While American wall outlets receive flat, thin prongs with an optional third prong beneath for grounding, the German outlets are made to receive "Schuko" prongs. These round-shaped plugs are the European standard, so be sure that the adapter you utilize in Germany uses them. Be aware that German power outlets are also recessed into the wall, so an adapter that features prongs that protrude directly from the device will likely not fit in all the way. Any simple adapter that has these features should work for smaller, low-wattage devices like radios or shaving razors.
German electrical outlets feature a voltage of 220 to 240 volts--almost twice that of American ones. A higher voltage American device (such as a laptop computer or a camera) that is plugged into such an outlet with just a plug adapter will malfunction unless a voltage converter is also employed to account for this.
Some electronic devices have advanced, built-in voltage conversion systems, such as laptop computers. Closely examine the markings on the devices and study the owner's manual of each before connecting them to German wall outlets.
