Question on using electronics overseas
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From: Long Island, New York, US
Question on using electronics overseas
I'll be heading over to Europe (Czech Republic) within the next few weeks and will be bringing along a few electronics - laptop, router, mobile phone charger, alarm clock, electric shaver, etc. I know they sell those single plug adapters which convert the voltage levels depending on country.
The question is, do I need to buy one for each electronic equipment I bring along? Or can I just buy one, connect a standard USA power strip (surge protector strip) to it, then connect all my electronics to the strip? I'm guessing the latter should work since intuitively, everything from the point right behind the voltage adapter, as far as all of the attached electronics are concerned, is being fed USA-spec power - am I correct? For all you programmers out there, isn't this akin to the principle of "information hiding" and pre/post conditions?
The question is, do I need to buy one for each electronic equipment I bring along? Or can I just buy one, connect a standard USA power strip (surge protector strip) to it, then connect all my electronics to the strip? I'm guessing the latter should work since intuitively, everything from the point right behind the voltage adapter, as far as all of the attached electronics are concerned, is being fed USA-spec power - am I correct? For all you programmers out there, isn't this akin to the principle of "information hiding" and pre/post conditions?
Registered User
Joined: May 2004
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From: Vienna, VA
the answer is tricky.
I'm willing to bet your laptop will work with just a plug adapter as most Mobile PCs work with 120 or 240V. CHECK THE LABEL ON THE CHARGER BRICK. The Cell charger may or may not work on both...read the brick lable. The router will also have a DC brick...read it.
The router, shaver, and clock will require voltage conversion. This is a more complex than just the plug adapter. Since these are low-current devices, a cheaper voltage converter will work. When you have things that draw lots of current, the voltage converters become VERY expensive.
Now, in Europe, the electricity operates at 240V at 50Hz vs. 120V/60Hz in the US. The Votlage can be converted, but the frequency cannot. Simple electric devices probably won't have a problem, but when you start getting into more sophisticated electronics you may have problems. The only thing that might have a problem is your alarm clock...you may hear a lot more noise than you want to and/or it may not sound good.
I'm willing to bet your laptop will work with just a plug adapter as most Mobile PCs work with 120 or 240V. CHECK THE LABEL ON THE CHARGER BRICK. The Cell charger may or may not work on both...read the brick lable. The router will also have a DC brick...read it.
The router, shaver, and clock will require voltage conversion. This is a more complex than just the plug adapter. Since these are low-current devices, a cheaper voltage converter will work. When you have things that draw lots of current, the voltage converters become VERY expensive.
Now, in Europe, the electricity operates at 240V at 50Hz vs. 120V/60Hz in the US. The Votlage can be converted, but the frequency cannot. Simple electric devices probably won't have a problem, but when you start getting into more sophisticated electronics you may have problems. The only thing that might have a problem is your alarm clock...you may hear a lot more noise than you want to and/or it may not sound good.
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From: denver
power strip will work fine.
-the portable pc may draw some power, verify your converter matches the pc's requriements printed in its brick.
-verify the voltage, frequency and the wall receptical configurations, each country may be different and or have no set standard.
-call (skype) your hotel and or business contact:
-maybe your hotel has NAmerican converters you can use?
-some electronic devices take 120/220/50/60 but not the average.
-cell phone:
is it locked to your current NAmerican providor? cell formats varry, the gringo CDMA format is not widely accepted anywhere. even with GSM make sure your cell phone has the correct frequencies for the country your in. while there you may be able to buy a sim card to re dedefine your cell but lo probability the cell will work. NAmerica has junk cell equipment.
find a travel forum like this one for japan: http://forum.japantoday.com/
-the portable pc may draw some power, verify your converter matches the pc's requriements printed in its brick.
-verify the voltage, frequency and the wall receptical configurations, each country may be different and or have no set standard.
-call (skype) your hotel and or business contact:
-maybe your hotel has NAmerican converters you can use?
-some electronic devices take 120/220/50/60 but not the average.
-cell phone:
is it locked to your current NAmerican providor? cell formats varry, the gringo CDMA format is not widely accepted anywhere. even with GSM make sure your cell phone has the correct frequencies for the country your in. while there you may be able to buy a sim card to re dedefine your cell but lo probability the cell will work. NAmerica has junk cell equipment.
find a travel forum like this one for japan: http://forum.japantoday.com/
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 2,048
Likes: 8
From: Long Island, New York, US
Originally Posted by steven975,Aug 21 2005, 03:19 AM
the answer is tricky.
I'm willing to bet your laptop will work with just a plug adapter as most Mobile PCs work with 120 or 240V. CHECK THE LABEL ON THE CHARGER BRICK. The Cell charger may or may not work on both...read the brick lable. The router will also have a DC brick...read it.
The router, shaver, and clock will require voltage conversion. This is a more complex than just the plug adapter. Since these are low-current devices, a cheaper voltage converter will work. When you have things that draw lots of current, the voltage converters become VERY expensive.
Now, in Europe, the electricity operates at 240V at 50Hz vs. 120V/60Hz in the US. The Votlage can be converted, but the frequency cannot. Simple electric devices probably won't have a problem, but when you start getting into more sophisticated electronics you may have problems. The only thing that might have a problem is your alarm clock...you may hear a lot more noise than you want to and/or it may not sound good.
I'm willing to bet your laptop will work with just a plug adapter as most Mobile PCs work with 120 or 240V. CHECK THE LABEL ON THE CHARGER BRICK. The Cell charger may or may not work on both...read the brick lable. The router will also have a DC brick...read it.
The router, shaver, and clock will require voltage conversion. This is a more complex than just the plug adapter. Since these are low-current devices, a cheaper voltage converter will work. When you have things that draw lots of current, the voltage converters become VERY expensive.
Now, in Europe, the electricity operates at 240V at 50Hz vs. 120V/60Hz in the US. The Votlage can be converted, but the frequency cannot. Simple electric devices probably won't have a problem, but when you start getting into more sophisticated electronics you may have problems. The only thing that might have a problem is your alarm clock...you may hear a lot more noise than you want to and/or it may not sound good.
Wall socket --> power adapter plug --> voltage transformer --> 6-plug power strip --> all my devices ?
Transformer/converter mean the same thing, right? I've heard of both. The above setup would allow me to require only one power adapter and one voltage transformer (maybe they sell the adapter and transformer as one piece perhaps).
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 2,048
Likes: 8
From: Long Island, New York, US
Originally Posted by jah,Aug 21 2005, 10:59 AM
power strip will work fine.
-the portable pc may draw some power, verify your converter matches the pc's requriements printed in its brick.
-verify the voltage, frequency and the wall receptical configurations, each country may be different and or have no set standard.
-call (skype) your hotel and or business contact:
-maybe your hotel has NAmerican converters you can use?
-some electronic devices take 120/220/50/60 but not the average.
-cell phone:
is it locked to your current NAmerican providor? cell formats varry, the gringo CDMA format is not widely accepted anywhere. even with GSM make sure your cell phone has the correct frequencies for the country your in. while there you may be able to buy a sim card to re dedefine your cell but lo probability the cell will work. NAmerica has junk cell equipment.
find a travel forum like this one for japan: http://forum.japantoday.com/
-the portable pc may draw some power, verify your converter matches the pc's requriements printed in its brick.
-verify the voltage, frequency and the wall receptical configurations, each country may be different and or have no set standard.
-call (skype) your hotel and or business contact:
-maybe your hotel has NAmerican converters you can use?
-some electronic devices take 120/220/50/60 but not the average.
-cell phone:
is it locked to your current NAmerican providor? cell formats varry, the gringo CDMA format is not widely accepted anywhere. even with GSM make sure your cell phone has the correct frequencies for the country your in. while there you may be able to buy a sim card to re dedefine your cell but lo probability the cell will work. NAmerica has junk cell equipment.
find a travel forum like this one for japan: http://forum.japantoday.com/
The laptop and phone supports both power formats, but the router and shaver do not.
Registered User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 5,094
Likes: 6
From: Vienna, VA
the voltage converter will have an integrated plug adapter most likely.
some of your devices, like the laptop, may not need a voltage converter, just the simple plug adaptor. Most laptops will work fine on 240V, but read the power brick.
some of your devices, like the laptop, may not need a voltage converter, just the simple plug adaptor. Most laptops will work fine on 240V, but read the power brick.
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 2,048
Likes: 8
From: Long Island, New York, US
Originally Posted by steven975,Aug 21 2005, 10:36 PM
the voltage converter will have an integrated plug adapter most likely.
some of your devices, like the laptop, may not need a voltage converter, just the simple plug adaptor. Most laptops will work fine on 240V, but read the power brick.
some of your devices, like the laptop, may not need a voltage converter, just the simple plug adaptor. Most laptops will work fine on 240V, but read the power brick.
http://www.magellans.com/store/Phone___Ele...riesEA230?Args=
The EuroSurge - it is a power plug adaptor and surge protector in one, and also has 2 USA sockets. My laptop is universal and so is the mobile phone charger. I'm going to pick up a Braun Cruzer electric shaver (cheap $$) which also supports universal power sources. The alarm clock will be battery powered. As far as the router - too much work. Might as well pick one up over there if I really need one.
I hope this settles it - thanks for the feedback.
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