Power converters for Taiwan

What is a power converter?

Power converters allow travellers to use a 220-240 volt electrical device with a 110 volt Taiwanese power outlet.

Also known as: electrical converter, electrical transformer, voltage converter, power transformer or voltage transformer.

What is the difference between a plug adapter and a power converter for Taiwan?

A cheap, small and lightweight power adapter (or plug adapter) will change the shape of the plug on your device to fit into a power outlet in Taiwan, but an expensive and bulkier power converter converts the voltage of 110 volts from a Taiwanese power outlet to work with a non-110 volt device. [3] [AD]

Do I need a power converter for Taiwan?

If you are visiting Taiwan from another country ensure that your device can accept a 110 volt power supply.

  • You need a step up power converter if you are visiting Taiwan from a country that uses 220-240 volts and your device or appliance is incompatible with 110 volts. Read our list of world power outlets guide to see which voltage is used in your country.
  • You don't need a power converter if you already own either a single voltage appliance that works with 110 volts or one that is dual voltage.
  • Typically, electrical devices which come from a country which use a higher voltage (such as 230 volts) and then used with 110 volts sometimes take longer to charge or simply won't turn on. If your device doesn't power up or recharges slowly when travelling to Taiwan from a different country then check that it can be used with a 110 volt Taiwanese power outlet or you will need to use a step up power converter.
  • You won't need a power converter if you need to recharge a smaller electrical device such as a cell phone as these are normally designed for international use and dual voltage, however you should always check the device for dual voltage support first.
  • If powering high wattage appliances or generate heat (for example curling irons and hair dryers) then you will need to use a much larger higher wattage heavy duty power converter.
  • It should be more cost effective to bring a robust lightweight dual voltage travel appliance than bringing a heavier high wattage power converter just to use your existing domestic appliance.
  • Read these travel guides on using curling irons, clothes irons, flat irons and blow dryers in Taiwanese power outlets , along with recommendations on some affordable dual voltage alternatives.  [4] [5] [AD]

Do I need a power converter for Taiwan if I'm travelling from America?

You won't need to use a power converter because the voltage in Taiwan is in the same 100-120V range as America. [3] [AD]

What converter do I need for Taiwan?

You need to use a step up power converter which will allow you to use any 220, 230 or 240 volt appliance with a 110 volt Taiwanese power outlet. [4] [AD]

What voltage does Taiwan use?

Taiwan uses 110 volts in their standard power outlets. [2]

https://www.iec.ch/worldplugs/

How to convert 110 volts to 220 volts

  1. Use a step up power converter to allow you to use 220, 230 and 240 volt appliances with a 110 volt Taiwanese power outlet.
  2. If the power converter doesn't include the correct shaped plug then it will also be necessary to plug in the power cord from the power converter into a power adapter for Taiwan before plugging that into a Taiwanese power outlet.
  3. Some power converters include the ability to perform both step up and step down voltage conversions, therefore it may be necessary to manually switch the converter to output the voltage from 220-240v.
  4. Plug your appliance into the converter and turn the power on, your 220-240 volt appliance can now be used with a 110 volt Taiwanese power outlet. [4] [AD]
What is the difference between a converter and a power transformer?

Voltage converter

What is the difference between a converter and a power transformer?

Converters and transformers are both used to change one voltage to another, but this ambiguity can cause confusion as their purposes are different:

  • Power converters are designed for simple electrical appliances which typically generate heat or use motors such as clothes irons, shavers or hair dryers. Transformers are designed for more complex electronic items such as televisions or games consoles.
  • Buying a power converter is cheaper than buying a power transformer.
  • Power transformers are larger and heavier making them more suited for permanent residential use; for example an expat wishing to use an imported television would need to use a transformer for this purpose.
  • Power converters are more suitable for travellers wishing to bring domestic appliances abroad such as hair dryers or flat irons. However, it is more practical and cost effective to purchase a dual voltage appliance designed for travel rather than a heavier power converter.
  • Power converters are suitable for 2 pin ungrounded appliances, it could be harder to find a converter if you want to use a grounded 3 pin appliance.
  • Transformers can be used constantly however it is recommended that converters are used for no longer than a couple of hours at a time.
  • Shops may sell transformers under the name of converters, for the purposes this guide we will be referring to both converters and transformers as converters.
What voltage is my device?

Dual voltage hair straighteners

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.

  1. Wikipedia - Taiwan Wikipedia page.
  2. iec.ch - International Electrotechnical Commission World Plugs
  3. Power converter - Heavy-duty power converters are designed to convert voltage levels between different electrical standards, shifting between 110V/120V and 220V/240V with both 50Hz and 60Hz, often incorporating safety features such as fuse protection and circuit breakers..
  4. Step up power converter - Step-up power converters are engineered to convert lower voltage outlets of 100V/120V to higher voltages of 220V/240V, enabling the use of appliances designed for higher-voltage environments in lower voltage countries..
  5. Heavy duty power converter - Heavy-duty power converters robust voltage transformation capabilities for designed for high-wattage devices, making them best suited for appliances like kettles and hair dryers that consume a significant amounts of power..