Kangaroo216 stated
(1) "but US voltage is a nominal 110-220 volts"
Since when?
I have never known any supply to fluctuate that much!
I think you may mean 110 -120 volts

(2) " in US"
I think YOU mean AUST.

(3) "It might be more convenient
and probably cheaper to buy one in the USA".
Using your vernacular, maybe "probably",
but would depend on many factors such as store at which purchased,
whether it was on sale etc. all which are actually about as relevant as your
statement.

(4) "Some tourists seem to assume that an "adaptor" plug changes the
voltage, which it doesn't.
Conjecture on your part!

(5) "Make sure the power supply on the
appliance you intend to use has a switch to change the voltage
from 240 volts to 120 volts, and remember to switch to proper
voltage before plugging it in!
AND (6)
So what if Janet's charger doesn't have a voltage change switch?
In that case, she would have to find an adapter that includes a
transformer, or buy a 240 volt charger to charge her batteries at
the proper low voltage and polarity.

Lots of appliances are nowadays "multi" voltage and will cover from
110v to 240v and 50 - 60 Hz without any voltage or frequency switch of any
kind.
Laptops are one that "springs to mind" as mine does exactly that.
My battery charger for the digital camera does, and also has the ability to
have the plug slide
off the back of the unit and another countries plug slid in to replace it
and no other "transformer " or anything else needed.

Your answer would only apply if her appliance was of an earlier vintage that
would only work on 110 volts,
thus need a 240v to 110v step down device, usually (but not always) a
transformer.
+++

Frequency difference (50Hz to 60Hz) on a small charger would have negligible
effect,
perhaps slight heating of the unit depending upon whether it is has a wound
transformer in unit .

The Earth pin may or may not be longer, The standard states 1.63 mm for all
of them,
some supplied are same length and some slightly longer, in fact some are
actually larger in height
and width ie 15 amp socket, where earth pin is same length, wider,
and higher, so they wont fit into the standard 10 amp socket,
but the standard 10 amp plug will fit into a 15 amp socket.
There is also a 20 Amp plug & socket, where all pins are wider (thicker),
but rarely ever seen by 90% of population, never seen in domestic premises
AFAIK.


Also most small appliances do not even have the 3rd (earth pin) anyway as
they are invariably double insulated.
No double insulated appliance has to have the 3rd (earth) pin, but here
again some are supplied with plug that has it
but it is not wired/terminated as the cable to it is only two core anyway.
See same url but another page ie
http://www.accesscomms.com.au/Refere...ugVariants.htm
+++
The url I supplied showed poster what it looked like a damn sight more than
your "stick drawing",
and they would surely know what their own plug looked like.

BTW Do you always nitpick things others say? What was given was basically
all the person needed to know,
using her post as the basis for the reply.
The poster didnt even elaborate other than to say it was a charger unit for
a camera.
viz.
I would agree with the "should be able to", but that doesn't mean
you actually "will be able to" :-) It might be more convenient
and probably cheaper to buy one in the USA.
+++
Whilst the rest of your reply to Janet was very informative, it was not
anything the poster asked about,
Hell! I wonder what your reply to, a child who asked the question :"where do
I come from" would be?
A diatribe on the reproductive systems of both male and female, which would
naturally be totally overkill.

Perhaps you should jump back into your Joeys pouch.

John H

"kangaroo16" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 20 Sep 2007 17:28:45 +0930, "John H"
wrote in
:

Hi Janet,
Cairns like rest of Australia is 240 volts US is 110 volts.
SO if your appliance is shown as multi voltage ie 110 - 240 then all you
will need is an adapter plug to go from US two round pin horizontally in
line TO the Australian 3 pin.

Essentially correct, but US voltage is a nominal 110-220 volts
RMS at 60 Hertz [ cycle] , and uses a non polarized plug with
two vertical flat pins.

| |

Australia is a nominal 220-240 volt, 50 Hertz, uses a three pin
polarized plug with two angled flat plugs for active and neutral,
and a longer flat pin for a safety earth or "ground" in US.

/ \

|
Lots of chargers are multi voltage so you may indeed be OK for the voltage
situation
Have a look at this site for the plug shape
http://www.accesscomms.com.au/Reference/powerplug.htm
If you cant buy an adaptor in US then you should be able to buy one in
Cairns (at least at the airport if not the town).regards
John H

I would agree with the "should be able to", but that doesn't mean
you actually "will be able to" :-) It might be more convenient
and probably cheaper to buy one in the USA.

Some tourists seem to assume that an "adaptor" plug changes the
voltage, which it doesn't. Make sure the power supply on the
appliance you intend to use has a switch to change the voltage
from 240 volts to 120 volts, and remember to switch to proper
voltage before plugging it in!

Have heard of tourists forgetting to switch an electric razor to
the 220-240 volt range then trying to use it. The results can
be both spectacular and hazardous.

Admittedly, this probably happens more often when someone
assumes the voltage is the same in Australia and the US and
simply bends the blades of a US appliance at an angle to fit
an Australian outlet. This is not advisable.

So what if Janet's charger doesn't have a voltage change switch?
In that case, she would have to find an adapter that includes a
transformer, or buy a 240 volt charger to charge her batteries at
the proper low voltage and polarity.

Am sure if she takes her charger down to a camera store in the
USA, or checks the net, she can get more info.

I don't expect that US tourists would bring a portable TV set on
a trip, but if so, it won't work in Australia. The US uses the
obsolete NTSC standard rather than PAL used here. Channel
allocations are also different.

If bringing a mobile phone, they should check if it will work
here.

Incidentally, on a different topic, currency rates constantly
change. Radio news at 7.08 AM here says that due to loss of
value in US$ it is on a par with Canadian dollar for the first
time in 30 years. As to Aussie dollar:

At the moment
Live rates at 2007.09.20 21:13:37 UTC
1.00 USD 1.16020 AUD
United States Dollars Australia Dollars
1 USD = 1.16020 AUD 1 AUD = 0.861921 USD
http://www.xe.com/ucc/convert.cgi

Cheers,
kangaroo16
[I usually post on misc.immigration Australia+ NZ.]




"Janet Wilder" wrote in message
. ..
Will I need an electricity adapter in Cairns and at Ayers Rock to plug
in
my battery charger for the rechargeable batteries for my camera? The
charger is United States-flavor electric.

TIA
--
Janet Wilder
Bad spelling. Bad punctuation
Good Friends. Good Life