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Electrical Adaptors

Posted on February 26, 2007
Filed Under Services, Expat Tips | 2 Comments

If you are on your way to Uruguay, you will want to know that the voltage is 220V 50Hz, similar to most countries in Europe. US and Canada, use 110V 60Hz and Brazil, depending on the city, either 110V or 220V, but always 60 Hz.

What does this mean to you? If you want to bring appliances into Uruguay, you will need to buy either a converter or a transformer for each appliance. Converters are small devices that clip the 220V sinusoidal wave in a way that the resulting voltage is on average 110V. For devices like hair dryers and shavers, it works perfectly fine. However for anything electronic, you’ll need a 220V-110V transformer. Keep in mind that transformers need to match the power drawn by the device connected to it. For example, a microwave oven that pulls 1200W will need a transformer rated at 1200W or higher. Considering that a 1500W transformer is about the size of car battery, you may come to your senses and decide to buy all your appliances in Uruguay.

How about the 50Hz versus 60Hz? Only in rare situations will it really matter. For example, if you bring a vintage record player from the US, it will rotate at a slower, incorrect speed in Uruguay, even if you are using a transformer.

You’ll also need to know that most of the power outlets in Uruguay are for the thin two-prong plug that is standard in Brazil. And a three in-line prong for grounded outlets. Since Uruguay manufactures few of the appliances sold in the country, often it will have an American plug, the fat two-prong plug that is common in Europe, or the three flat pins from Argentina. This means that you may need to buy plug adaptors. The good news is that you can find them at most supermarkets.

If you hark from the US, Canada and other places with 110V electricity, you should exercise caution. In Uruguay, as in most places in South America, not only will you be dealing with 220V, but in many cases, you will also be using ungrounded outlets and appliances. Grounded outlets are still rare in South America and shoddy electrical installations are not uncommon, especially in older buildings.

While in Brazil, I had an unfortunate experience that nearly killed me. The house I was staying in had an electrical 220V point-water heater for the shower. This type of heater is more economical than boilers since it only heats the water as it comes out. Maybe for that reason, they are very common in Brazil and are also not uncommon in Uruguay. The heater, of course, was not grounded, which is also very common.

While I was in the shower, the lights went out. Since the water got cold almost immediately, I reached for the water control, dripping wet and … zap! I saw lights of every color. I fell on the floor and could barely breath for about ten minutes. When I recovered, I went to examine the electrical box to try to figure out what happened. I then noticed that the installation had breakers on both wires. If you know anything about this kind of stuff, you know that this is a big no-no. In this case, only the breaker on the neutral wire tripped. Therefore, the whole line, up to the shower and the water column in the pipes were a live 220V wire waiting for a ground connection. It found me.

You may feel it is trite to say that many people die electrocuted every year, but don’t forget that the rate is far greater in places where the electricity is 220V. So be attentive, be suspicious and be careful.

For additional info on this subject click here and here.

Other posts in Expat Tips

• Pros and Cons of Shipping Furniture Abroad
• Should I Bring My Electrical Aplliances to Uruguay?
• Usufruct and Inheritance Issues
• Tipping Custom in Uruguay
• American Income Tax While Living Abroad
• Visa Requirements to Travel to Brazil
• Inheritance Laws in Uruguay
• Uruguayan Spanish Conjugation
• Obtaining the Uruguayan National ID
• Steps To Obtain Permanent Residency in Uruguay

Other posts in Services

• Furniture Moving and Delivery in Montevideo
• Water and Sewer Costs in Uruguay
• How to Search for Products and Services in Uruguay
• Which ATM Cards Work in Uruguay?
• Uruguayan Links
• Links to Articles About Transportation in Uruguay
• Cost of Electricity in Uruguay

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