Travel Technology - 110v to 220v Adapter for Laptops in Europe

Howdy all,
I´m in Austria visiting family, and have my laptop from Canada.

What do I need to use my North American laptop (110v) here, with 220v service?

I did do a search on this forum, but found more answers for aircraft in-seat ports.

My dad has a converter that could be used (220 to 110v), but its only for 2-pronged devices (laptop is 3 prongs).

Is there a particular converter to use?

Thanks,
4stroke.

Your laptops power adapter shoud probably say 110- 240 v. I do not think there are any laptops these days that are not. So, all you will need is an adaptor for the wall outlet. You can get these at walmart, radioshack, ets for about $2 or so. You should not need a converter.

Howdy all,
I´m in Austria visiting family, and have my laptop from Canada.

What do I need to use my North American laptop (110v) here, with 220v service?

I did do a search on this forum, but found more answers for aircraft in-seat ports.

My dad has a converter that could be used (220 to 110v), but its only for 2-pronged devices (laptop is 3 prongs).

Is there a particular converter to use?

Thanks,
4stroke.

Virtually all laptop power supplies work on 100-240 volts.

The only thing required should be either a plug adapter or another AC power cord that plugs into the power supply.

No voltage manipulation should be required.

Absolutely don't get any kind of voltage converter. I used a friend's in Spain a while back and it made the little box on the power supply get so hot that it burned itself out.

Y...You can get these at walmart, radioshack, ets for about $2 or so...Those may not be options for the OP, but any Austrian store that carries any type of electrical or office supplies should have the plug adapter you need. In my experience, they tend to be cheaper in Europe, where many people have North American devices for one reason or another, than in the States, where they're sold to travelers who are often believed to have money. As previously posted, that's all you need. (The Continental Europe adapter is one of the less expensive ones. A UK adapter, which has to have an internal fuse, would cost a lot more.)

All you need is this (provided that your power supply says 100-240V):

http://z.about.com/d/goeurope/1/0/c/l/1/plug-adapter.jpg

The 3rd prong will stick outside the 2 others - I've used such in the past without any problems.

HTSC

Absolutely don't get any kind of voltage converter. I used a friend's in Spain a while back and it made the little box on the power supply get so hot that it burned itself out.

I let someone borrow my netbook and they used it with a voltage regulator and it made a really weird noise.

With the possible exception of beauty products (Hair dryer, curling iron, ect) I don't think there are any products you would travel with that aren't 110-240v

I've never seen a laptop that didn't have worldwide power.


As for devices to convert voltage, there are two basic types:

1) High power devices for use *ONLY* with mechanical type devices. They're fine for things like hair dryers but must not be used with electronics. They do *NOT* actually convert the voltage, they play with the waveform so that a 110V mechanical device will draw the right amount of power overall.

2) Low power devices for use with electronics. These have fairly strict limits on the power they can handle (I've got a couple with limits around 50 watts) but are safe for electronics. Higher power versions of these do exist but as the power limit goes up so does the weight. I've got one that works in the opposite direction (although internally there is almost no difference--the heart is exactly the same, just wired the other way around) and has a 300 watt limit--and it weighs several pounds.

I had a nice and thin Targus travel adapter that said 100-120V, 200-240V on the label. I went to Malaysia and it blew a fuse. So I said what the hack? As it turns out, that adapter use two kinds of high voltage side fused plugs, one for 100-120V and the other 200-240V.

I still have a thin Targus travel adapter. This newer one is smarter. The same plug works from 100-240V. It has a DC input for planes and cars too.

...A UK adapter, which has to have an internal fuse, would cost a lot more.)
About US$1 in Hong Kong.

I...About US$1 in Hong Kong.That's quite a deal for a legal UK adapter. Are you sure they didn't leave out the fuse and pass the juice straight through?

That's quite a deal for a legal UK adapter. Are you sure they didn't leave out the fuse and pass the juice straight through?

The last one I bought has a fuse in it, and the red protective covers for the holes.

thanks for all the advice...
It turns out Roberto99, you were correct.

All I needed was a laptop-type cord that fits the wall outlets here, and the other end is universal, fits into the laptop adapter, and bingo bango, it worked!!

Cheers,
4stroke.

:cool: