If you're traveling to South Africa, it's important to be prepared for the local electrical setup.
South Africa is located on the Southern tip of the continent of Africa.
South Africa is a country located on the Southern tip of the continent of Africa. To avoid any inconvenience, it's recommended that you bring your own travel adapter when visiting South Africa, as your home country's plug type might not fit into local outlets.
The country uses a 220/230V electrical supply, and the plug type used is the large, 15-amp type M.
South Africa uses a unique, three, larger, round pin type of adapter plug.
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We highly recommend bringing a travel adapter with you, especially if your devices use a different plug type, such as the flat pins used in Europe, North America, or the UK.
Additionally, it's important to check whether your devices are compatible with South Africa's voltage. Some electronics may need a voltage converter to work safely, as incompatible voltage can damage appliances.
If you are planning on travelling to South Africa from the US you will need to use a suitable power adapter for South Africa to fit a US plug into a South African power outlet. As the voltage is different in South Africa bring a power converter if your device isn't dual voltage and check that it will work with a 50hz power outlet.
American plugs won't fit in a South African power outlet therefore bring a power adapter for South Africa. The voltage which comes from a South African power outlet is 230 volts, however 120 volts is used in the US.
If your device can run on 230 volts or is dual voltage and the plug fits in a South African power outlet then you can use it in South Africa. If your device is 230 volts or is dual voltage but your plug won't fit in a South African power outlet you will need a suitable plug adapter for South Africa such a Type M power adapter.
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A plug adapter for South Africa (or power adapter) changes the shape of the plug on your device to fit into a plug outlet found in South Africa, but won't change the voltage from 230 volts to use with another voltage.
If your device is unable to run on 230 volts and isn't dual voltage you'll also need a power converter for South Africa to convert the voltage from 230 volts to the correct voltage for your device.
You will still need to pack a suitable plug adapter for South Africa if the power converter doesn't include the correct Type M power adapter.
Warning: If your device won't handle 230 volts used in South Africa you run a risk of damage to your device, an electrical fire hazard or a blown fuse.
Understanding Plug Types in South Africa
South Africans use four different standards of wall outlets (types M, C, F and N) and using a travel adapter like this will ensure that you are covered for type C. This page contains links to instructions telling you how to supply power to your devices when travelling to South Africa using the Type M, C, F or N 230 volt 50Hz plug outlets, a majority of South Africans will use the Type M power outlets.
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- Plug Type C - You can identify the power socket by the two holes adjacent to each other.
- Plug Type F - The sunken circular wall socket (also called the Schuko plug or type F power outlet) can be identified by the two circular holes 19 mm apart from each other where the two plug socket pins slide into and a pair of thin grounding clips at the top and bottom.
- Plug Type M - You can recognise this plug outlet by the three circular holes in a triangle shape.
- Type N is only found in Brazil and South Africa and is the most frequently used outlet type in South Africa. Luckily, it's compatible with Type C plugs that are common throughout Europe and are usually included in universal adapters like this one.
Adapters vs. Converters: What's the Difference?
Adapter plugs allow electrical connections up to 240 volts. An adapter plug does NOT change the current or voltage (this requires a converter) unless your appliance is dual voltage.
Plug adapters can only adapt the shape of a plug to fit into a 230 volt South African power outlet and can't convert to a higher voltage.
If your hair dryer, curling iron, electric razor is not dual voltage you will most likely need a converter to use your electric.
A step down power converter is needed if you are travelling from a country that uses 100-120 volts and your appliance or device isn't compatible with 230 volts.
Power converters are designed for simple electrical appliances which typically generate heat or use motors such as clothes irons, shavers or hair dryers.
Power converters are more suitable for travellers wishing to bring domestic appliances abroad such as hair dryers or flat irons.
The easiest way to see if your appliance is either single or dual voltage is to look for a sticker on the existing charger or on the appliance itself, typically on the rear or near to where the power cord plugs into.
The plug adapter or power converter that is best to use in South Africa depends on various requirements.
Dual Voltage and USB Charging
If you are traveling overseas with a Toshiba, HP, Lenovo, Asus, laptop or Apple device such as an iPad, chances are you won’t need a voltage converter. Most laptops are multi-voltage and will operate on voltages ranging from 100 to 240 volts.
Most cell phone battery rechargers should be multi-voltage, therefore will not require a converter. If the charger says 100-240 volts, 50-60 cycles then your charger in multi-voltage.
When travelling with more than just one device the best international travel adapter for South Africa is a multiple USB port charger which includes compatible plugs like a 4 port USB travel charger.
As these chargers come with interchangeable pins and can handle 100 volts - 240 volts it makes them ideal for over 100 countries around the world just by switching the supplied plugs over.
If your type of device is compatible with Fast Charge (please note not all USB devices can) then you will benefit from faster recharging times with one of these types of travel chargers, plus additional support for more power demanding devices like tablets.
This means you can recharge multiple devices at the same time without needing to pack multiple power adapters for your South African trip. By only bringing a single international travel charger will also keep the size and weight down, making it perfect to store in hand luggage.
Most travel USB chargers include 4 or more USB charger ports, meaning you should only need to bring one charger to charge all your devices.
All travel USB chargers will include interchangeable plug heads for various regions. This is suitable if travelling to different countries which are likely to use a different standard to South Africa.
Due to their flexible nature a travel USB charger takes the worry out of visiting any unknown destination as they are guaranteed to work almost anywhere on the planet.
The power grid in some countries can be unstable, a good travel USB charger allows for unexpected fluctuations and prevents damage to any devices attached to it.
Larger USB chargers should also incorporate power outlet strips to allow you to power multiple low powered domestic appliances such as laptops, but note these will be unsuitable for high wattage domestic such as hair dryers or clothes irons.
Some tablets and cellphones could pull more than the usual 500 milliamps produced from a normal 5 volt USB power adapter to charge or provide fast charge.
A 4 port USB travel charger is the most compact option for travellers from any country wanting to charge devices using USB, however for visitors also wishing to use their domestic plugs these power adapters provide larger but more versatile solutions.
All three power adapters offer surge protection which is necessary for travellers to counties with unreliable power supplies to prevent damage to any connected devices.
Power Strips and Surge Protection
NEW Standard PLUS South Africa Adapter Kit includes a powerstrip and a grounded South African adapter plug.
A powerstrip is a great alternative to taking along extra South Africa adapters on your trip. A grounded adaptor is necessary to plug the power strip into South Africa electrical wall sockets.
Dual voltage power strip is included in the Standard PLUS grounded adapter plug kit.
Power Strip has a US / North America power plug and requires a grounded adapter plug to be plugged in to wall outlets in foreign countries.
Travel power strip is dual voltage and has complete 3 line surge protection. Plug in your United States / North America appliance plugs into the three AC outlets.
Foreign electricity can have unexpected power surges and voltage spikes that can damage expensive electronics and appliances. If you are traveling with a laptop you will want to make a safe connection and surge protection is recommended.
When you get to destination country you can plug your travel power strip into the countries wall sockets with the grounded adapter plug included in the Standard Plus Kit.
Travel Power Surge Strip allows you to plug in three United States devices and two USB ports simultaneously. That means you can power your laptop while charging your cell phone and camera battery pack.
Additionally the power strip has two 5V DC USB outlets with auto cut off auto reset overload protection so you can charge your cell ipad via the USB port and safe the AC outlets for other electronics.
Travel Dual Voltage Power Strip with Surge Protection has a North America US plug, however you can plug it into any wall outlet world wide with the correct earthed adapter.
The Standard Plus kit not only includes the power strip but also the grounded adapter needed to plug your power strip into foreign countries wall sockets.
Travel power strip with surge protection is dual voltage and will work world wide. However, this power strip DOES NOT convert voltage so your appliance will need to be dual voltage or a converter is required.
Compact design and space-saving cord management system make it easy to take with you on all your trips. Use the Power Surge Strip to keep electronic devices charged and ready to go at all times.
**IMPORTANT: The Travel Power Strip DOES NOT convert voltage. A grounded United States plug has two flat blades and one round pin. Also called an Earthed plug.
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