The ''unfit for travel'' ALDI Universal Travel Adaptor

GOCAT9 on 23/07/2019 - 10:44
Last edited 23/07/2019 - 11:56 by 1 other user

So, a couple of weeks ago during one of ALDI's weekly specials, I bought a ''universal travel adaptor'' from ALDI. The photo shows the important points for this post. Ok, so all appeared normal from the description, an included set of power point plugs for a large number of countries, INCLUDING THE USA! Note that the adaptor also includes four USB ports together with two Australian sockets as you would expect.

Now, as most travellers to the USA would know, the USA is mostly 110-120V, 60Hz based. Don't get confused with the much rarer 250V sockets used for higher energy devices like electric stoves etc. Anyway 110V, 60Hz is what you will find in houses and hotel rooms etc.

I then looked at the specifications of the adaptor in the manual and also read the compliance plate of the rear of the adaptor. It says input of 240V, 50Hz on both, WTF!!! If it is a UNIVERSAL travel adaptor, it should say something like 100-250V, 50/60Hz, but it does not!! It appears that it can only be used with 240V, 50Hz input. So how the hell would you use it is the USA, especially what would happen to the USB ports if you only feed it 110V, 60Hz instead of the specified 240V, 50HZ?

So, I called the ALDI support line for the device and they investigated and got back to me later in the day. They said that to use it in the USA and other 110V countries I would need to additionally use a 110-240V transformer to use with it. I couldn't stop laughing at this response. Doesn't this defeat the whole purpose of a ''úniversal'' travel adaptor??

I will probably return it for a refund if that is the only solution. How ridiculous.

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Comments

        • GOCAT9 on 24/07/2019 - 11:37
          +4

          yes, but the ALDI one COMES with the plug adaptors, the XIAOMI one DOES NOT. That was my point.

          • nandystam on 24/07/2019 - 11:43
            +1

            @GOCAT9: So go to your nearest $2 shop and buy an adapter. Problem solved…

      • xuqi on 24/07/2019 - 13:53

        Consider buying one of these for similar $.

        https://www.amazon.com.au/Disgian-Universal-International-Wo…

        Features:
        -AC Power Rating: 6A max. 100-240Vac(660W max.at 110V,1440W max.at 230V)
        -Type C/USB Outlet :5V 3.4A(Total)
        Type C Outlet:5V 3A
        Each USB Outlet :5V 2.4A(MAX)
        -Single Plug Safety Feature
        -Spare Fuse included to keep it working when Fuse broken during travel
        -Built-in Safety Shutters
        -LED Power Indicator

  • idiotproof on 24/07/2019 - 12:09
    +2

    All USB power supplies nowadays use switching mode circuits which can take 100-240 VAC (50/60Hz) input. Here is an example from an Ebay listing. Otherwise, they must have a transformer to step down 240VAC to about 9VAC and then regulate it to 5VDC.

    I agree that the issue is the labelling (or lack of).

  • living4music on 24/07/2019 - 12:23

    In General terms, Universal would mean it can take power from 100-250V.
    If not, then don’t use the word Universal. Stupid Aldi. OP is very reasonable here.

  • whatthecrappin on 24/07/2019 - 12:24

    I bought these a couple of weeks back for my trip to Japan last week. It specifically said Japan so I bought 4…..turns out the Japan wall plugs are just 2 prongs (the supplied adaptors have 3, ie Earth). I couldnt use unless I asked reception for an adaptor (which totally defeated the purpose of me buying these) :P

    In the end I daisy chained them all (essentially used them as a power board) to charge the phones/ipads/laptop

    Still came in useful for the usb ports (admittedly I didnt check the voltage at the time) - charged them all fine

    • smpantsonfire on 24/07/2019 - 19:14

      I just snapped the prong off. Then obviously just be smart about what you are plugging into the board

  • G5 on 24/07/2019 - 14:23
    +1

    I don't see the problem? The Australian power specifications are printed on the box, probably for legal/compliance reasons, because it is being sold in Australia. You can use it overseas if you want.

    The USB ports will be run off a switched-mode supply and will still work. The rest of it is just a passive device, it will pass through whatever the mains power is. You can use it overseas to charge your Australian devices that have switching supplies (pretty much everything these days). The only thing you can't do is run your blender off it.

  • Bargain80 on 24/07/2019 - 14:30

    many people here missed the point about the post.
    OP is not asking a power board that convert 110v to 220v.
    But it's more about the wording 'Universal'.
    That word means you should be able to use it universally without additional tool regardless the voltage.

    The fact that it only works in 220v, it's not universal. It should have said 220V powerboard with US plug.

    There are powerboard that can work in both voltages such as Monster Outlets to Go.

    • G5 on 24/07/2019 - 14:36

      You can use it universally…

      • Bargain80 on 24/07/2019 - 14:58

        read my comment again

  • skazclaw on 24/07/2019 - 16:01

    Used this thing all over the world. No issues. It was an older model from a few years a go.

  • lltravel on 24/07/2019 - 16:40
    -4

    I feel sorry for anyone who shops at Aldi

    The quality is poor and disgusting

    I wouldn't feed their food to animals.

    Mostly junk food filled with sugar and empty calories.

  • [Deactivated] on 24/07/2019 - 17:15

    They said that to use it in the USA and other 110V countries

    Which other countries?

  • [Deactivated] on 24/07/2019 - 17:17
    +2

    I don't think it's Aldi's fault that you are ignorant. You need a step up transformer if you want to use 240V appliances in the USA. There is no way around that. Luckily most devices can take 110/240V these days. The Aldi adapter just lets you use them.

  • carlJack on 24/07/2019 - 18:56

    I have one of these. Thanks for pointing out the problem.

  • mousie on 24/07/2019 - 19:58

    Better off to buy a good quality powerbank and charge that using usb everywhere instead of this junk.

  • dufflover on 24/07/2019 - 21:58

    OPs wording probably could've been better but people still miss the point even after comments in the middle.

    TLDR, power board labelling does not officially state the USB controller has the correct circuitry to handle 110V intput. Sure, you could chance it, probably would work, but if it doesn't, but you'll just get done for "not following the stated specifications".

  • srpeel on 25/07/2019 - 08:38
    +1

    I have one of these. I'm using it in Mexico (same electrical requirements as the US). I have only used it to power my laptops (100-240V power supplies but OZ plug). It works fine for my relatively low power requirements. The USB ports have charged a variety of equipment without problems so I suspect there isn't really a big issue with using it in the US. I haven't done any testing to see if it is slow to charge - I just use it, successfully.

  • kevsta on 25/07/2019 - 10:03

    I brought this exact travel adaptor over to Japan (110V usa plug) earlier this year, along with my blitzwolf 5 port usb charger plugged into it with an australian plug. It all worked fine. The usb ports in the travel adaptor charged up all our devices.

  • gimme on 25/07/2019 - 23:00
    +2

    Am I missing something? This is an adaptor not a transformer. It would work anywhere as long as the plug fits. Not sure why people like overcomplicating shit.

    • Geryatric on 26/07/2019 - 06:39

      Exactly

    • samfisher5986 on 26/07/2019 - 09:28

      Thats a huge assumption to make.

      USB chargers generally take 100-240v, but its not guaranteed.'

      As this has a USB charger you can't simply assume a device that says 240v only, accepts 110v.

      It would also be stupid to buy a device based on an assumption when there are other devices that are better and specify 100v-240v

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