Charging Battery for 10D in Europe

[mikehsia]

Hi, I'm traveling to Europe within the next few days and I had a question about charging the battery over there. Some of the Converter/Adapter sets say not to charge batteries on them...any suggestions on what I should do? or which ones I should purchase?

thanks

Mike

[Jesper]

Hi, I'm traveling to Europe within the next few days and I had a question about charging the battery over there. Some of the Converter/Adapter sets say not to charge batteries on them...any suggestions on what I should do? or which ones I should purchase?

thanks

Mike
The charger for the batter of your 10D is suited for 110-240V, 50/60Hz (look at the back of it). That means you can just plug it in in Europe, where we have 220V and 50Hz (instead of 110V and 60Hz), you don't need a voltage converter - just an adapter plug. An adapter plug doesn't contain any electronics or whatever, you only need it because our plugs have a different shape.

[karusel]

There are jack-adapters that enable you to use your jack probably all over the world. As far as I know all Europe uses one type of jack, ecxept Britain uses a differend one.

[Canuck]

I got one of those 220V to 110V convertors and it is the way I have charged up the BP-511s in Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and England. Get one, they are about $20 and make sure it has the 2 prong German plug and the 3 pin 220V like you see on dryers in the US to cover you here in the UK. That will cover you for it all, I do believe.

[karusel]

Why would one need a voltage converter when the charger is compatible with both 220/110?

[Canuck]

Why would one need a voltage converter when the charger is compatible with both 220/110?

To match the plug on the charger lead from the socket you would nomally plug into the mains in the US.

[Jesper]

Why would one need a voltage converter when the charger is compatible with both 220/110?

To match the plug on the charger lead from the socket you would nomally plug into the mains in the US.
Yes but you just need a plug, not a voltage converter to convert from 220 to 110V, because the charger can handle 220V already. An adapter plug is probably much cheaper than a voltage converter.

[JoeTampa]

I just returned from England. The others are correct - you merely need a plug converter to allow you to plug the charger into the different wall socket they use there. I bought a converter set at Brookstone for (I think) $20 or so that works all over the world.

Now as for voltage, my laptop, Canon charger, and cell phone charger all work on 110/240V. So what I did was to bring a power strip and the plug adapter. Plugged the adapter into the wall, the power strip into the adapter, and the devices into the strip. Worked like a charm.

What did NOT use 240V was my studio lights and the charger for the battery pack for said lights... So check the voltages on ALL your gear before you leave. A voltage converter for my battery charger cost 25 pounds in London, which means I paid $40 or so with the exchange rate. Ouch! Also, I did not buy one that would handle the studio light as I did not know how many watts were required (called the manufacturer on my return - 100W). So check the voltage/wattage requirements BEFORE you go.