I first started traveling internationally on business as a young engineer in the mid-1980s. At that time, I was giving training courses on digital logic simulation. In addition to various European and Scandinavian countries (France, Germany, Italy, and Sweden), I also visited America, Korea, Japan, and Taiwan.
As an aside, these days when I’m giving a guest lecture at a university—like the talk I gave about six weeks ago at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Trondheim, Norway (see All Change!)—I always tell the students to practice their communication skills. I have friends who are awesome engineers but who never get to go anywhere because they aren’t comfortable writing papers, creating presentations, and talking to people. By comparison, I’ve travelled the world with someone else paying the bills, which really is the best way to do things in my humble opinion, but we digress…
When I first started my travels, I didn’t need an international adapter (power plug) because I didn’t have anything I needed to power. Laptop computer? Don’t make me laugh! You have to remember that the first commercially successful “portable” computer, the Osborne 1, which was released in 1981, weighed in at 24.5 lb (11.1 kg). About the size and weight of a sewing machine and described as being “a cross between a World War II field radio and a shrunken instrument panel of a DC-3,” the Osborne 1 was used primarily to run software like word processors and spreadsheets, assuming you could work on its tiny 5-inch (13 cm) display screen.
Things weren’t much better by the mid-1980s, when machines like the IBM Portable Personal Computer 5155 model 68 made their appearance. Weighing in at a ligament-straining 30 lb (13.6 kg), this little scamp cost an eye-watering $4,225 in 1984 (equivalent to ~$11,000 in 2021) but, once again, we digress.
By around 1995, the company with which I was working did provide me with a laptop computer for use while travelling. In turn, this meant I needed an international adapter. At that time, all I required was something that would let me power my computer. Having a USB port on the adapter wasn’t an option because USB wasn’t actually introduced until 1996.
Since that time, my need for power has grown, as a result of which I’ve ended up procuring some mind-boggling adapters. Some were reminiscent of those puzzle boxes where you are obliged to move various parts in a complicated sequence in order to achieve the prize (powering your computer, in this case). I recall one device that bore many similarities to a Rubik’s Cube, the main resemblance being that—like a Rubik’s Cube—I never managed to solve it.
I remember when I first saw an international power adapter that also included a single USB A port. “That’s a great idea,” I thought, and I immediately grabbed it, but it wasn’t long before I was wishing it had come with two such ports.
These days I travel with an array of devices that need to be powered, including my notepad computer, my iPad Pro, my smartphone, and a variety of other USB-powered gadgets and gizmos. Since the transition to USB C is now in full swing, I’ve recently been travelling with a combination of next-generation and legacy adapters, but this has been starting to wear on me.
All of which leads me to a recent acquisition in the form of the awesome OneWorld 65, which I think of as “One adapter to rule them all” and which I call “My Precious!”
Based on GaN (Gallium Nitride) technology (see I’ve Been Captivated by Compound Semiconductors), this bodacious beauty is so easy to use that even I can work it out. The three sliders on the side make things easy-peasy to configure the OneWorld to plug into wall sockets in more than 200 countries, including Australia (China, New Zealand…), Europe (Germany, France…), North America, the United Kingdom, and myriad others (Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore…).
In addition to its main 10A universal power outlet, the OneWorld 65 boasts 2X USB A ports, 2X USB C ports, and 1X 65W USB PD charging port with QC, all of which means you can use the OneWorld 65 to charge six devices simultaneously!
“What are PD and QC?” you ask? Well, USB-C Power Delivery (PD) is a fast-charge technology that delivers much higher levels of power than standard charging techniques. PD is supported by some iOS/Apple and Android/Google/Samsung devices. Meanwhile, Qualcomm Quick Charge (QC) is a different type of fast-charge technology that’s supported by some of the older Samsung devices.
All I can say is that I will be bequeathing my motley collection of legacy travel adapters to my son, because the OneWorld 65 is all I now need. I only wish I’d had this little beauty on my recent trip to Norway, but all is not lost because, between trips, I’m using it at home to replace a salmagundi of wall wart power adaptors.
Thinking about it, I really should get another OneWorld 65 for my wife (Gina the Gorgeous), which I will doubtless be doing as soon as she casts her orbs over this blog. In the meantime, do you have any international power adapter tales you’d care to share with the rest of us?
That looks like a really versatile adapter. Gallium Nitride devices allow a LOT more power to be packed into a small enclosure.
Let me mention a few things to be aware of. First, international power adapters are generally divided into two groups: sine wave and non-sine wave. If you see a tiny adapter that says it can provide 1000 watts or so, be extra careful. The non-sine wave adapters often use a triac (much like a wall-mounted light dimmer) and they produce a god-awful waveform that could destroy your high-tech electronic device. Some even have nothing but a half-wave rectifier in the device. They are fine for hair dryers and incandescent bulbs, but not appropriate for sensitive electronics.
On the other hand, sine wave adapters are usually heavy for their size and don’t produce much power. These adapters contain a small transformer and are safe for any kind of load as long as you don’t overload them.
Before you buy a voltage adapter, take a close look at the nameplate on the devices you will be using in foreign countries. Many switching power adapters, such as you might find on a laptop computer or phone charger have a universal voltage input. If this is the case, you don’t need a voltage adapter at all- just a plug adapter that will allow the device to be plugged into the foreign receptacle.
One last thing to mention is that many “travel” hair dryers and irons have a dual-voltage switch so an adapter is not needed.
Make sure you have investigated everything thoroughly before plugging you device into a foreign receptacle. If you damage your device while you’re at home it may not be that bad to order replacement parts, but if you’re on the other side of the world, and usually on a tight schedule, it could be a BIG problem.
Hi Rick — this is AWESOME advice — thanks so much for sharing — Max
I used to have something similar many years ago, but not as flash as yours and very flimsy. No USB, but this was in the days when USB was just a gleam in it’s inventor’s eye. For a globe trotter like yourself this would be very handy.
Slightly off subject, but I wonder if the human race will ever standardise on ANYTHING? In Zimbabwe we used to use the British square pin plugs and also South African round pin ones. I hate the British ones with a passion – they have fuses inside, and a unique size fuse too, So if a fuse blew, and you didn’t have one, you’d use some foil from a cigarette box or mum’s aluminium foil from the kitchen to get it going. IF you could find either. What the hell are the trip switches on the switchboard for?? Damn Poms 😀 Zim is now almost exclusively the British type, but at one stage someone started making wall outlets with one square and one round socket. Good thinking!
Then again, the round South African ones had these round holes in the wall that were ideal for putting in the axles of a Meccano type set I had. Until one time when I put the axle in the hole and ended up on the other side of the room feeling very strange….
I see there is a move to standardise the plugs for small electronic goodies – phones and the like. Good luck with that, Apple will have to be dragged there kicking and screaming I think. It’s not just language, the Tower of Babel still has a lot to answer for 😀 For one thing my (British) spelling of standardise all come up with errors here…. 🙁
I remember the old UK plugs with fuses — they still have three rectangular pins, but I’m note sure if they still have fuses — I’ll have to check the next time I’m over there visiting my dear old mom.
Yes, they still do. All of them. Because we employ that sensible ring main domestic wiring topology. With rings rated at 30A, a fuse in each plug is prudent 🙂
Hi Chris — now you have me wondering what the rings are rated here in the USA — I know I have two 200A panels in the garage.
I’ve got to have one of those. I just must!
Well, it is Christmas — you deserve to treat yourself 🙂