Be Ye Transformed!

If you've done any traveling abroad, you'll have noticed that things are different "over there."  Take language, for instance.  It's like the French have a different word for everything!  And what's with the Japanese and all of those crazy pictures?  And don't even get me started on the Russians, who use letters that look normal, but aren't and then confuse things further by throwing in random characters!  And then there's...but I digress.

One thing that's different is the electric grid.  Different countries developed different standards for their basic power needs.  The world is split up as follows:

You should notice two things immediately by looking at the above map.  The first is that the US and Europe are different colors.  That's your first clue that things aren't going to be good.  The second is that you don't want to be from Tasmania.  They're an island unto themselves.

So what do the different colors mean?  Different voltage and different frequencies of electricities.  North America is 120 volts at 60 Hertz (Hz).  Europe is generally 240 volts and 50 Hz.  Now I know what you're thinking:  "Hey Mr. Cheese Wiz, that's really interesting, but why do I care?"  Good question.

It's because many things that plug in in the US won't work in Europe.  Period.  It will fry.

And have you noticed lately how much stuff around your house plugs in?  That's right--just about all of it.  Which means?  Getting the picture??  You need different stuff!  Stuff like:  toasters, blenders, griddles, curling irons, coffee makers, rechargeable screwdrivers, tvs, cd players, the Wii, dvd players, fans, etc., etc. etc.  Can you see the $$ (or francs) starting to add up?


Or, and here's the exciting part, you can buy a plethora of transformers.  What does a transformer do?  It converts the voltage from 120-->240 and vice versa and also changes the frequency of the electricity.  And once the electrical signal is converted, your US-made appliances should work just fine.

     So on Saturday, we drove down to a store that specializes in non-US appliances and transformers and loaded up.  A 2000 watt (blender and waffle maker), a 1000 watt and a 500 watt (misc. stuff), and two 300 watts (tv, wii, dvd player).  So all of these things should now theoretically work.  Until the transformer blows.  And then, again in theory, the transformer should blow and protect your equipment.  In real life, I expect to be writing again in 6 months ranting about how the cheap transformer ruined the expensive whatever.

     There's some good news, though not without its own complications.  Many things we buy today actually come equipped to run both in Europe and the US.  They're dual voltage.  Things like computers, printers, your phone charger, handheld games like the DS, your iPhone/iPad all come with the ability to run on any system.  Except maybe Tasmania.  But there's a catch.  The plugs don't fit.  As you know, we have slim vertical plugs.  In Switzerland, they use two cylindrical posts.  (Plugs are completely non standard from country to country).  However,  there are such things as plug adaptors.  So all you have to do is pop one on the end of your standard US plug and voila, you're good to go.  We bought 23.  Why that many?  Because your lamps will generally plug and work fine, but you have to buy lightbulbs locally.

So I think we're all set.  Except for all of the things we have to buy when we get there.  Like a new tv, blow dryer, curling iron, dvd player, coffee maker, etc.  You get the picture.

It's truly shocking how crazy this is!

By the way, in case you missed the reference, Romans 12:2 "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."