Adaptor or Converter

[Dave Fritz]

My wife got a lamp from Norway and it uses an Euro plug. According to this article all I'd need is an adaptor, not a converter since the lamp has no motor. Just wanting to be sure, you can't always believe everything on the internet.

https://www.authentikusa.com/us-en/faq/electricity-usa#:~:text=European%20plugs%20are%20not%20compati ble,plug%20adapter%20or%20a%20converter.

[Bill Howatt]

Motor or no-motor is not the only criteria, what does the lamp label say about what it requires for power input - voltage primarily in a lamp case and perhaps frequency? Since it has no motor the odds are increased a converter might work in this case.
An adapter probably just changes the pin configuration and works fine for lot of things that will accept 120-240V input - electric razors are one thing typically in this category but not the only thing. A converter likely will take the 120 and step it up to 240V and will be more expensive.

[roger wiegand]

If you're using US type light bulbs (120V) in it then swapping the plug for a US plug or using a gender-bender type adapter will be fine. (If it's here permanently I'd certainly just swap the plug. The wires don't care about the voltage, especially when stepping down. If instead it uses hard wired 240V bulbs or LEDs for that voltage then you need a step down transformer, and perhaps (in the case of LEDs) a converter that shifts 60hz current to 50 hz-- almost certainly not worthwhile. An incandescent 240 v bulb will be much less bright when run on 120 V, bulbs that have onboard electronics and much harder to predict. It's very possible to let the magic smoke out of electronics by running them at an unintended voltage.

[Dave Fritz]

Thank you all. Roger, the lights are: https://www.amazon.com/GutReise-Replacement-Light-Candle-Lights/dp/B0BN1M9QZK/ref=sr_1_5?hvadid=174241581318&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9018888&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=b&hvrand=1894666077088382632&hvtargid=kwd-3911543773&hydadcr=8430_9618919&keywords=e10+light+bulb&qid=1706642426&sr=8-5 The light stand is from Sweden.

[Lee Schierer]

Thank you all. Roger, the lights are: https://www.amazon.com/GutReise-Replacement-Light-Candle-Lights/dp/B0BN1M9QZK/ref=sr_1_5?hvadid=174241581318&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9018888&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=b&hvrand=1894666077088382632&hvtargid=kwd-3911543773&hydadcr=8430_9618919&keywords=e10+light+bulb&qid=1706642426&sr=8-5 The light stand is from Sweden.

Those bulbs operate on 55 volts. Unless at least two bulbs are wired in series or the lamp has an internal step down transformer, you will just get a very bright single flash if you plug it in to 120 volts.

Some of the information provided above is incorrect.

You can use an adapter to plug the lamp into a U.S. socket. For a lamp you don't need any sort of transformer if you change to a 120 volt bulb. If the lamp had a bulb rated for 240 volts and you turned on while connected to a 120 volt source the lamp you would get a low level of light from it.

[Dave Fritz]

Thank you Lee. I finally plugged it in and as predicted it is dim. The company sells replacement bulbs that are for the US and brighter, I suspect 120 volt.

[Pat Germain]

Is your wife Anna or Elsa? Just curious...

[mike stenson]

queue the Ole and Lena jokes?

[Maurice Mcmurry]

Norway - Power plug, socket & mains voltage in Norway (https://www.worldstandards.eu/electricity/plug-voltage-by-country/norway/)

I lived on a ship that was built in Norway in 1952. It had 5 different voltages and a horde of bulbs for all 5 voltages. For some reason the deck crew, specifically the ships carpenter, was in charge of bulb maintenance. The bulbs did not care about voltage too much, except for the US ones.
If you plugged your alarm clock in wrong or with the wrong adaptor you were always late (or early). 50 HZ v 60 HZ messes with motors.

Rest In Pieces
514742
Caribbean Mercy - IMO 5280930 - ShipSpotting.com - Ship Photos, Information, Videos and Ship Tracker (https://www.shipspotting.com/photos/1248729?navList=gallery&shipName=Caribbean+Mercy&page=1&viewType=normal&sortBy=newest)

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Is there a lable on the lamp that states what the input voltage should be? Most small appliances like cell phone chargers and chargers for my cochlear implant sound processor indicate they can handle the normal voltage range found in the US and Europe thus all I needed when we were traveling was adapters.

[Bill Dufour]

Many Edison base led bulbs are rated for 108-240 volts. The normal USA house hold bulb is e26. In most of Europe it is e27. They will almost fit into either socket being only 1mm diferent.
I see those bulbs are e10 base, so 10mm. I do not get that size. E11 or E12 is candelabra
Bill D

[Bill Dufour]

update about E10. I guess that is the old screw in indicator lamp size. Smaller then modern candelabra of e12 or e14.
Bill D
E10Can also be referred to as MES, Miniature Edison Screw. These are commonly found in old chandeliers and so the bulbs designed to fit e10 lamp holders tend to more decorative in appearance to suit the light fitting. You will also find bulbs with E10 caps in miniature lamp applications and indicating panels.
E10 candle bulbs > (https://www.lamps-on-line.com/light-bulbs/incandescent-bulbs/candles/girard-sudron-candles/grand-siecle.html) | E10 Panel bulbs > (https://www.lamps-on-line.com/light-bulbs/decorative-filament-bulbs.html)

[Dave Fritz]

Norway - Power plug, socket & mains voltage in Norway (https://www.worldstandards.eu/electricity/plug-voltage-by-country/norway/)

I lived on a ship that was built in Norway in 1952. It had 5 different voltages and a horde of bulbs for all 5 voltages. For some reason the deck crew, specifically the ships carpenter, was in charge of bulb maintenance. The bulbs did not care about voltage too much, except for the US ones.
If you plugged your alarm clock in wrong or with the wrong adaptor you were always late (or early). 50 HZ v 60 HZ messes with motors.

Rest In Pieces
514742
Caribbean Mercy - IMO 5280930 - ShipSpotting.com - Ship Photos, Information, Videos and Ship Tracker (https://www.shipspotting.com/photos/1248729?navList=gallery&shipName=Caribbean+Mercy&page=1&viewType=normal&sortBy=newest)

Thanks for the link, interesting and informative. It must have been a hoot living on that ship. I wouldn't do so well.