Standards électriques et vidéos en France
Vous emportez dans vos valises les petits bijoux électroniques ou les appareils électriques qui rythment votre quotidien ? Vous souhaitez vous offrir un souvenir vidéo, sous forme de DVD ? Sachez que les standards électriques et vidéo peuvent être différents de ceux de votre pays. Voici quelques indications pour éviter les mauvaises surprises.
Electricité
En France, le standard est de 220 V sur une fréquence de 50 Hz, alors qu'aux Etats-Unis et au Canada, par exemple, il est de 110 V pour 60 Hz. Les prises de courant et les fiches peuvent être différentes suivant les pays et un transformateur vous sera alors nécessaire… N’oubliez pas de l’emporter, sinon vous risqueriez de dire adieu à votre rasoir électrique ou votre sèche-cheveux préférés et le court-circuit pourrait couper l’électricité de tout l’hôtel ! Si vous avez oublié d’en emporter un, vous en trouverez facilement dans les magasins d'électroménager et de bricolage ainsi que dans les grandes surfaces. La plupart des grands hôtels pourront également vous en fournir. Sachez que les prises mâles françaises sont munies de deux fiches rondes.
220V-235V / 50 Hz
DVD
Attention à la compatibilité avec le système de votre équipement. Pour des raisons commerciales, afin d’éviter que l’on puisse acheter un film au moment où il sort en salle, le marché du DVD est divisé en plusieurs zones :
| Zones | Countries / Continents |
|---|---|
| 1 | Etats-Unis et Canada |
| 2 | Europe, Moyen Orient, Japon et Afrique du Sud |
| 3 | Asie du Sud-Est |
| 4 | Amérique du Sud et Australie |
| 5 | Europe de l'Est et Afrique |
| 6 | Chine |
En France vous êtes donc en zone 2. Si vous rapportez de Paris un DVD, il ne sera peut-être pas décodable par votre lecteur, à moins que celui-ci ne soit dézoné. Vérifiez donc bien la zone avant l’achat. De plus, vérifiez que le DVD est lisible par votre lecteur selon son système (PAL, SECAM ou NTSC).
Blu-Ray Disc
| Zones | Pays / Continents |
|---|---|
| A | Amériques, Asie de l'Est et du Sud-Est |
| B | Europe, Afrique, Oceanie, Moyen-Orient, France d'outre-mer, Groenland |
| C | Asie Centrale et du Sud, Mongolie, Russie, Chine. |
Electrical and video norms in France
Do your suitcases contain the latest electronic gadgets or electrical appliances that you just can’t do without? Do you plan to treat yourself to a video souvenir, in the form of a cassette or DVD? Remember that electrical and video standards may well be different from those adopted in your own country. Here are a few tips to help you avoid any unpleasant surprises.
Electricity
In France the norm is 220 volts, with a frequency of 50 Hz, while in the United States or Canada, for example, it is 110 volts for 60 Hz. SocketVoltage and sockets vary from country to country and so an adapter and also a transformer will be necessary…
Make sure you bring these with you, or else you might risk kissing your favourite electric razor or hairdryer goodbye, not to mention blowing the electricity in the whole hotel! If you’ve forgotten to bring these important accessories, you’ll be able to find them in electrical goods and DIY stores or hypermarkets. Most major hotels can also provide them. For information, French plugs are equipped with two round pins.
220V-235V / 50 Hz
Travel adaptors
You will need to consider what to pack, to ensure you can use your personal electrical appliances safely whilst abroad. This normally includes the use of a travel adaptor, which is a device that simply allows you to plug any UK electrical appliance into a foreign electrical socket. It is important to note that it does not convert the voltage or frequency.
For France there are two associated plug types, types C and E. Plug type C is the plug which has two round pins and plug type E is the plug which has two round pins and a hole for the socket’s male earthing pin. France operates on a 230V supply voltage and 50Hz.
Type C
Type E
Voltage converters and transformers
Electricity supplies worldwide can vary from anything between 100V and 240V. It can be extremely dangerous to use an electrical appliance that is rated at a voltage different from the supply.
As voltage can differ from country to country, you may need to use a voltage converter or transformer whilst in France. If the frequency is different, the normal operation of an electrical appliance may also be affected. For example, a 50Hz clock may run faster on a 60Hz electricity supply. Most voltage converters and transformers come supplied with plug adaptors, so you may not need to buy a separate travel adaptor.
All converters and transformers will have a maximum power rating (AMPS or WATTS) so make sure that any appliance you intend to use does not exceed this rating.
Dual voltage rated appliance
You can determine whether you’ll need to use a converter or transformer, by looking at the appliance rating plate.
A dual voltage rated appliance will display for example ‘INPUT: 110-240V’ on the body of the appliance or its power supply. This means that you will not need a converter or transformer but just a travel adaptor, because France operates on a 230V supply voltage, which is within the 110-240V range that the dual voltage appliance operates on.
Single voltage rated appliances
In France the supply voltage is 230V. If the appliance is a single voltage rated appliance, it will need to operate at the same voltage as the supply voltage of the country i.e. 230V. If this is not the case it should be used alongside a voltage transformer or converter to allow the appliance to work safely and properly.
Converters and transformers perform a similar function, but their applications differ. Converters are typically used with appliances that operate for a short duration (1-2hours), whilst most transformers can be used alongside appliances that operate continuously.
It’s important to understand that some travel adaptors are not suitable for any appliances that require an earth connection. These types of travel adaptors should only be used with double insulated equipment, which will be clearly marked with the symbol shown below.
We recommend you check your appliances before embarking on your journey, to understand the requirements in France.
DVD
Be sure that any DVD you purchase here is compatible with your equipment at home. For commercial reasons, in order to avoid a film being available on DVD at the same time as its general cinema release, the DVD market is split into several regions:
| Zones | Countries / Continents |
|---|---|
| 1 | USA and Canada |
| 2 | Europe, Middle East, Japan and South Africa |
| 3 | South East Asia |
| 4 | South America and Australia |
| 5 | Eastern Europe and Africa |
| 6 | China |
So in France, you are in zone 2. If you take a DVD home from Paris, it may not be able to be decoded by your player, unless it is region-free. In addition, the video format (PAL, SECAM or NTSC) must be compatible too, for a DVD to work properly. So ensure you check the relevant details before you buy.
Blu-Ray Disc
| Zones | Countries / Continents |
|---|---|
| A | Americas, East and South East Asia |
| B | Europe, Africa, Oceania, Middle East, French territories, Greenland |
| C | Central and South Asia, Mongolia, Russia, People's Republic of China. |