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Traveling overseas -- battery charger question

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sirhawkeye64

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When traveling overseas to countries with 240V outlets, do I need to buy a transformer of some sort to be able to charge my camera battery using the MH-25a charger or can the charger adapt to the different voltages automatically?

I already have the needed adapters to convert from the US plug to a European style plug so conversion is not a problem ,I'm just worried about damaging the charger or the battery. I know laptops and other devices usually have transformers built into their power supplies.

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Last edited:
sirhawkeye64 said:
When traveling overseas to countries with 240V outlets, do I need to buy a transformer of some sort to be able to charge my camera battery using the MH-25a charger or can the charger adapt to the different voltages automatically?

I already have the needed adapters to convert from the US plug to a European style plug so conversion is not a problem ,I'm just worried about damaging the charger or the battery. I know laptops and other devices usually have transformers built into their power supplies.
Click to expand...
I’ll bet this applies to MH-25a as well..

https://www.nikonimgsupport.com/ni/NI_article?articleNo=000001046&configured=1&lang=en_US
 
Last edited:
It's fine with just the plug adapter. You can read the label on the back. It says 100-240V, 50-60Hz. No added transformer needed.
 
sirhawkeye64 said:
When traveling overseas to countries with 240V outlets, do I need to buy a transformer of some sort to be able to charge my camera battery using the MH-25a charger or can the charger adapt to the different voltages automatically?

I already have the needed adapters to convert from the US plug to a European style plug so conversion is not a problem ,I'm just worried about damaging the charger or the battery. I know laptops and other devices usually have transformers built into their power supplies.
Click to expand...
On the back of the charger it says input 100-240 V. So it will adjust automatically.
 
It is rare these days to find any kind of device, be it a phone, camera, electric razor, or else. to NOT automatically adjust to different voltages and power net frequencies. Not an issue anymore.
 
If it's the charger sold in Europe the cable can be removed and you can swap in an EU cable. Last time I looked at amazon.com they had the figure 8 to EU C plug cables.

Not a huge issue but it tends to fit better than an adapter.
 
The MH-25/25a chargers are dual range from 110 to 240 volts. I have plugged them into 220V outlets without issues. You just need the right adapter or cable.
 
lokatz said:
It is rare these days to find any kind of device, be it a phone, camera, electric razor, or else. to NOT automatically adjust to different voltages and power net frequencies. Not an issue anymore.
Click to expand...
Unfortunately, my current (pre-2016) electric toothbrush charger is NOT dual sourced. Though newer electric toothbrushes may now have that ability.
 
TomS53 said:
lokatz said:
It is rare these days to find any kind of device, be it a phone, camera, electric razor, or else. to NOT automatically adjust to different voltages and power net frequencies. Not an issue anymore.
Click to expand...
Unfortunately, my current (pre-2016) electric toothbrush charger is NOT dual sourced. Though newer electric toothbrushes may now have that ability.
Click to expand...
Really surprising to me. Pretty much all electronics I have purchased in the last 10 year, probably more like 20 years, are dual range.
 
j_photo said:
It's fine with just the plug adapter. You can read the label on the back. It says 100-240V, 50-60Hz. No added transformer needed.
Click to expand...
OK thanks. I didn't have mine handy to look at at the moment, so I figured I'd just ask.

And I guess I do remember reading (now that I think of it) in the manual it says the charger itself is the same, but the plug end may be different depending on the region the camera was destined for (NA, Europe, etc).

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NOTE: If I don't reply to a direct comment in the forums, it's likely I unsubscribed from the thread/article..
 
Last edited:
I use euro style/plug USB charger to charge phones, tablets and Z50 on last trip.

You can get one off Amazon or prob. from B&H
 
m1964 said:
I use euro style/plug USB charger to charge phones, tablets and Z50 on last trip.

You can get one off Amazon or prob. from B&H
Click to expand...
What do you consider 'euro style'? Power plugs are different, sometimes WAY different, between UK, Germany, Switzerland, ...
 
lokatz said:
m1964 said:
I use euro style/plug USB charger to charge phones, tablets and Z50 on last trip.

You can get one off Amazon or prob. from B&H
Click to expand...
What do you consider 'euro style'? Power plugs are different, sometimes WAY different, between UK, Germany, Switzerland, ...
Click to expand...
Once I was in a hotel in Cape Town, South Africa, and in the room they had these outlets. I would assume "Euro style" are the round ones with a cavity, i.e. 2nd and 3rd from the left. The left-most one is for the UK. The right-most two with a switch are for South Africa.

Missing is the Australia/New Zealand style outlet. I find out that in Argentina, they also use that type of plugs: two flat blades but at an angle with each other.



4d248163680149d0bf4c21ef45bd0258.jpg
 
lokatz said:
It is rare these days to find any kind of device, be it a phone, camera, electric razor, or else. to NOT automatically adjust to different voltages and power net frequencies. Not an issue anymore.
Click to expand...
Ya.

Strangely, my Oral-B electric toothbrush’s charger is 110v only. I’ve fried a charger for it … and they are not easy to find in the USA.
 
lokatz said:
m1964 said:
I use euro style/plug USB charger to charge phones, tablets and Z50 on last trip.

You can get one off Amazon or prob. from B&H
Click to expand...
What do you consider 'euro style'? Power plugs are different, sometimes WAY different, between UK, Germany, Switzerland, ...
Click to expand...
If you'd like to humor yourself, take a look at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AC_power_plugs_and_sockets.

I've traveled to more than 60 countries and by now have a respectable collection of adapters. Went to Switzerland two weeks ago and still found I needed a new one... ;-) (I've been before, but apparently stayed at hotels that 'adapted well'.)
 
Last edited:
lokatz said:
lokatz said:
m1964 said:
I use euro style/plug USB charger to charge phones, tablets and Z50 on last trip.

You can get one off Amazon or prob. from B&H
Click to expand...
What do you consider 'euro style'? Power plugs are different, sometimes WAY different, between UK, Germany, Switzerland, ...
Click to expand...
If you'd like to humor yourself, take a look at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AC_power_plugs_and_sockets.

I've traveled to more than 60 countries and by now have a respectable collection of adapters. Went to Switzerland two weeks ago and still found I needed a new one... ;-) (I've been before, but apparently stayed at hotels that 'adapted well'.)
Click to expand...
Oh yes, Swiss plugs are a unique challenge: pretty standard South European narrow pins, but that recessed stretched hexagon socket stops pretty much anything that isn't designed specially for it. Luckily a Swiss adapter works well enough in many other mainland European countries, even though their plugs don't fit most Swiss sockets, that keeping a UK-Swiss adapter in my travel bag covers me quite well.
 
mgreene33 said:
I purchased this a few months ago to use for a trip to Spain and it worked great for all my electronics and chargers, including the MH-25a.

SOKOO 230-Watt Step Down 100-220V to 110V Voltage Converter
Click to expand...
Per Z7 Reference Manual, as well as my older D7200 Manual, Nikon, in the 'For Your Safety' section, advises NOT to use voltage converter to charge the battery. And since you don't need the converter, why take the chance! Stay Safe!
 
Last edited:
sirhawkeye64 said:
When traveling overseas to countries with 240V outlets, do I need to buy a transformer of some sort to be able to charge my camera battery using the MH-25a charger or can the charger adapt to the different voltages automatically?

I already have the needed adapters to convert from the US plug to a European style plug so conversion is not a problem ,I'm just worried about damaging the charger or the battery. I know laptops and other devices usually have transformers built into their power supplies.
Click to expand...
Thank you to everyone who responded. It sounds like it should be fine as I think most electronics these days can support 110-240V inputs and perform the conversion automatically (I would just have to find a different tip for the specific outlet I'm using).

Mfrs in general probably figured this would be better than risking people frying their electronics because it wasn't designed for a specific system, and it's probably cheaper for them anyway because they can have one design that works with regions' power systems.
 
shuncheung said:
lokatz said:
m1964 said:
I use euro style/plug USB charger to charge phones, tablets and Z50 on last trip.

You can get one off Amazon or prob. from B&H
Click to expand...
What do you consider 'euro style'? Power plugs are different, sometimes WAY different, between UK, Germany, Switzerland, ...
Click to expand...
Once I was in a hotel in Cape Town, South Africa, and in the room they had these outlets. I would assume "Euro style" are the round ones with a cavity, i.e. 2nd and 3rd from the left. The left-most one is for the UK. The right-most two with a switch are for South Africa.

Missing is the Australia/New Zealand style outlet. I find out that in Argentina, they also use that type of plugs: two flat blades but at an angle with each other.

4d248163680149d0bf4c21ef45bd0258.jpg
Click to expand...
Luckily after a few trips to Europe, I just learned my lesson and bought a universal adapter kit with some 5-6 different tips for various European style plus -- although they are only adapters -- they don't transform power.

(I just remember having to buy an adapter in another country and was forced to pay about $80 for an adapter, when I could have bought a kit at home for about $50 or less, so I learned my lesson there.)

--
NOTE: If I don't reply to a direct comment in the forums, it's likely I unsubscribed from the thread/article..
 
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