Using your American electrical devices in France

Most of your American electronic devices cannot be used in France, with the big exception of computers (see Computers, below). Here's a little explanation of why this is the case, as well as some solutions...

Different countries, different voltage

From left to right: two-prong adaptor, three-prong adaptor, voltage converter. (Click for larger version.)

Electricity is different in France than it is in the US! You probably already knew this! The difference isn't just the shape of the outlets, it's also a matter of voltage (i.e. power). Without getting overly scientifical here, the electricity coming out of your wall in the States is 110 volts, whereas in France it's 230-240 volts, i.e. more than twice as powerful as back home! So that means one important thing: most of your electronic stuff from the States can't be used in France! Even with an adaptor to change the shape of the plug! You can buy US-Europe adaptors at most electronics stores in the US or in Europe, which might lead you to believe you can just plug in whatever you want in France, and that's not the case; the higher voltage will ruin most of your American electronic devices. So you won't be able to use your American hairdryer! Same goes for curling irons, electric razors, most cellphone chargers, many camera chargers, etc. So save the room in your luggage! If you bring any of that stuff and plug it in in France, at best you risk breaking it, and at worse you risk getting shocked, causing a fire, etc.

(I have one personal anecdote, but this was in Bosnia, not France. I was minding my own business when a fellow traveler plugged a French cellphone charger into a Bosnian socket — which was the wrong shape and wrong voltage — and the charger instantly exploded! It was deafening, and the person was shocked and knocked backward, but fortunately not injured. The remaining pieces of the charger were blackened and burned. My ears rang for hours.)

Anyway, there are a few notable exceptions to the rule that American electronic stuff can't be used in France...

Computers

The biggest and most important exception is computers! You can definitely use your computer (laptop or desktop) in France. This is because the power cable for your computer has that black box thing in the middle, which is the power adaptor. This device takes the electricity coming out of the wall and automatically regulates how much of it gets into your computer. You can even look at the fine print on the label on the adaptor and see something like "Input: 100-240V." The numbers might vary a bit, but you'll see that this range covers the voltage in both the US and in France. So, you can buy yourself a simple adaptor — which can range from about three to twelve Euros, depending on whether your computer cable has two or three prongs — and plug in your computer in France with no problem.

A few other electronic devices come with similar adaptors on their power cables. You can always check the label and confirm that the voltage input covers that same wide range, as described above. When it doubt, don't plug it in! If it's something really important and you're not sure, you can always ask for advice at a large department store, and if necessary, buy a voltage converter (not to be confused with a simple adaptor; see Voltage Converters, below).

Power Adaptors

Like I mentioned, the simple adaptor that will let you plug in your American computer in France is relatively cheap; often just a few dollars/Euros, and can be found at just about any electronics store in the US or France. An easy place to pick one up is BHV, a big department store in the center of Paris. There's a large electronics department in the basement level of the store, and they always have a huge bin of adaptors for all the combinations of different countries' power sources. You can also find adaptors at other large electronics stores like Fnac, Darty, etc.

Interestingly, for computer cables with two prongs, you can get a simple and inexpensive adaptor for about three to four Euros (pictured on the left in the photo above), but if your computer cable has three prongs, you'll need to buy a different adaptor that costs around ten to twelve Euros (pictured in the center of the photo). This one is more expensive because it's a multi-country adaptor, with irregularly-shaped holes to accommodate plugs of several different sizes. Unfortunately, I've never been able to find a simple, three-prong, two-country (US to Europe) adaptor. So this more-expensive, multi-country adaptor is your best bet if you've got three prongs.

Voltage Converters

While a cheap power adaptor that simply changes the shape of the plug will work for your computer in France, it's also possible to buy a slightly larger device called a voltage converter (pictured at the right side of the photo above) that will let you use any and all of your American electronic devices in France. These are more expensive — while a simple adaptor costs three to twelve Euros, a voltage convertor is usually closer to 40 Euros or more. The voltage converter comes with attachments for the plug shapes of both the US and France, and there's a switch to indicate which type of voltage you're plugging into and which type of device you're plugging in. This converter is a good solution for any instances where you absolutely have to plug in an American device in France. I bought one of these at BHV a couple years ago in order to plug in a fancy designer lamp I'd bought in the States. My girlfriend and I then brought it to the States during one visit so she could plug in her French hairdryer with it, although after that experience I wouldn't recommend traveling with your voltage converter; they weigh a ton!

Batteries

Fortunately, regular ol' batteries (like AA, C, D, etc.) are universal! So when you need batteries for your digital camera or whatever, you can simply buy the appropriate size from any electronics store, supermarket, or souvenir shop (where they're be insanely overpriced), and that'll do the trick.

Good luck, and for pete's sake, be careful!