blonde.travel packing · Note
Power Adapter Extension Cable
- Every journey
What
A 1.8-metre, roughly six-foot mains cable that replaces the removable wall plug on a compatible Apple power adapter. It adds reach between the socket and the charger, rather than between the charger and your device.
Why
A surprisingly useful detail of many Apple power adapters is easy to overlook: the wall plug slides off. Apple calls this little piece a “duckhead”. The same fitting lets you change country plugs with the Apple World Travel Adapter Kit, or replace the short plug with this longer cable.
My reason for packing it goes beyond length. The US and European cables have grounded plugs, unlike their small two-pin counterparts. I keep both versions, plus a third-party cable with a South African plug, and pack for the destination’s sockets rather than my own.
I am especially particular about this when heading somewhere the electricity worries me, or to a safari camp running on a generator. Grounding does depend on a properly earthed socket, though; this cable is not a surge protector or voltage regulator.
Then there is the everyday pleasure of being able to reach the socket. Even the best lodgings can put electrical outlets in places that defy explanation. Another six feet makes those decisions considerably less irritating.
Where
Apple’s local stores generally sell the version for their own market. For a different plug, look for it at an Apple Store at your destination or search Amazon for that specific version.
On Amazon, I would look carefully at the maker and seller: “compatible with Apple” does not mean made by Apple. A saving on an unknown cable is not the bargain I am after. Check your exact power adapter’s compatibility before buying, too—not every Apple charger accepts this connection.
About $19