Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific - Need for converters/adapters?

Hi all --

I am off to Australia in November. I am staying at the Marriott Sydney Harbour, the Marriott Sydney, and the Hilton Cairns over the duration of my stay. On my last trip to London, I noticed there were American outlets in the room, which was useful for charging camera batteries, etc. I bought a voltage converter when I was spending a bit of time in Italy awhile back, and discovered that I only needed the plug adapter.

Do these hotels have the same ammenties? If not, will I need a voltage converter as well as the plug adapter? If so, do you have any recommendations.

Thanks in advance!

It will depend, in part, on what devices you plan to plug in. I don't have any devices that are 110V only, so I just travel with a couple plug adapters anywhere I go.

We stayed in the Marriott Sydney Harbor in January and I don't remember if they had US-type plugs or not.

Depends on the devices. Power is 230/240V 50/60Hz.

You generlly find a US type socket in Hotel Bathrooms, labelled "Shavers Only".

That would be about the only place as generally only Oz/NZ sockets meet regulations.

Every hotel i have stayed in the South Pacific have only had the NZ/AU power points.

Your laptop powerpack should says something like this 100 - 240v~(My Apple MacBook says that range). then you should be fine.

Thanks all. I will check the voltages and purchase the plug adapters. I just want to be able to charge camera batteries, download pictures to my laptop, and charge my iPod for the flights. ;-)

Most charger devices will work with the different voltage, and you'd probably just need a plug adapter.

Every hotel i have stayed in the South Pacific have only had the NZ/AU power points.

Your laptop powerpack should says something like this 100 - 240v~(My Apple MacBook says that range). then you should be fine.

I have a Kensington 33197 laptop charger. It says 120V/2.2A 240V/1.3A. It blew up the second I plugged it into a 220V outlet in SIN Marriott. My lesson - always carry a converter - not an adapter.

BTW some hotels carry converters which they can loan you.

I have a Kensington 33197 laptop charger. It says 120V/2.2A 240V/1.3A. It blew up the second I plugged it into a 220V outlet in SIN Marriott. My lesson - always carry a converter - not an adapter.

BTW some hotels carry converters which they can loan you.

Interesting. I've used that model in four different continents, both 110 and 220 volts, including some places where the quality was pretty poor (lots of variations in voltage).
Not a single problem with the adapter.

Interesting. I've used that model in four different continents, both 110 and 220 volts, including some places where the quality was pretty poor (lots of variations in voltage).
Not a single problem with the adapter.

Thats interesting. It blew up on my first day, first 10 minutes there. I had to ration the power on the laptop :)

I thought I misread something on the label. Bought another of the same model because I like the compact size and already have the laptop pin etc.

Does the 1.3A have anything to do with this? While all the outlets look the same do some carry more watts?

Does the 1.3A have anything to do with this? While all the outlets look the same do some carry more watts?

Outlets don't "carry watts". They simply deliver the amount of current that the connected device needs.
Most outlets can deliver up to 10 Amps of current but your 33197 shouldn't come anywhere close (and if it tried to draw more than 10 Amps, you'd blow a fuse but the 33197 wouldn't break).

According to the label, the 33197 draws 2.2 Amps at 110 volts and 1.3 Amps at 240 volts. This means it shouldn't be anywhere near the current limit in the electrical network.

I think your device was faulty. I know people all over the world who use the 33197 without any problems.

Outlets don't "carry watts". They simply deliver the amount of current that the connected device needs.
Most outlets can deliver up to 10 Amps of current but your 33197 shouldn't come anywhere close (and if it tried to draw more than 10 Amps, you'd blow a fuse but the 33197 wouldn't break).

According to the label, the 33197 draws 2.2 Amps at 110 volts and 1.3 Amps at 240 volts. This means it shouldn't be anywhere near the current limit in the electrical network.

I think your device was faulty. I know people all over the world who use the 33197 without any problems.

My Macbook (2.4) says it uses 1.5amps on the Powerpack.

Living in New Zealand means everything i use has to be able to take 240V. Most of the time when i have destroyed a power pack is when i have left the wall switch on then plugged it in . Then comes the eltric cracking sound.

My Macbook (2.4) says it uses 1.5amps on the Powerpack.

Living in New Zealand means everything i use has to be able to take 240V. Most of the time when i have destroyed a power pack is when i have left the wall switch on then plugged it in . Then comes the eltric cracking sound.

Interesting. That is what I did. The outlet I used was at the desk and had a switch. So turn off the switch, plug your device and then turn the switch on? Why does this make a difference?

Interesting. That is what I did. The outlet I used was at the desk and had a switch. So turn off the switch, plug your device and then turn the switch on? Why does this make a difference?

Sometimes when you plug something into a 240V plug there is a spark between the to prongs. Where as this doesnt happen if you turn the power on after.

Yes, definitely make sure that the power point/socket is turned off before plugging a charger in (or any electrical device, in fact), then when everything is connected properly, turn the power point on.

You ought to be all right with charging devices (e.g. mobile/cell phones, iPods/MP3 players, laptops, cameras) but you will need a plug adapter. For other electrical goods (e.g. hair dryers — does anyone still travel with them?) you would need a voltage adapter.