Is this adapter better for travel or this other one? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: FoxAdriano
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 03, 2025, 05:18:34 am
content: Hi, since I haven't bought anything yet, I'd like to ask you a question.I will only use the adapter when I travel. In your opinion, is it better to buy a 120W universal travel adapter with built-in USB ports and all the plugs in the world or buy an AC adapter like the one in photo 1 (1-2 euros) that covers the country I'm going to every time I visit a different country and then plug in an adapter like the one in photo 2? The universal adapter with USB ports is convenient, but there is the problem that it needs to be plugged into a wall outlet maybe about 4-5 meters from the bed where you usually rest while charging. Instead, with the second option of the AC adapter you can use an extension cord that reaches the bed and insert this adapter photo 2. Which of the 2 options would be better for you when traveling?Thanks.

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 03, 2025, 05:32:02 am
content: Phone chargers and laptop power bricks are universal voltage, so when I travel I just take the same power adapters/chargers that I use at home. All I have ever needed are basic plug adapters for the country I am visiting, which are cheap, small and lightweight, similar to the ones in your first photo.I've never had a problem of needing extension cords or anything bulky like that.

author: brucehoult
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 03, 2025, 07:22:08 am
content: Quote from: IanB on May 03, 2025, 05:32:02 amAlso also take a cheap lightweight (aren't they all now?) 4 or 6 outlet power strip with my home country sockets, so I only need one plug adaptor for multiple devices. Also handy in airports etc if all available outlets are in use -- I've never had anyone refuse an offer to share when I have a power strip.

author: FoxAdriano
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 03, 2025, 08:04:24 am
content: brucehoult,my english is not good and I don't know if I understand well. Do you mean it? Anyway I forgot to tell you I have to charge in short time even the batteries of my camera and light.

author: brucehoult
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 03, 2025, 08:55:23 am
content: One of these.....

author: Someone
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 03, 2025, 09:07:48 am
content: Quote from: brucehoult on May 03, 2025, 08:55:23 amAlso available with inlet sockets!https://www.wagneronline.com.au/nla-5-way-power-board-iec-input-jackson/pt7779-14444/9845/pd/

author: brucehoult
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 03, 2025, 10:42:44 am
content: IEC input is handy, but carrying several power cords for NZ/AUS, NA, EU, UK is probably more bulk and weight than carrying one cord and a multi-adaptor or several specialised adaptors. Adaptors between any two of AUS, US, and EU can be very small and light if you don't need an earth pin.

author: FoxAdriano
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 03, 2025, 12:44:32 pm
content: Thanks for your suggestions.

author: themadhippy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 03, 2025, 01:13:40 pm
content: Wonder its possible to make a modern fitall plug (https://flameport.com/electric_museum/plugs_other_shenanigans/fitall_plug.cs4) designed to fit the most worlds most commonly found sockets

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 03, 2025, 01:28:34 pm
content: Quote from: brucehoult on May 03, 2025, 07:22:08 amSame here. I actually have a modified one with an IEC male plug. Even if I don't have the right IEC cable for a country in my collection, it is easy to find one locally.

author: FoxAdriano
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 03, 2025, 02:31:00 pm
content: Since I will buy a charger like this: 268 W Desktop GaN Charger, I do not want to bring my Laptop charger with me, but I want to use the power supply for all my devices.So I should buy a suitable cable. Do you think this is good? It costs 15.74 euros.Is it able to charge the battery of my Zenbook laptop.Conductor: 24 AWG.Cable diameter: 4 mm.Maximum current support: 3A;Voltage: 12 V.Maximum wattage: 65 W.I read this:sourcing map USB C to DC PD Fast Charging Cable, 3.5mm x 1.35mm, 65W/12V DC, 3A Jack Adapter Converter Adapter for Router, Camera, TV Box, Desk Lamp.EDIT:The original charger has these specs: Asus Zenbook UX331FN Series 19V 3.42A 65W 4.0 x 1.35mmDoes it still charge if I put a 12V cable in it?

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 03, 2025, 06:57:33 pm
content: Quote from: FoxAdriano on May 03, 2025, 02:31:00 pmWhy will you buy such a charger? Why won't you take the laptop charger with you?The way you charge devices when travelling isexactly the sameas the way you charge them when at home. That way you have a known, working solution that you can trust and you can rely on. The last thing you want when travelling is to have charging issues or problems to sort out.QuoteNothing that you write makes any sense.Your existing laptop charger looks like a standard mains-powered 19 V charger with a barrel plug. Nothing about that says you can use a 12 V cable, and why would you even try? Use the charger that came with the laptop, as recommended by the user guide.Some laptops support USB-C charging, but it looks like the UX331 does not. So you have to use the supplied charger to power it.In short, do not buy special new things to travel with that are different from what you use at home. You will only end up with problems. Whatever charging setup you use at home, that works, that is reliable, that you trust, that is what you should travel with.

author: FoxAdriano
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 03, 2025, 07:18:07 pm
content: I think you're right, however 2 hours ago I bought this and with this I would like to charge most of the batteries.https://www.amazon.it/dp/B0DK4Y11RG?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_titleMaybe I'm regretting what I'm doing, but I'm tired of carrying so many chargers. I travel alone and my trips are hard and complicated with 3 suitcases. I think that with this adapter from the link and a couple of other chargers I can be more relaxed on my trips.I'll have a little less bulk.Now I'm charging the battery of my Osmo Pocket 3 via the PC USB. When I'm out of use a simple adapter that takes too long to charge the batteries of the Osmo Pocket 3. Then I also have a LED lamp with a very powerful internal battery and I don't have a charger.I believe, I hope that the adapter from the link can help me carry less weight.As for the cable, I could also use this one which is a better solution than the other:https://www.amazon.it/Adattatore-maschio-femmina-adattatore-realizzato/dp/B0CR8WDKL9?__mk_it_IT=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&crid=22STLBQ2DKLW6&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.zPjBtwowCiqWN9812vmJ0K3jn2oUzRlEzSBWJIq49D6zbe1V_dKXDBA6dkycvz4cQUddX6Aue4u54fcJofErh_HjpSM-5jD8YHO1njOnl6nDUVMDoJBtFpAZyzpQoTOk8Ul4z8ny0EWUPYDb_eX0VhfbaK8T8dsIBK4gQhzET2mMIuCD8ERkhs1kL6BqMA6keHvsDk5jd45nN8_g0zDH8JkvdKRFvIWyqq-U1fwWPJXTTB1qNTcbNWlzRD9DfpyfJOYp7p-wKDQXsogeHKZphuASPRa9P_ZB2QiqJ_rdS2w.kVbO9GW0jLG-0fvDVxyLUZ_AcdfjdfwkPqPnNrZAtw4&dib_tag=se&keywords=Cavo%2Badattatore%2Balimentazione%2BDC%2B12V%2B4.0%2Bx%2B1.35mm%2Ba%2BUSB%2BC&qid=1746293326&s=electronics&sprefix=cavo%2Badattatore%2Balimentazione%2Bdc%2B12v%2B4.0%2Bx%2B1.35mm%2Ba%2Busb%2Bc%2Celectronics%2C168&sr=1-1&th=1

author: FoxAdriano
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 03, 2025, 08:04:41 pm
content: I think you're right, however 2 hours ago I bought this and with this I would like to charge most of the batteries.https://www.amazon.it/dp/B0DK4Y11RG?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_titleMaybe I'm regretting what I'm doing, but I'm tired of carrying so many chargers. I travel alone and my trips are hard and complicated with 3 suitcases. I think that with this adapter from the link and a couple of other chargers I can be more relaxed on my trips.I'll have a little less bulk.Now I'm charging the battery of my Osmo Pocket 3 via the PC USB. When I'm out of use a simple adapter that takes too long to charge the batteries of the Osmo Pocket 3. Then I also have a LED lamp with a very powerful internal battery and I don't have a charger.I believe, I hope that the adapter from the link can help me carry less weight.As for the cable, I could also use this one which is a better solution than the other:https://www.amazon.it/Adattatore-maschio-femmina-adattatore-realizzato/dp/B0CR8WDKL9?__mk_it_IT=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&crid=22STLBQ2DKLW6&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.zPjBtwowCiqWN9812vmJ0K3jn2oUzRlEzSBWJIq49D6zbe1V_dKXDBA6dkycvz4cQUddX6Aue4u54fcJofErh_HjpSM-5jD8YHO1njOnl6nDUVMDoJBtFpAZyzpQoTOk8Ul4z8ny0EWUPYDb_eX0VhfbaK8T8dsIBK4gQhzET2mMIuCD8ERkhs1kL6BqMA6keHvsDk5jd45nN8_g0zDH8JkvdKRFvIWyqq-U1fwWPJXTTB1qNTcbNWlzRD9DfpyfJOYp7p-wKDQXsogeHKZphuASPRa9P_ZB2QiqJ_rdS2w.kVbO9GW0jLG-0fvDVxyLUZ_AcdfjdfwkPqPnNrZAtw4&dib_tag=se&keywords=Cavo%2Badattatore%2Balimentazione%2BDC%2B12V%2B4.0%2Bx%2B1.35mm%2Ba%2BUSB%2BC&qid=1746293326&s=electronics&sprefix=cavo%2Badattatore%2Balimentazione%2Bdc%2B12v%2B4.0%2Bx%2B1.35mm%2Ba%2Busb%2Bc%2Celectronics%2C168&sr=1-1&th=1]https://www.amazon.it/Adattatore-maschio-femmina-adattatore-realizzato/dp/B0CR8WDKL9?__mk_it_IT=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&crid=22STLBQ2DKLW6&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.zPjBtwowCiqWN9812vmJ0K3jn2oUzRlEzSBWJIq49D6zbe1V_dKXDBA6dkycvz4cQUddX6Aue4u54fcJofErh_HjpSM-5jD8YHO1njOnl6nDUVMDoJBtFpAZyzpQoTOk8Ul4z8ny0EWUPYDb_eX0VhfbaK8T8dsIBK4gQhzET2mMIuCD8ERkhs1kL6BqMA6keHvsDk5jd45nN8_g0zDH8JkvdKRFvIWyqq-U1fwWPJXTTB1qNTcbNWlzRD9DfpyfJOYp7p-wKDQXsogeHKZphuASPRa9P_ZB2QiqJ_rdS2w.kVbO9GW0jLG-0fvDVxyLUZ_AcdfjdfwkPqPnNrZAtw4&dib_tag=se&keywords=Cavo%2Badattatore%2Balimentazione%2BDC%2B12V%2B4.0%2Bx%2B1.35mm%2Ba%2BUSB%2BC&qid=1746293326&s=electronics&sprefix=cavo%2Badattatore%2Balimentazione%2Bdc%2B12v%2B4.0%2Bx%2B1.35mm%2Ba%2Busb%2Bc%2Celectronics%2C168&sr=1-1&th=1]https://www.amazon.it/Adattatore-maschio-femmina-adattatore-realizzato/dp/B0CR8WDKL9?__mk_it_IT=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&crid=22STLBQ2DKLW6&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.zPjBtwowCiqWN9812vmJ0K3jn2oUzRlEzSBWJIq49D6zbe1V_dKXDBA6dkycvz4cQUddX6Aue4u54fcJofErh_HjpSM-5jD8YHO1njOnl6nDUVMDoJBtFpAZyzpQoTOk8Ul4z8ny0EWUPYDb_eX0VhfbaK8T8dsIBK4gQhzET2mMIuCD8ERkhs1kL6BqMA6keHvsDk5jd45nN8_g0zDH8JkvdKRFvIWyqq-U1fwWPJXTTB1qNTcbNWlzRD9DfpyfJOYp7p-wKDQXsogeHKZphuASPRa9P_ZB2QiqJ_rdS2w.kVbO9GW0jLG-0fvDVxyLUZ_AcdfjdfwkPqPnNrZAtw4&dib_tag=se&keywords=Cavo%2Badattatore%2Balimentazione%2BDC%2B12V%2B4.0%2Bx%2B1.35mm%2Ba%2BUSB%2BC&qid=1746293326&s=electronics&sprefix=cavo%2Badattatore%2Balimentazione%2Bdc%2B12v%2B4.0%2Bx%2B1.35mm%2Ba%2Busb%2Bc%2Celectronics%2C168&sr=1-1&th=1I can't figure out if this is the right one. The connector must be DC4.0 x 1.35 mm.Unfortunately there are no other cables. Maybe this is the right one:https://it.aliexpress.com/item/1005005419765793.html?spm=a2g0o.detail.pcDetailTopMoreOtherSeller.7.11b174a6dvcprw&gps-id=pcDetailTopMoreOtherSeller&scm=1007.40196.436742.0&scm_id=1007.40196.436742.0&scm-url=1007.40196.436742.0&pvid=6f5685df-15fd-4eca-8274-9e4d638fdd24&_t=gps-id:pcDetailTopMoreOtherSeller,scm-url:1007.40196.436742.0,pvid:6f5685df-15fd-4eca-8274-9e4d638fdd24,tpp_buckets:668%232846%238113%231998&pdp_ext_f=%7B%22order%22%3A%2217%22%2C%22eval%22%3A%221%22%2C%22sceneId%22%3A%2230050%22%7D&pdp_npi=4%40dis%21EUR%215.32%215.32%21%21%215.87%215.87%21%40211b813f17462937278854367e1d64%2112000032988927908%21rec%21IT%21125415605%21XZ&utparam-url=scene%3ApcDetailTopMoreOtherSeller%7Cquery_from%3A]https://it.aliexpress.com/item/1005005419765793.html?spm=a2g0o.detail.pcDetailTopMoreOtherSeller.7.11b174a6dvcprw&gps-id=pcDetailTopMoreOtherSeller&scm=1007.40196.436742.0&scm_id=1007.40196.436742.0&scm-url=1007.40196.436742.0&pvid=6f5685df-15fd-4eca-8274-9e4d638fdd24&_t=gps-id:pcDetailTopMoreOtherSeller,scm-url:1007.40196.436742.0,pvid:6f5685df-15fd-4eca-8274-9e4d638fdd24,tpp_buckets:668%232846%238113%231998&pdp_ext_f=%7B%22order%22%3A%2217%22%2C%22eval%22%3A%221%22%2C%22sceneId%22%3A%2230050%22%7D&pdp_npi=4%40dis%21EUR%215.32%215.32%21%21%215.87%215.87%21%40211b813f17462937278854367e1d64%2112000032988927908%21rec%21IT%21125415605%21XZ&utparam-url=scene%3ApcDetailTopMoreOtherSeller%7Cquery_from%3AAnyway 2 hours ago I bought this charger:https://www.amazon.it/dp/B0DK4Y11RG?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title]https://www.amazon.it/dp/B0DK4Y11RG?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_titleI fear that I am spending money uselessly. I hope that at least with this new charger I can quickly charge the battery of Osmo Pocket 3 (small camera) and the Amaran Ace 25x LED lamp. I am now charging the Pocket 3 with the USB port of the PC.But if you think you made a bad purchase, maybe I still have time to send it back.

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 03, 2025, 08:32:37 pm
content: I don't know how to answer this. When I travel, I pack the laptop charger, some small USB power cubes to charge USB devices like phone or headphones, and one or two plug adapters. The USB cubes are pocket sized and easy to use in airport lounges, trains, planes and so forth, the plug adapters are also very compact, and the laptop power brick is the biggest thing I travel with, but it still fits comfortably in the laptop bag or hand luggage. Anything like camera, phone, headphones etc. should charge easily from a small USB power cube.