Tristan da Cunha power adapters - what plugs are used in Tristan da Cunha?

Travel USB Wall Chargers

Benefits of a travel USB wall charger

• Ideal if you only have to power USB devices.
• Rather than bring lots of domestic USB power chargers travellers only have to bring a single unit.
• Supplied with interchangeable adapter heads which make them useful in a large number of different countries. The interchangeable adapter heads are typically small and lightweight making them easy to pack in hand luggage.
• Offers surge protector built in.
• The charger could still be of use back home.
• Swappable plugs fit in Types A/B, E/F, G and I outlets so will work in Tristan da Cunha.

Disadvantages of a travel USB wall charger

• Restricted to USB ports so you won't be able to power any electrical appliances, just USB powered ones. [6] [AD]

Travel Power Strips

Benefits of a travel power strip

• Capable of charging more than one electronic appliance simultaneously via a single Tristanian power outlet.
• Some models offer voltage conversation for low wattage electronics such as laptops or cameras. Therefore if your appliance isn't dual voltage it can still be used in Tristan da Cunha by using a travel power strip, making them a cheap and lightweight alternative option to a voltage converter.
• Some models include multiple USB charge ports.
• Offers surge protection. Voltage from power outlets in certain areas might be unstable, a sudden power surge will damage devices. Some models have a built in surge protector to protect your electronics from being overloaded.
• It will be functional when you return home as a 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 Tristan da Cunha.

Disadvantages of a travel power strip

• The converter on a travel power strip won't support higher wattage appliances such as hair straighteners or curling irons.
• Due to the size of a power strip it might be too bulky for hand luggage.
• Travel power strips might be excessive for travellers with only a small number of appliances and devices to charge. [7] [AD]

Universal Travel Power Adapters

Benefits of a universal travel power adapter

• Typical models work in over 150 different countries.
• An all in one compact design. Both small and lightweight.
• There are some models which include charging ports for USB devices.
• Relatively straightforward operation.
• There are some universal travel power adapters that include a surge protector built in, this will prevent any device from being overpowered by an unstable power grid in some countries.
• The pins retract so won't catch against other items when packed in your baggage.
• It will be functional domestically as a USB charger.
• Changes shape to Types A/B, E/F, G and I plugs so should fit into a Tristanian power outlet.

Disadvantages of a universal travel power adapter

• Must not be used with high power appliances such as hair straighteners, kettles or hair dryers.
• Shutters and moving parts could be fragile on some universal travel power adapters which might make them prone to breaking when travelling.
• Only charges a single plug.
• Might not work in some countries; some adapters might not work in certain countries with less popular outlet types.
• Lacking a power converter means it won't be suitable for non-240 volt electrical appliances. [8] [AD]

Power Plug Adapters

Benefits of a power plug adapter

• Bringing a Type G plug adapter will work in Tristan da Cunha.
• Simple to use.
• Cheap.
• Compact and light.

Disadvantages of a power plug adapter

• Should you plan to visit more than just Tristan da Cunha you may need to bring more than one type of plug adapter for other countries.
• A plug adapter only changes the actual shape of the plug to fit in a Type G Tristanian power outlet but doesn't change the voltage. If your device doesn't support a 240 volt outlet and isn't dual voltage you'll still need to pack a separate voltage converter.
• 1 power adapter for each device - for every separate device you will also need to use a separate adapter.
• Accomodation might only have one wall outlet available, therefore you will only be capable of charging a single appliance at once.
• If you wish to charge a USB device then you also need to bring your USB charger. [3] [AD]

Plug Adapter Sets

Benefits of a plug adapter set

• A set works out more cost-effective than purchasing individual plug adapter types.
• Covers all eventualities.
• If you are visiting multiple locations this is the most flexible option.
• Each power adapter set includes Type A, B, C, D, E/F, G, H, I, J, L, M and N plugs so should operate in Tristan da Cunha.

Disadvantages of a plug adapter set

• Will involve some planning; you will need to decide which adapters to pack, if you don't know every country you'll be visiting you'll need to pack each power adapter in the set along.
• Lots individual plug adapters to bring with you.
• The remaining plug adapters will be useless and using up packing space.
• Not every power adapter types are typically included with each set (and especially less common adapters), so ensure that your set includes one that is compatible with a Tristanian power outlet.
• A plug adapter only changes the shape of the plug to allow it to fit into a Tristanian power outlet but not the voltage. [9] [AD]

Voltage Converters

Benefits of a voltage converter

• Step down voltage converters will let you to use any non-240 volt appliance with a 240 volt Tristanian power outlet.
• A voltage converter has a built in surge protector to protect any device from being overpowered by an incorrect voltage.

Disadvantages of a voltage converter

• It will only change the 240 volts in Tristan da Cunha and won't change the actual shape of the plug to slot into a Tristanian power outlet, therefore you will still be required to use the correct type of power adapter.
• The weight of voltage converters makes them too heavy and bulky for packing in hand baggage.
• A voltage converter won't be useful when get back home.
• Usually less expensive to purchase a dual voltage travel appliance than to buy an expensive power converter simply in order to power your existing single voltage appliance in an incompatible location.

Will a solar charger work in Tristan da Cunha?

The climate in Tristan da Cunha might be suitable for a solar power bank but is likely to take time to recharge. Because of the smaller surface area of the cells a solar power bank will need to be kept in powerful daylight for a long period of time to provide enough energy for a single charge, and this might prove difficult to repeatedly pack and unpack a solar power bank then wait whilst it recharges between cloud cover.

• Instead, the bigger durable solar cells found on a solar backpack give the bag the ability to generate more power within a faster period of time.
• A phone that is directly plugged into the USB charging port of a backpack should trickle charge the battery during sunny periods in Tristan da Cunha, but might prove inconvenient to have a phone constantly tethered in the bag during the day should it be needed frequently. A power bank plugged in a solar backpack can be constantly topped up inside the bag during sunlight, afterwards the phone can be recharged using the power bank at any time without sunshine.
• A solar bag that is suitable for Tristan da Cunha should have a solar cell efficiency of 22% or more, can generate a minimum of 6 watts of power and includes a 10,000mAH power bank or greater.
• Solar bags are available in backpack, messenger and rucksack styles making them ideal for travel, work and domestic use.
• Unlike normal solid solar panels, the flexible and durable solar cells used in solar powered bags have been built to survive bending and scratches.  [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)
• timeanddate.com - Weather Around the World (cited May 2018)

How to convert 240 volts to 110 volts

1. Use a step down power converter to allow you to use a 110 or 120 volt appliance with a 240 volt Tristanian 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 Tristan da Cunha before plugging that into a Tristanian 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 240 volt Tristanian power outlet. [10] [AD]

Will you only be charging USB devices?

• If you intend to pack USB powered electronics such as mobile phones or tablet computers for Tristan da Cunha then we suggest just packing a travel USB wall charger.
• If you only use a simple power plug adapter you'll still need to use your domestic USB power charger as well. [6] [AD]

What types of electrical devices do you want to charge with a Tristanian power outlet?

• There are 3 types of electrical devices or appliances:
  • Low wattage electronic items which can be plugged into a power outlet - for example a laptop.
  • High wattage electrical appliances which can be plugged into a power outlet - for example clothes irons and hair dryers.
  • USB devices that connect to a USB port - for example mobile phones or tablets.
• Should you only want to bring along just USB powered devices to Tristan da Cunha then a travel USB charger is ideal as you'll only need to bring that single compact charger and some appropriate existing USB charging cables rather than needing to pack a collection of domestic chargers.
• Travel power strips are built for providing power and converting voltage for several low wattage devices, but won't work with high wattage appliances (such as hair straighteners) which need voltage conversion.

Will your devices work with 240 volt power outlets?

• Tristan da Cunha uses 240 volts, if you travel from a country which doesn't use 240 volts and you don't have a dual voltage appliance (how to tell) then you will either need to pack a bulky power converter or a power strip with a built in power converter.
• It can be more expensive to buy a voltage converter rather than using a dedicated dual voltage travel appliance (for example a dual voltage hair dryer, clothes iron, hair straighteners or curling iron for Tristan da Cunha) which is perfect for travel and often includes plug adapters.

How much can you afford to pay?

• A basic power adapter which charges one device in a single country (providing that it is dual voltage or works with 240 volts), however paying a little more allows you to charge multiple devices simultaneously and use them in multiple different countries.

Would you like to use your charger when returning home?

• Most types of travel USB wall chargers and travel power strips might also be useful when you get back home.