Voltage

If you are going to use electrical appliances whilst on exchange, you need to know what type of electrical voltage is used in the country where you will be staying and what type of adapter or plug is needed to plug your appliances into the outlet.

Electrical appliances in Australia work on 240 volts while those made for the most of North and South America, the Caribbean and Japan work at 115 volts. A lot of countries in Europe and other parts of the world have 220-240 volt electrical outlets. The exceptions to this rule are Laptops and PC's which generally run on 110 and 240 volts.

You can buy voltage converters; however, there are different types of converters for different types of appliances. If you do not have the right converter you run the risk of damaging your electrical appliances.  If you must take electrical appliances with you overseas, you will also need to carry adapter plugs with you to fit the outlets in the countries you are visiting. We suggest that you leave all electrical appliances at home.

If you simply can not live without certain electrical appliances such as hair dryers, electric razors etc, you might want to consider purchasing those appliances in your host country. Battery operated appliances are another option, but remember that you may be constantly replacing the batteries.

You should also check your host institutions website as they may be able to provide you with additional information.