Canada to Monaco power adapters - what electrical adapter is needed for Monaco?

Power Plug Adapters

Benefits of a power plug adapter

• Light and small.
• Cheap.
• Straightforward design makes the power adapter easy to use.
• Bringing a Type D plug adapter will be ideal for Monaco.

Disadvantages of a power plug adapter

• Only one plug adapter for each appliance - for every device or appliance you wish to bring you will also need to bring a separate adapter.
• Only alters the actual shape of the plug to fit in a Type D Monacan power outlet and not the actual voltage; if your appliance doesn't support a 230 volt power outlet and isn't dual voltage then you'll also need to pack a voltage converter.
• Some hotel rooms may only have one wall outlet available, so you will only be able to charge one appliance at a time.
• Should you plan on travelling to more than just Monaco then you may need to bring along multiple plug adapter types for other countries.
• If you need to power a USB device then you also still need to bring your domestic USB charger. [9] [AD]

Travel Power Strips

Benefits of a travel power strip

• Able to power more than one electronic appliance or device at once using just one power outlet.
• Some models of travel power strips offer voltage conversation for lower wattage electronics. So therefore if the device isn't dual voltage it should still be used with a Monacan power outlet by using just a travel power strip. This can make them a cheap lightweight substitute for a dedicated voltage converter.
• Most power strips also include a number of USB charge ports.
• Voltage from power grids in certain countries might be tempremental, a power surge can damage your electronics. Some models will include a surge protector, this will protect your device from being overpowered.
• It could potentially be of use domestically.
• US and Canadian power strips include Type A, B, D, E/F, G, H, I, L and N plug adapters so should work in Monaco.

Disadvantages of a travel power strip

• Unlike dedicated power converters, the conversion on travel power strips doesn't support high wattage appliances such as hair dryers or clothes irons.
• Because of the size of a travel power strip it might be unsuitable for hand luggage.
• A travel power strip might be excessive if you only bring a small number of appliances and devices which need charging. [12] [AD]

Universal Travel Power Adapters

Benefits of a universal travel power adapter

• Relatively easy to use.
• An all in one design. Both lightweight and small.
• There are some models that have a surge protector built in to prevent any device from being overloaded by unstable power grids in some countries.
• The pins retract so don't get caught against other items when packed in baggage.
• When you return home the universal travel power adapter should still be useful as a USB charger.
• There are some models that have USB charging ports.

Disadvantages of a universal travel power adapter

• Because universal travel adapters only work with fit A/B, E/F, G and I power outlets the pins don't change shape to fit in a Monacan power outlet. So you still need to plug a universal travel adapter into a separate power plug adapter if you want to use universal travel adapter to benefit from surge protection and powering multiple devices from a single power outlet.
• Can't be used with any high power electrical appliances such as clothes irons, hair straighteners, kettles, vacuum cleaners, hair dryers or curling irons.
• They lack an in-built power converter meaning they're not suitable for non-230 volt electrical devices in Monaco.
• Not completely universal; adapters might not cover some countries with less popular outlets.
• Pins, shutters and moving parts could be fragile on some models which might make them prone to jamming.
• Only provide power to one appliance. [13] [AD]

Travel USB Wall Chargers

Benefits of a travel USB wall charger

• Perfect when you only need to power devices which use USB such as cell phones, iPads or eReaders.
• You only have to pack one unit instead of bringing lots of domestic power chargers.
• Supplied with interchangeable adapter heads making them useful in a large number of different locations. The interchangeable adapter heads are usually lightweight and small making them easy to store.
• Models have a surge protector.
• The charger will still be of use domestically.

Disadvantages of a travel USB wall charger

• The interchangeable heads don't include one which is compatible with a Monacan power outlet - therefore you'll still need to bring a separate power adapter for Monaco.
• They only have USB outputs so you won't be able to charge electrical appliances, only USB powered ones. [2] [AD]

Plug Adapter Sets

Benefits of a plug adapter set

• An adapter set works out more cost-effective than purchasing multiple individual plug adapters for multiple trips.
• Ensures you are covered for every eventuality and not just a Monacan power outlet.
• Suitable if you are travelling to multiple countries.
• Includes Type A, B, C, D, E/F, G, H, I, J, L, M and N adapters so will operate in Monaco.

Disadvantages of a plug adapter set

• Will involve planning - prior to any trip you will need to choose which adapters to bring in advance, if you don't know every country you'll be visiting you'll need to bring every power adapter type with you.
• Lots individual adapters to bring.
• With just a single compatible power adapter working in Monaco the remaining power adapters will be redundant and using up space.
• Not all power adapter types are typically included with the set (especially the less common adapters) - so ensure that your set has one that is compatible in Monaco.
• Only changes the shape of the plug to fit in a Monacan power outlet but not the actual voltage. [14] [AD]

Voltage Converters

Benefits of a voltage converter

• A step down voltage converter lets you to use your non-230 volt appliance with a 230 volt power outlet in Monaco.
• A voltage converter has a surge protector which will protect your device from being overloaded.

Disadvantages of a voltage converter

• A power converter only converts the 230 volts from a Monacan power outlet and not the actual shape of the plug to slot in a Monacan power outlet, therefore you'll still be required to bring the right type of power adapter for Monaco.
• The size and weight of most models of voltage converters makes them too heavy for carrying in hand baggage.
• Redundant when get back from Monaco.
• Often better value and more practical to bring a dual voltage travel appliance than to buy a more expensive power converter just in order to bring your existing single voltage domestic appliance in Monaco.
• Canadians visiting Monaco will need one as the voltage from a Monacan power outlet is 230 volts. [15] [AD]

Do solar powered chargers work in Monaco?

The climate in Monaco could be suitable for a solar power bank but it could take time to recharge. The smaller surface area of the cells means a solar power bank will need to be left in powerful daylight for an extended period of time in order to provide enough power for a single charge cycle, and this might prove inconvenient to continually pack and unpack a solar power bank and wait whilst it recharges in a sunny area.

• The bigger solar panels used on a solar backpack will give the bag the ability to create more power within a shorter period of time.
• Phones that have been directly plugged into a USB charging port of a backpack will trickle charge the power during sunny periods in Monaco, but could be inconvenient to have it constantly connected to the bag during the day if it is to be needed frequently. A backback with solar cells is constantly exposed to daylight therefore could be topping up a power bank throughout the day, unlike a small solar power bank which requires unpacking facing the sunlight.
• A solar bag which is suitable for Monaco needs to have a solar cell efficiency of at least 22%, can generate a minimum of 6 watts of energy and be used with a 10,000mAH power bank or stronger.
• They are available in backpack, rucksack and laptop messenger styles making them perfect for work, domestic and travel use.
• The durable and flexible solar cells used in solar powered bags are made to survive scratching and bending, unlike normal rigid solar panels.  [10] [22] [23] [AD]

Sources

• International Electrotechnical Commission - World plugs by location (cited August 2014)
• Wikipedia - Mains electricity by country (cited July 2014)
• Index Mundi - Power outages in a typical month (cited May 2018, data collected between 2006 to 2017)
• Index Mundi - Access to electricity (cited May 2018, latest data collected 2010)
• WikiPedia - List of countries by average yearly temperature (cited May 2018, data averaged between 1961 to 1990)

What voltage is my device?

The best way to see if your appliance is dual voltage is to check for numbers printed on the existing power adapter, or on the unit itself, normally on the rear of the unit or near to where the power cord plugs into. This location will depend on the make or model of your appliance and could also be written in the instruction manual or on the box.

• Single voltage devices might say a specific number - such as 240V.
• Single voltage devices might also have a small voltage range (around 20 volts) with a dash to accomodate small voltage fluctuations - such as 220-240V.
• Dual voltage devices will typically say a large range separated with a slash - such as 110/240V.

How many devices will you be taking to Monaco?

• Try adding up how many items you intended on bringing with you to Monaco (such as tablets, laptops, cell phones, eReaders, hair dryers or clothes irons).
  • Remember to allow for more electrical devices at a later date. Do you intend on purchasing a new laptop computer soon?
  • There is an increasing amount of rechargeable electronics such as electric shavers that utilise a USB port as a power source. The if you buy a new device it might need a USB adapter so remember to ensure your travel adapter has enough spare ports to support these too.
• Are you bringing family to Monaco that will need to charge their iPads?

Do your devices only work with 230 volt power outlets?

• The voltage in Monaco is 230 volts, if you come from a country which isn't 230 volts and you're not using a dual voltage appliance (how to tell) then you will either need to use a bulky voltage converter or a power strip with a built in voltage converter.
• It could be more expensive buying a voltage converter instead of using a dual voltage travel appliance (for example a dual voltage hair dryer, clothes iron, curling iron or hair straighteners for Monaco) which is robustly designed for travel and often includes plug adapters.

How many Monacan power outlets are available?

• Accommodation might only offer a single wall outlet. This will be a problem if charging batteries of multiple devices such as tablets, phones or laptops overnight as you can only recharge a single device at a time then need to keep swapping after each device has charged.
• If you wish to charge more than one device simultaneously then look to packing a travel power strip or travel USB wall charger that can power multiple USB ports and power outlets. [12] [AD]

How much can you afford?

• A cheap power adapter which charges only one device in Monaco (providing that it is dual voltage or is compatible with 230 volts) however investing in a little more will allow you to power more than one device at once and you can use them in various countries.

Are you only bringing hand luggage?

• Due to the larger weight most models of power converters and travel power strips might be way too heavy and bulky for carrying in hand baggage, consider packing either a lightweight universal power adapter or USB wall charger. [13] [AD]

Do you still need use your charger when returning to Canada?

• Most travel USB wall chargers and travel power strips could also function when you return back to Canada (if they also include a domestic plug).