UK to Greenland power adapters - what kind of power adapter is needed for Greenland?

Universal Travel Power Adapters

Benefits of a universal travel power adapter

• Most universal travel adapters function in around 150 countries.
• An all in one design - small and lightweight.
• Some models also include charging ports for USB electronics.
• Relatively straightforward operation.
• Some models will include a built in surge protector, this will protect any electronics from being overloaded by unstable power grids in some countries.
• The retractable pins won't catch against other items in baggage.
• When you return home the universal travel power adapter should still be functional as a USB charger.
• Changes shape to Types A/B, E/F, G and I plugs so will fit into a Greenlandic power outlet.

Disadvantages of a universal travel power adapter

• A universal power adapter will overload when used with high powered electrical appliances - for example hair straighteners, microwaves, kettles, vacuum cleaners or hair dryers.
• Pins and other moving parts might be fragile on some universal travel adapters making them prone to breaking whilst abroad.
• Only provide power to one appliance.
• Not totally universal; models might not work in some countries with less common power outlet types.
• Lacking an in-built power converter means it won't be suitable for non-220 volt electrical devices. [6] [AD]

Travel USB Wall Chargers

Benefits of a travel USB wall charger

• Ideal if you only need to charge devices which are USB powered.
• You only have to bring a single charger rather than pack lots of domestic power chargers.
• Supplied with swappable heads which means they can be used in a large number of different locations. Interchangeable adapter heads are usually lightweight and small making them easy to fit into hand luggage.
• Most models have a surge protector built in.
• It will still be of use when you return to the UK.
• The swappable heads will fit in Types A/B, E/F, G and I power outlets so will work in Greenland.

Disadvantages of a travel USB wall charger

• They only have USB outputs so you will be unable to power appliances, just USB ones. [7] [AD]

Travel Power Strips

Benefits of a travel power strip

• A travel power strip is capable of powering more than one appliance at once via one Greenlandic power outlet.
• Some models of travel power strips will convert voltage for lower wattage electronics. Therefore if your electronic device isn't dual voltage it can still function with a Greenlandic power outlet by using just a travel power strip, making them a cheaper and lightweight substitute for a dedicated power converter.
• Some models will also include multiple USB charging ports.
• The voltage from power outlets in some countries might be tempremental, a power surge could damage delicate electrical items. There are some power strips that have a surge protector built in which will protect any electronics from being overpowered by unstable power grids.
• It can be of use when you return to the UK as a power strip and USB charger.

Disadvantages of a travel power strip

• Unlike a dedicated power converter, the conversion on travel power strips doesn't support high wattage appliances such as hair straighteners and curling irons.
• Because of their size travel power strips might be too heavy for hand luggage.
• A travel power strip might be excessive for some travellers with only a small number of appliances that need charging. [8] [AD]
• Power strip models for sale in the UK only include type B, F, G and I plug adapters so you may need to use it along with an additional plug adapter to work in some countries.

Power Plug Adapters

Benefits of a power plug adapter

• Straightforward design makes this power adapter easy to use.
• Cheapest option.
• Small and light.
• Using a Type E plug adapter will work in Greenland.

Disadvantages of a power plug adapter

• Your hotel room in Greenland might only have a single power outlet, so you will only be capable of powering one device at once.
• If you plan on travelling to more than just Greenland then you may need to pack more than one type of power adapter for other countries.
• Only 1 power adapter for each appliance - for every separate appliance you'll also need to bring a separate adapter.
• This adapter only modifies the shape of the plug to fit in a Type E Greenlandic power outlet but not the actual voltage. If your appliance doesn't support 220 volts and isn't dual voltage you'll also need to bring a voltage converter.
• You will also still need to pack your separate domestic USB charger as well if you need to power any USB device. [3] [AD]

Plug Adapter Sets

Benefits of a plug adapter set

• A power adapter set works out more economical than purchasing multiple power plug adapters for multiple locations.
• By bringing every type of plug adapter will ensure you are covered for every country.
• Suitable for those visiting multiple countries.
• Set includes Type A, B, C, D, E/F, G, H, I, J, L, M and N plugs so should work in Greenland.

Disadvantages of a plug adapter set

• Will involve planning - you'll have to decide which adapters they'll need, if you don't know every country you'll be visiting you'll need to bring every adapter in the set with you.
• Means lots of individual plug adapters to bring.
• Having only a single functioning plug adapter being used in Greenland the remaining power adapters will be redundant.
• Not all power adapter types are typically included in the set (especially rarer adapters), so check that your set has one that is compatible with a Greenlandic power outlet.
• Each adapter only alters the shape of the plug to fit into a Greenlandic power outlet but doesn't alter the voltage. [9] [AD]

Voltage Converters

British citizens shouldn't need to bring a converter as the voltage in Greenland is 220 volts.

Benefits of a voltage converter

• Step down voltage converters let travellers to use their non-220 volt appliance with a Greenlandic power outlet.
• A voltage converter has a built in surge protector that will protect any electronics from being overloaded.

Disadvantages of a voltage converter

• It only changes the 220 volts in Greenland and not the actual shape of the plug to fit in a Greenlandic power outlet, therefore you'll still need to use a suitable plug adapter.
• The size and weight of most models of voltage converters makes them unsuitable for carry-on baggage.
• An expensive power converter is useless when returning from Greenland.
• Usually cheaper to bring a dual voltage travel appliance than to buy a more expensive power converter just to power your existing single voltage appliance abroad.

Does a solar powered charger work in Greenland?

Portable solar power banks will slowly charge up in direct sunlight however because of the climate in Greenland and the limitation of the smaller footprint of the solar panel it won't be dependable for travellers. The compact surface area of the cells means a solar charger needs to be left in powerful sunshine for an extended period of time to produce enough energy for a single charge, which might prove difficult to continually pack and unpack a solar power bank then wait for it to recharge between cloud cover.

• Instead, the much larger durable solar panels used on a solar backpack will give the bag the ability to create more electricity within a faster period of time, and could generate a smaller power when cloudy.
• A phone which has been plugged directly into a USB charging port of a backpack should trickle charge the battery during sunny spells in Greenland, but this could be inconvenient to have a phone continuously tethered in the bag should it be needed frequently. Unlike a small solar power bank that needs to be unpacked and facing the sunlight, a solar powered bag is constantly exposed to light so can be recharging a regular power bank throughout the day.
• Because of the weather in Greenland a solar bag should have the bare minimum solar cell efficiency of 22% or greater, be able to generate at least 6 watts of power and can be used with a 10,000mAH power bank or greater.
• They come in rucksack, laptop messenger and backpack styles which makes them ideal for travel, work and domestic use. The flexible and durable solar panels used in solar powered bags have been made to survive bending and scratching, unlike regular solid solar cells.  [16] [17] [AD]

Sources

• International Electrotechnical Commission - World plugs by location (cited August 2014)
• Wikipedia - Mains electricity by country (cited July 2014)
• Index Mundi - Power outages in a typical month (cited May 2018, data collected between 2006 to 2017)
• Index Mundi - Access to electricity (cited May 2018, latest data collected 2010)
• timeanddate.com - Weather Around the World (cited May 2018)

What voltage is my device?

The easiest way to tell if a device is dual voltage is to check for either a sticker or numbers printed on the charger or on the device itself, normally on the rear or near to where the power cord plugs into. The location might vary depending on the make or model of your device and could also be written on the box.

• Single voltage devices could have a specific number - such as 110V.
• Single voltage devices might also have a small voltage range (around 20 volts) with a dash to accomodate small voltage fluctuations - such as 100-120V.
• Dual voltage devices will normally say a large voltage range separated with a slash - such as 100/240V.

How many devices are you bringing to Greenland?

• List all the devices and applicances you intended on packing for Greenland (such as cell phones, laptops, eReaders, clothes irons or hair straighteners).
  • Remember to allow for more electrical devices at a later date. Do you intend on buying a new mobile phone computer next year?
  • There are an increasing amount of rechargeable devices such as electric shavers which use USB as a power source. Therefore if you have to replace a device it could need a USB adapter so please ensure your travel adapter has enough spare ports to support these additional devices as well.
• Will you also be travelling with a partner who will need to charge their devices too?

Will your devices and appliances work with 220 volt power outlets?

• Greenland uses 220 volts, if you travel from a country that doesn't use 220 volts and you're not using a dual voltage appliance (how to tell) then you'll either need to bring a bulky power converter or a lighter power strip with a built in power converter.
• It might be more expensive buying a voltage converter than bringing a dedicated dual voltage travel appliance (for example a dual voltage clothes iron, hair dryer, hair straighteners or curling iron for Greenland) which is robustly designed for travel and often includes an assortment of plug adapters.

How many power outlets will be available when you arrive in Greenland?

• You could find that accommodation might offer only one power outlet on the wall, this could be an inconvenience when charging up batteries of more than one electronic item overnight because you'll only be able to recharge one device at a time.
• To charge more than one device at the same time we suggest packing a travel power strip or travel USB wall charger that can charge multiple USB ports and power outlets. [8] [AD]

What is your budget?

• A cheap power adapter can power one single device in Greenland (providing that is compatible with 220 volts or it is dual voltage) however paying a little more will allow you to charge more than one device at once and bring them to various countries.

Are you intending to bring hand luggage?

• Because of their increased size both travel power strips and power converters could be too heavy for packing in hand baggage, we recommend using either a smaller universal travel power adapter or USB wall charger. [6] [AD]

Do you still need use your charger when returning to the UK?

• Some travel power strips and travel USB chargers might also work when you get back to the UK.