Electricity in the EU (and thus Italy) exits the wall socket at 220V cycling at 50 Hz. Stateside, it exits the wall at 110V at 60 Hz. Also, the sockets are different. You need a PLUG ADAPTER, which is an interface between our flat-pronged plug and Italy’s two (or three) round prong socket, letting you plug into the wall but this does not convert energy into the American 110V. If your appliance is designed to run only on 110-120V, then you will see smoke and perhaps a bit of fire. This is not very pleasant. You will thus also need a step-down power converter or transformer to safely step the voltage DOWN from 220V to 110V. You could get along with a plug converter for most of today’s small electrical devices designed to run on dual voltages (laptops, most new battery chargers and small electrical goods designed for world travel). Check the device and/or power brick for electrical input specifications:
The device labeled as above only needs a plug adapter to work in Italy, since it can use any voltage between 100 and 240, as long as its AC voltage alternating at 50 or 60 hertz. This is a ”universal power supply” and such a battery charger can be used throughout Europe with the right plug adapter.
Hair driers and curling irons are the horrors as they cannot be used in dual voltage situations without voltage conversion. In addition, they use high voltage and current (thus, higher power). You will need a large power converted or power transformer to convert Italian higher voltage to our lower voltage. Or you will end up really frying your hair. Buy one for a few euros in any European airport or metro. If you buy a power converter, be sure its power raring meets or exceeds the power rating of the single device you use with it. This information is on the body of the device nearest the power cord.
Power Sockets and Plug converters for Italian electricity -
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Here is an Italian power outlet of the type you might find in a kitchen. On the left is a typical power socket, in the middle is a Schuko Grounded socket for large appliances. On the right is a power switch. An adapter plug will fit into the two outer holes of either socket. |
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Here is a normal Italian power socket. To access it with an adapter that connects to a typical American power plug, you’ll need an adapter like the one shown below. |
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Have many chargers? Need more outlets than the common hotel room has available? A simple plug expander might do the trick. You can buy these in Italy at any hardware store for a few Euros. |
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This plug adapter is all you need to convert the US rectangular pronged plug to the round prong Italian power plug used in most Italian homes and hotels. This adapter is ungrounded, which is why it does not have a third, center prong. This is fine for devices which are insulated (having a plastic body, for instance). Hotels usually have their own hair dryers so you need not worry too much unless you are headed to the countryside. |
