How to Make Sure Your Electronics Work in China

So last week was all about what I did to get ready for China and this week is no different, but, whereas last week was just some general preparations, this post is all about technology and how to get it to work for you over there. So, here's what I've learned and what I have planned.

Cellular

I have AT&T on a plan with my family here in the States and their passport plan is literally the worst. I can get six months of unlimited data with T-mobile for the same price as three-months of 200 MB a month with AT&T. Then again, I can pay month-to-month with AT&T while this T-mobile deal, I have to buy all six months at once. I decided to go with T-Mobile, so I will get a new number and replace my SIM card for the time I am there. I'm not sure if you can get the same deal if you are not traveling with ILP but there is more information here.

You have the option to purchase a SIM card over in China cheaper than what you'll get in the States, but you have to be careful with your boundaries and plan options because most of them only work in one province and not the whole country, so if you travel outside of those boundaries then you loose your network. A Chinese SIM means a Chinese phone number, which comes in handy when your setting up online or bank accounts over there. You should look at all your options before you decide.

Side note: if you are getting a different SIM card, then you have to make sure that your phone is unlocked, which usually means making sure it's paid off and requesting to unlock it in-person or online.

Internet

So the Great Fire Wall of China is a big deal. It blocks a lot of the stuff that we use everyday here in the west: Google (including Gmail and various services), Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, etc. So, I have been researching how my blog will work over there. It turns out VPNs are must. As far as my technology-limited mind can understand it, VPNs (Virtual Private Network) are apps/subscriptions/softwares, whatever you want to call it, that kind of mask you signal by bouncing it through other servers so that it seems like you're not in China. This allows you to access sites that are blocked by the Great Firewall of China. VPNs slow your internet down a lot, and they are not infallible; they get attacked sometimes and you have to set it up/download it before you leave because you won't be able to get it while you're over there. China focuses on censorship and not punishment, so having a VPN and having access to those sites is not illegal.

I talked with the other people who had gone to China with ILP about what VPNs they used while they were over there. It's subject to change because VPN periodically get attacked and blocked but PandaPow and ExpressVPN were the crowd favorites. You pay for both of them (usually on a monthly basis) but people also seemed to like Betternet for their phones, which was free. So I'm splitting a three-month subscription to PandaPow (+ another $9/month for the last few weeks we will be there) with one of the girls I'm going with. I just need my laptop on there and you can have up to three devices connected at one time.

Electrical

So there are two things that you need to worry about when it comes to electricity abroad and it's compatibility with your electronics: plug shape and voltage.

Plug Shape

As far as I can tell, there are fifteen different plug types across the world (Plugs A-O) and different sub groups for some of those plugs. Some are more popular than others and some countries sport more than one. For example, in North America we have A and B plugs, the two-pronged and the three-pronged. In China, you can be find plugs A, C (E and F), and I. Plugs C, E, and F are basically the same plug and can be found in most of Africa, Europe, and Asia.

Voltage

Electrical socket voltage is hard to figure out, especially across the world. In America we run at about 120 V in wall outlets. The lowest voltage I saw in my research was 110 V in Jamaica and other Island Countries. At the top of the spectrum you have African and Middle Eastern countries like Kenya and Qatar that run at about 240 V. China is closer to the top of this spectrum at 220 V but China, like some other countries, isn't always consistent with that or their plug types. Below is a map that shows the domestic voltage and frequency used in every country of the world. Blue-colored countries use 100-127 V. Red-colored countries use 220-240 V.

What you need

So, depending on where you are going and what you are bringing, there are three kinds things that you could need: a plug adapter, electricity converters, or electricity transformers. Plug adapters literally just make it so you can plug into the wall without changing voltage or anything else. This is what most of the Chinese electrical sockets look like, which fits a normal Type A in the top socket but I'm bringing a couple plug adapters just to be safe. You can get them for like $!0 on Amazon.

Now here's the thing that no one tells you, most of your small electronics will not need a converter or a transformer. You need to examine your device's input, if it accepts universal voltage then it will say 100-240V, 50/60Hz, that's what you need to look for.

Most laptops have auto-switching, so they work between the voltages by themselves. For other small electronics that are charged with USB cables and have outlet adapters/wall plugs (everything from phones to Bluetooth earbuds and portable chargers to digital cameras), it is not the device or the cord that you have to check but the wall plug itself. If you check your small electronics they will say something like Input: DC5V/2.0A or 5V/2A; that's not what you're looking for. You need to check the outlet adapters, not the device itself.

I know for my iPhone at least, that the Apple power adapters are auto-switching voltage models. So, as long as I have a plug adapter, the voltage is not an issue. You need to check your chargers, there is no getting around that, you have to. Have to, have to, have to. So, I recommend making a list of all the electronics you are taking and checking the devices and charging cords one by one.

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The difference between converters and transformers is the difference between electrical devices (ones that use heating elements or mechanical motors) and electronic devices (ones that use chips, circuits or electronic motors). Electrical devices can use converters or transformers but electronic devices can only use transformers. The good news is that many converters also operate as a transformer. Chances are you only need a converter or transformer if you are using hairdryers, flat/curling irons, clothes irons, or any sort of kitchen appliances.

Bottom line: If you are bringing anything bigger than a laptop, like a curling iron, toaster, or TV, then you need a transformer. If your device is smaller than a laptop or is charged by a USB then you just need an outlet adapter than can handle up to 240 V and a plug converter.

The picture on the left is of my straightening iron and you can see that it's voltage is not compatable with China. So, I decided to leave it behind and keep my hair natural and simple while I'm in China.

I hope this helps. I certainly wish I'd had something simple like this to tell me how it all worked.

Happy Planning,

Challis Hackley