Converter question

Hi Guys
Can you help Me out
I have a friend whose is coming over from the states and she bringing her lap top with her
the question is
I live in the Uk and I know for fact that America wattage is different to the Uk
I want to know is there a gadget that makes it safe for her lap top to convert to mine power supply
many thank

 

I would have her contact the maker of the pc, and yes parts of Eourpe run on 230v not 120v.
I dont think you should take for granted the voltage is the same. At least google around and check.

 

Thanks guys
I will past the massage on

 

Whoa!!!! Do NOT assume this!!! Universal power supplies are NOT universally used. While MOST PC PSUs will automatically correct for different supply voltages, many do not. You could surely fry a PSU, or trip a breaker, if the supply does not. But more importantly, this is a notebook, not a PC. Therefore the PSU is likely little more than a step-down transformer, and the notebook's INTERNAL power regulator/charging circuits then breaks it down further for the motherboard and attached peripherals. If you connect a notebook power supply made for 120V to a 120V source, depending on design, the output might be 10V - assuming an arbitrary 12:1 "turns ratio" for the transformer. Take that power supply to the UK and feed it 240V, if it does not burn up, the same power supply will output 20V - almost certainly frying the notebook's regulator circuits.

So NEVER assume a power supply is universal - and always remember that anything that plugs into the wall, can kill.

Well, your facts are not quite accurate. 1 watt = 1 volt x 1 ampere anywhere in the universe - even in the UK - its one of those Laws of Physics. The voltage in the US is 120V and in the UK, they use 240V. What this means is to achieve the same amount of watts - you need less current.

600Watts = 120V x 5A in the US which equals 600Watts = 240V x 2.5A in the UK

What your friend needs to do is inspect her power supply now. It will be stamped with its electrical characteristics. If the supply says 120/240VAC for the input side, she is safe, and will only need to worry about a plug adapter, and not a power adapter. If the supply says 110-120VAC input only, then she will need a power converter such as one of these, or the one plodr suggested.

 

I Have posted the Power supply in another thread here
but I qoute "AC ADAPTOR – IBM

110-240V

50-60HZ"
thats the power adapter she has i just recently brought the fuji plug adapter hoping that will be enough it very similiar to the one that plodr gave
but looking again she will need the one that you suggested sighs

 

Then all you need to ensure is you have the necessary plug adapter. You do not have to worry about converting any voltages which means the converter plodr suggested is not needed. She just needs the right adaptor.

 

thanks guys
i think she has the right adapter
an fuji universal adapter

 

They are a little scary looking, but they work.

http://www.cellularfactory.com/b/FUJI_FILM_FinePix_S3_Pro__/34646a.jpg

 

lol
very scarry
this is the one shes got me think
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fuji-Worldwide-Travel-Plug-Adapter/dp/B0007SQJQE

ok why isnt the picture showing here

 

Europe and Uk are both definitely different in their voltages, you wouldn't believe the amount of people that would plug 120v devices into a 220/240 v outlet and fry the power supply. The other thing you need to be careful about is using a unit/device that runs using 60hz instead of 50 hz runs slower and will eventually kill the device. I ran an American microwave oven for a year thru a transformer but still only had 50 Hz, that thing worked but it moaned and groaned finally gave up the ghost but that was Ok, as it was bulky and I didn't really want to ship it back. And if you have ever been bitten by 110/120 you don't want to get bitten by 220/240 mmm makes ya wanna sing high notes...

Steve