.
For electricity around the world, check out World Electric Guide for each country. The chart shows the differences between the plugs and the electrical systems.

Above: Universal adaptor
This is a typical plug adaptor for Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, and the US. (Captain_Bob (Ginny's Place) sells for these 50 baht at his guesthouse.)

Above: Plug adaptor round prongs
It is also a good idea to buy one for round prongs which is the next most common.

Electricity in Thailand
The electricity in Thailand is 220V 50Hz compared to 240V 50Hz in Australia, which is on the borderline of the voltage difference tolerances of many appliances. If you want to be sure, you should get a step-down voltage converter from 240V to 220V. A number of electronic devices will accept 100V-240V 50-60Hz inputs and will convert the voltage automatically, you'll need to check on the box that is part of the ac/adaptor/charger cord. Otherwise, Thailand uses either the two pin type and the two flat blade prong type of plugs, and some outlets will also accept the two flat blade with ground pin plug especially in the newer buildings. If you're staying in a hotel, the better hotels often can supply these for their guests. Voltage converters cost more, and will depend on how many watts your devices use.

Below are the plugs used in Thailand.