Do I Need Adaptors for Appliances in Ecuador?
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Hi Alec,
Ecuador uses 120V supply voltage and most devices come with 2-pin plugs just as in the U.S., so all your devices will be compatible here and you won’t need adaptors.
Many electrical outlets have the additional round hole to accommodate plugs with grounding pin, too.
There are no Home Depots or Lowe’s in Ecuador, although there are a number of “big box” home supply stores, such as Kywi and Coral, in larger cities.
High-quality, American-made tools are expensive if you can find them, so bring those along if you think you’ll need them.
Appliance stores carry excellent modern appliances manufactured in the U.S., Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, and Ecuador, and several specialty home stores have opened recently, enhancing competition and bringing prices down. Among the better Latin American appliance brands are Mabe (made in Chile) and Indurama (made in Cuenca).
Imported, high-quality appliances like KitchenAid or Maytag will cost much more in Ecuador than they do in the U.S.
If you’re moving here as a resident and want these brands, it’s worth bringing them with you since they’ll come in duty-free. Make sure, however, the brand you bring can be serviced in Ecuador.
And don’t forget to check out our Escape to Ecuador guidebook for full details of shipping your household goods.
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One thing to add to the previous answer that my wife and I discovered the hard way when we first moved to Ecuador. Plumbed gas lines deliver at a higher pressure in Ecuador than in the US, so if you have a gas appliance made in the US make sure a qualified tech installs it and adds an adaptor to correct the pressure. We allowed one of the guardians in our building to do the installation, and we melted some polyester clothing in the first load!