French Voltages similar to UK?

Noto

Noto

Noto

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Joined
1 Dec 2002
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1,884
Hi there, im going to France tomorrow and from what i can tell. They use the exact same power voltages and current as us in the UK.?!??

Can anyone confirm?


I know i have to take a plug converter but everything should be fine right?
 
Yeah, it's fine, I've used convertors in France, Austria and Finland with no bother for laptops and phones. I don't know about any equipment that might be more sensitive to varying voltages but it shouldn't be an issue.
 
Tomsk said:
The whole of the EU (theoretically) should be on 220V 50Hz
Click to expand...

Theoretically it's 230v iirc*, although down here it seems to be anything up to 243v according to my voltmeter / plug in power monitor ;)

But yes, at most all that is generally needed is a simple physical adaptor due to differences in the plugs/sockets used :)


*Chosen as it was half way between the voltages used in the various countries (some were 220, some 240 like us, and 230 was within a safe range either way).
 
Werewolf said:
Theoretically it's 230v iirc*, although down here it seems to be anything up to 243v according to my voltmeter / plug in power monitor ;)

But yes, at most all that is generally needed is a simple physical adaptor due to differences in the plugs/sockets used :)


*Chosen as it was half way between the voltages used in the various countries (some were 220, some 240 like us, and 230 was within a safe range either way).
Click to expand...


Yep, you're right - 230V. IIRC the French used to be 220V.
 
I think according to eu law it should be 230v 50hz +/- around 5% which means the uk is legal at 240, and france legal at 220.
 
beware of french electrics though. They don't seem to have any laws or common sense when it comes to electrical safety from what I've seen. I have a plug in adapter that tells you if the wires are reversed or missing. Its proved a godsend when staying on "rustic" campsites
 
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