[SOLVED] Using a Powerline Adapter With a EU to NA Plug Adapter

[cnaevensen]

Is there a significant disadvantage to using a Powerline Adapter with a EU plug in North America using a EU to NA plug socket adapter? I have no network sockets hard-wired in my house and I need to connect my PC to the internet with as fast, stable, and low-latency a connection as possible. I've been researching adapters, and it's basically down to the TP-Link AV2000 (TL-PA9020P) and the currently EU only Devolo Magic 2 Wifi Next. The second is significantly more expensive and as I mentioned, only sold with a EU plug at present, but it uses a new, superior standard to the current HomePlug and seems to be considered the best on the market at present. I'm wondering if the necessary plug adapters for me to use the Devolo, even if I used high-quality ones, would negate the advantages of it's superior technology.

I really do want to get the best connection possible without tearing open my walls, so I'm willing to spend a premium for a significant improvement, though I'm willing to settle for the TP-Link if this strategy is unfeasible.

 

[kerberos_20]

hi, both your selected power line adapters are EU only, if u connect them to US wall plug, something will short/burn, as US voltage is too low, thus ampers will skyrocket (to compensate)
EU has 250Volts @ 50Hz
US has 120volts @ 60Hz

so if u really really cant find any US only or 120~250V @ 50/60Hz capable,
u may need voltage and frequency convertor aswell, which is searchable as voltage convertor step up
here example

 

[cnaevensen]

Thanks for your input, the TP-Link definitely has a NA option, this is the particular one I was thinking of. I thought the higher quality plug adapters were able to sort out the voltage differences, is that not the case?

 

[kerberos_20]

Thanks for your input, the TP-Link definitely has a NA option, this is the particular one I was thinking of. I thought the higher quality plug adapters were able to sort out the voltage differences, is that not the case?

just checked and u are half right
if u buy it in EU, u will get EU version, which is 230V/50Hz only
https://www.tp-link.com/cz/home-networking/powerline/tl-pa9020p-kit/#specifications

NA version will work fine

as for plug adapters, if they dont convert voltage, then they will just convert plug to which ever u pick, voltage wont change

plenty of devices are sold as 110~240V 50/60Hz, so u can use those devices with them

 

[cnaevensen]

Yeah, I just did my research, thankfully I never blew myself up using my travel adapter while on trips, lol. Found the voltage specs for the Devolo here, 196-250V, definitely not dual voltage, unfortunately. Even if I was that set on the Devolo and paired it with a voltage converter, I'd need one for each, which would be both hideously expensive (well over $300 CAD) and just plain hideous. I think I'll settle for the TP-Link, hopefully the performance will be sufficient. I really wanted the Devolo to work, the tech and performance seems to be a sea change from what I've seen, but apparently no plans to ship it to the colonies at present.

Now excuse me while I look into DIY methods of combining two 120V outlets into a 240V one...

 

[kerberos_20]

Now excuse me while I look into DIY methods of combining two 120V outlets into a 240V one...

thats not hard to do, u just connect both power sources in serial to get 240V
but, its not safe to just connect together two cables from two different power outlests, as what happens when samone taps with their old janky old wiring and burn house down?
u should do that at breaker level including correct wiring for 240V if u need seperate 240V outlet, otherwise travel adapters with up/down voltage conversion will work just fine

 

[cnaevensen]

So it would seem! Well, I really don't want to tear open the walls up to the third floor where the modem is to run a kat6 cable, so instead I'll just redo all the wiring down to the circuit panel in the basement, replace one of my outlets (two, actually, one for each PowerLine adapter), drop three bills on the Devolo kit, and voila!, I will have a poor imitation of something much easier to implement!

Or, I suppose I could just get the TP-Link, if I wanted to be lame...

 

[kerberos_20]

better call technician for that, its not fun tapping into electricity just by seeing few youtube videos

Spoiler: hidden

small hint, u cant use same phase from both sockets u need two hot wires, US seems to have 2 phases , so u combine those
and u have to fix sine to 50Hz (which is usualy done with generators)

 

[SamirD]

If you really want speed, look at moca--you can get ethernet line speeds over coax cables, and the moca 2.5 spec even exceeds the gigabit spec. 😀

I have some netgear av500 powerline units and was thinking of taking them over the in-laws place in india since the concrete walls stop wifi in its tracks, but then covid happened. The netgear units were universal voltage so in my research I think they would have worked. I know voltage converters wouldn't have and if the voltage wasn't universal I was going to buy a uk kit to use plug adapters on.

 

[cnaevensen]

Unfortunately I don't have access to coax ports either, at least not very near to where I'm set up. I think the TP-Link is the best option without going through undue effort.

Thanks for all of the input.