Sao Tome power adapters - what plugs are used in Sao Tome?

Travel USB Wall Chargers

Benefits of a travel USB wall charger

• Perfect if you only have to charge devices which use USB.
• You only have to bring a single unit instead of packing lots of domestic USB power chargers.
• Supplied with interchangeable adapter heads which make them versatile in a large number of different locations. The interchangeable adapter heads are usually lightweight and small making them easy to pack.
• Offers a surge protector.
• It can still be of use domestically.
• Swappable plugs will fit into Types A/B, E/F, G and I outlets so will work with a Sao Tome power outlet.

Disadvantages of a travel USB wall charger

• They only have USB outputs so you will be unable to power appliances, just USB powered ones. [6] [AD]

Travel Power Strips

Benefits of a travel power strip

• Capable of powering several electrical appliances at once via a single plug socket.
• You will find certain models are able to convert voltage for low wattage electronics. Even if your electronic device isn't dual voltage it should still be used with a Sao Tome power outlet when using a travel power strip. This can make them a cheaper and lightweight substitute for a power converter.
• Most power strips will include a number of USB charge ports.
• Voltage from power outlets in some countries might be unstable, a surge in power might damage your electrical items. There are some travel power strips which have a surge protector built in which will protect any electronics from being overloaded.
• The power strip will still be of some use domestically as a USB charger and power strip.
• US and Canadian power strips include Type A, B, D, E/F, G, H, I, L and N plug adapters so should work in Sao Tome.

Disadvantages of a travel power strip

• The conversion on travel power strips won't support high wattage appliances such as curling irons or hair dryers.
• Due to the size of a travel power strip it might be too bulky for packing in hand luggage.
• A travel power strip might be excessive if you only have a small number of devices and appliances to charge. [7] [AD]

Universal Travel Power Adapters

Benefits of a universal travel power adapter

• Perfect when travelling to multiple countries. Most models function in around 150 countries.
• All in one compact design. Both lightweight and small.
• Some universal travel adapters will include USB charging ports.
• Easy to use.
• There are some universal travel adapters that include a built in surge protector, this will protect any device from being overloaded by an unstable power grid.
• The pins retract so won't get caught against other items in your luggage.
• When you return home it could still work as a USB charger.
• Changes shape to Types A/B, E/F, G and I plugs so should work with a Sao Tome power outlet.

Disadvantages of a universal travel power adapter

• A universal travel power adapter will overload when used with a high powered appliance such as clothes irons, hair straighteners, microwaves, kettles or hair dryers.
• The moving parts could be fragile on some universal travel power adapters making them prone to breaking whilst abroad.
• Universal adapters only charge one plug.
• Might not be completely universal; models might not work in certain countries with less common outlets.
• Missing a power converter will mean it isn't suitable for appliances which don't support 220 volts. [8] [AD]

Power Plug Adapters

Benefits of a power plug adapter

• Affordable.
• Easy to operate.
• Bringing a Type F plug adapter will be ideal for Sao Tome.
• Compact and lightweight.

Disadvantages of a power plug adapter

• Only 1 plug adapter for each plug - for each separate device or appliance you wish to use you'll also need to use a separate power adapter.
• Only modifies the actual shape of the plug to fit in a Type F Sao Tome power outlet but not the actual voltage used in Sao Tome. So if your device doesn't work with a 220 volt power outlet and isn't dual voltage you will still need to bring a separate voltage converter.
• Should you plan to visit more than just one country you may need to pack more than one type of plug adapter.
• If you need to power any USB device then you also need to bring a domestic USB charger.
• Your accomodation may only have a single wall outlet, therefore you will only be capable of powering one device at once. [3] [AD]

Plug Adapter Sets

Benefits of a plug adapter set

• A set will typically work out more cost-effective than buying multiple plug adapters.
• By bringing every type of plug adapter ensures that you are covered for every country.
• Perfect if you are travelling to different locations.
• Includes Type A, B, C, D, E/F, G, H, I, J, L, M and N adapters so should be compatible with a Sao Tome power outlet.

Disadvantages of a plug adapter set

• Involves planning; prior to any trip you'll have to decide which plug adapters they'll need, if you don't know every country you'll be visiting you'll need to bring each adapter type along.
• Lots individual items to bring with you.
• The remaining power adapters will be useless using up space.
• Not every plug adapter types are typically included (especially rarer adapters), so check that your set includes an adapter which works with a Sao Tome power outlet.
• Only modifies the shape of the plug but doesn't change the voltage. [9] [AD]

Voltage Converters

Benefits of a voltage converter

• A step down voltage converter allows you to power your non-220 volt electronics with a 220 volt Sao Tome power outlet.
• A voltage converter includes a built in surge protector that will protect any device from being overloaded by the wrong voltage.

Disadvantages of a voltage converter

• A voltage converter only converts the 220 volts in Sao Tome and won't change the actual shape of the plug to fit into a Sao Tome power outlet, therefore you'll still need to use a suitable power adapter for Sao Tome.
• The normal weight of most models of voltage converters makes them way too bulky for packing in carry-on luggage.
• Redundant after your visit to Sao Tome.
• Usually much cheaper to purchase a dual voltage travel appliance than to buy a much more expensive voltage converter simply to bring your existing single voltage domestic appliance in an incompatible location.

How well do solar powered chargers work in Sao Tome?

The sunshine in Sao Tome should be suitable enough to recharge solar power bank reliability, but will need to be exposed to strong sunshine to provide adequate power for a single charge cycle. It could prove inconvenient to continually unpack a solar power bank then wait whilst it recharges in sunny spells.

• The bigger durable panels used on a solar backpack give the bag the ability to create more electricity within a faster period of time, making them ideal for the weather in Sao Tome.
• A phone that has been directly plugged into a USB port of a solar backpack can trickle charge the power during sunny spells in Sao Tome, but this might be inconvenient to have a phone continuously connected in the bag during the day if it is to be used constantly. Unlike a small solar power bank which needs to be unpacked and facing the sunlight, a solar bag is usually exposed to sunlight therefore will be topping up a regular power bank during the day.
• Even though the sunlight in Sao Tome is strong, a bag should ideally have a solar cell efficiency of 22% or more, be able to generate at least 6 watts of power and be used with a compatible power bank of 10,000mAH or greater.
• The durable and flexible solar cells used in solar powered bags are designed to endure bending and scratches, unlike normal firm solar cells. Solar bags come in backpack, laptop messenger and rucksack styles which makes them perfect for work, travel and domestic use.  [4] [16] [17] [AD]

Sources

• International Electrotechnical Commission - World plugs by location (cited August 2014)
• Wikipedia - Mains electricity by country (cited July 2014)
• Index Mundi - Power outages in a typical month (cited May 2018, data collected between 2006 to 2017)
• Index Mundi - Access to electricity (cited May 2018, latest data collected 2010)
• WikiPedia - List of countries by average yearly temperature (cited May 2018, data averaged between 1961 to 1990)

How to convert 220 volts to 110 volts

1. Use a step down power converter to allow you to use a 110 or 120 volt appliance with a 220 volt Sao Tome power outlet.
2. If the power converter doesn't include the correct shaped plug then it will also be necessary to plug in the power cord from the power converter into a power adapter for Sao Tome before plugging that into a Sao Tome power outlet.
3. Some power converters include the ability to perform both step up and step down voltage conversions, therefore it may be necessary to manually switch the converter to output the voltage to the 110-120 volt range.
4. Plug your appliance into the converter and turn the power on, your 110-120 volt appliance can now be used with a 220 volt Sao Tome power outlet. [10] [AD]

Will you only be planning on charging USB devices?

• Should you only plan on using USB powered electronics such as phones and tablets then we suggest just bringing a travel USB wall charger.
• If you only use a simple power plug adapter in Sao Tome then you'll still need to pack the USB power charger that was supplied with your device as well. [6] [AD]

What different types of electrical devices do you want to use?

• There are 3 types of electrical devices:
  • Low wattage electrical items that can be plugged into an electrical outlet - for example a laptop.
  • High wattage appliances that can be plugged into a power outlet - for example hair dryers and curling irons.
  • USB devices which can be plugged into a USB port - for example phones and tablets.
• When you only need to bring along just USB powered devices to Sao Tome you'll find that a simple travel USB charger is ideal because you will only need to bring one lightweight charger along with appropriate existing charging cables and leave your domestic chargers at home.
• Travel power strips are made for powering and voltage conversion for several low wattage devices (such as laptops), however won't work with high wattage appliances which need voltage conversion.

Do your devices and appliances work with 220 volt power outlets?

• The voltage in Sao Tome is 220 volts, if you originate from a country that isn't 220 volts and you don't have a dual voltage appliance (how you can tell) then you'll either need to pack a bulky power converter or a lighter power strip with a built in voltage converter.
• It can be costlier to buy a power converter than using a dual voltage travel appliance (such as a dual voltage hair dryer, clothes iron, hair straighteners or curling iron for Sao Tome) which is designed for travel and often includes an assortment of plug adapters.

How much can you afford to pay?

• A basic power adapter which charges one single device from a Sao Tome power outlet (providing that it is dual voltage or works with 220 volts), but paying a small amount more will allow you to power multiple devices at once and bring them to various countries.

Would you like to use your charger when returning home?

• Most models of travel USB chargers and travel power strips should still function when you get home.