Harry's Greece Travel Tips Electricity (To Rev-ma)

220 Voltage

The voltage in Greece and all of Europe is 220 volts/50Hz.

220v is twice as strong as US voltage and it can kill you!  So be careful especially with wet floors and extension cords. If wiring seems faulty, smells or starts to smoke take immediate action. Turning off the main power at the junction box is a good idea if possible and safe.

This has never happened to me and probably wont happen to you but depending how deep in to the hinterland you go and how old the wiring is, it wont hurt you to take precautions and be on top your electrical situation.

I ruined a sensitive electronic recording studio due to brown outs and power surges here in Athens and although I was able to get it fixed, it cost me 325 euros. If you are going to be running equipment like that, or even do some serious work on a desk top computer then an 90eu uninterrupted power supply, or UPS, is a mandatory requirement. See my computer tips pages for where to by them (plaisio).

To avoid electrocution, the Greek building code (and one of the few codes they adhere to) states that there be no electrical outlets in bathrooms. If you are used to plugging your hair drier or electric shaver in to a bathroom outlet, some better hotels have outlets and or the hair driers themselves, somewhere about the hotel room. For men there is usually a special type plug in the bathroom. You need to be in a modern hotel for these kind of considerations.

Wall Plugs ( Bri-zess)

In Greece and in Italy too, last time I was there, the plugs are 2 pronged and round, so you'll need to bring an power adapter for your shaver, hair drier, Walkman, laptop, etc. Adaptors can be purchased at K-mart, Wal-mart, and so on. An 5 m extension cord (ba-la-dez-za) will come in handy also. Buy that by specified length here, if you need it.

Generally, in my experience, there are too few plugs on walls in rooms and hotel rooms in general, and in Greece in particular. Plus plugs aren't always where you'd expect them to be if you were raised in the States. In Greece, a wall outlet may be on level with your stomach or above your head. Its one of the anarchistic things about Greece that I love!

The reason for this is that its more expensive to pull wires in Greece. The walls aren't built out of sheet rock with 2 by 4 frames but out of brick or cinder block and then plastered. There is no insulation either. During new construction and at the proper time, electricians will gouge out channels in these walls to run conduit and in which they will later run wire.

The builder is who specifies how many and where the plugs will go per room. If the electrician is good and you watch over him like a hawk to make sure, he will make an enlarged space for the plug housing and cement it in to the wall so it stays firm.

Later the 'Sova' guy will plaster over the conduit to make it flush with the wall. Its a mess to later add an electric plug unless you run it externally which can look ugly. I have never seen a really flush wall in Greece. Phone wires are run through conduit too and they use a snake like affair to run new wire.

The good news is that even with a gang box (extension cored with multiple outlets) you still have plenty of power but be sure and use heavy duty extension cords and to bring enough adaptors.

It makes a lot of sense to buy electronics locally if planning on a long stay. Too much can go wrong with electronics in my experience.

True, some electronics in Europe cost more, like cameras and laptops. Make sure the instructions of whatever you buy, are in English too and not just in Moldavian or Turkish like that HP scanner I bought from Dorian.

Transformers

You can also purchases transformers for your hair dryer, electric shaver and 'Walk-man'. Working once again, with a round plug, European adapter 220v, they work in Italy too! This adaptor (left) works for things that work on both currents, like lamps, and some extension cords, but only have American plugs.

Don't be surprised at your adaptor not fitting the plug just right or not fitting at all because there are old style 220v wall plugs and there are new style 220v plugs called "sooko bri-zehs". Be prepared if its important.

If you are moving here with furniture your lamps will still probably work and so will the light bulbs but you'll have to change the plug or use an adaptor like the one on the left. I can't think of anything else that will work without stepping down the current. A international reception T. V. that switches from PAL to NSTC and more, is the best kind to have if you are moving every so often.