Power Adapters/Converters!?! Somebody help me NOT FRY my incoming Macbook Air.. 0:)

[samroberto]

Hey all you MBA travelers...

So, chances are most of you have had to convert power or something to not fry your laptop and other vital electrics .. If so, please lend me some advice.

I'll be in England on an upcoming trip - and I know they don't use the same voltage ( i think it's like 220 V ??).
If so, how do I avoid frying my macbook air and other electrics, like my iPhone, camera battery, and shaver. ?
- I didn't know if the magsafe adapter had that built in or something, so as to just buy a weird 3-prong adapter...
I saw the set of adapters available on Apple's site, but those would then only work for my laptop charger. I'm sure I could find the UK 3-prong to US-adapter... but what about voltage? I've never traveled overseas and had to convert power before, so if you guys know what to do, please elaborate !
(could I just buy an adapter and plug in a power strip or something?)

Thanks in advance!




How do you find out more about honey? Ask bees.

 

[silverblack]

Read the fine print on the Apple AC adapters - they should specify the input voltage from ~100V to 230V.

 

[aristobrat]

Read the fine print on the Apple AC adapters - they should specify the input voltage from ~100V to 230V.

Right. Most anything with a power brick should specify the voltage input. Might have to google about electric razor and stuff, but it shouldn't be too hard.

samroberto, if you end up with something that can't handle the volts, you may need to buy a power converter. If you do, then you need to check out watts. When I went to Germany with friends, one with a Dell notebook that couldn't handle the volts traveled with a cheap converter. Turns out the converter could only give out 60w. His laptop required 85w. The notebook would work with the converter, but it wouldn't work AND charge at the same time. He'd have to turn the notebook off for it to charge.

Anyhow, your Apple stuff should be fine over there -- just need the right prongs. Hopefully the rest of your stuff isn't too much of a PITA.

 

[samroberto]

sweet thanks!! So all I'd need to do would be get a socket adapter. Laptop taken care of..
Now what about like a camera charger ?? I'll have my iPhone charger too but I'm assuming it will work like the MagSafe? (I will check shortly just to be sure). For other appliances, is there like a converter power strip? Or do most all AC chargers today mostly tolerate higher V ??

Thanks!

 

[bigandy]

Most AC chargers are worldwide friendly these days, but the best thing to do is to check the product's user guide or actual AC adapter.

If one is not compatible, get yourself a voltage adapter - something many Americans bring to the UK despite not really needing it.

You don't need a power strip, really. Why not just charge one thing at once?

Alternatively, if that's totally out of the question, bring an adapter for each item. A little under two dollars each is hardly going to kill you. I wouldn't recommend the power bar thing - one of my friends came over with one recently, and it didn't react well to the higher voltage.

You and your weird two pin, low voltage stuff.

 

[hhasbrouck]

Was the plug adapter successful?

Just wondering if you (samroberto) were successful in the use of the power adapter? I just arrived in Italy, changed to my 2 prong euro plug in the 45Wmag adapter, used a converter for the 2 to three prong Italian plug and noticed that the batt was not charging. It will power up, and the LED displays green.

Do you have any insights or did I just fry my new batt?
~thanks

 

[aristobrat]

It will power up, and the LED displays green.

Do you have any insights or did I just fry my new batt?
~thanks

If you click on the battery icon in the menu bar, how charged does the computer think the battery is? Weird that the power adapter would think it fully charged (thus the green LED) and it not charge...

 

[aleksandra.]

I don't think you risk anything, although you still should check what input voltage your things can take. Most EU countries have 230V standard (I believe UK actually has/used to have 240V, not 220V), which EU is trying to enforce. Many people buy laptops in US (and no, it isn't illegal or anything) and they work just fine in Europe. No fried AC adapters as far as I know.

You and your weird two pin, low voltage stuff.

Don't most European countries use two pin Europlug?

 

[mojohanna]

I don't think you risk anything, although you still should check what input voltage your things can take. Most EU countries have 230V standard (I believe UK actually has/used to have 240V, not 220V), which EU is trying to enforce. Many people buy laptops in US (and no, it isn't illegal or anything) and they work just fine in Europe. No fried AC adapters as far as I know.


Don't most European countries use two pin Europlug?

I have found that it is not necessary to travel with a power converter for Apple products. I have been to China, Hong Kong, Japan, Germany and Italy with no need other than the prong adapters for everything I carry which includes laptop, ipod, canon camera charger and Nikon camera charger.

Yes, most, if not all, EU countries use the two prong plug. UK may still use the 3 prong (a la Hong Kong) but I have not been there in 18 years so I cannot say for sure.

 

[donga]

you should be alright with the adapter (make sure first), but you might need the plug adapter.

i was in africa with my pbook and the only thing i needed was the french 2-pin plug, the power worked great otherwise (when it was on)

 

[aleksandra.]

Yes, most, if not all, EU countries use the two prong plug. UK may still use the 3 prong (a la Hong Kong) but I have not been there in 18 years so I cannot say for sure.

I wasn't really asking, you know . And yes, they still use it.

 

[hhasbrouck]

Had to reset the Power Manager

Many thanks All!

When I check the batt status - it told me it was not charging. Went to apple support forums and found the link listed below. I had to reset the Power Manager.

Troubleshooting a MacBook Air that won't turn on
Link: http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2043

After reset - light turned to amber and the Batt is charging now. All appears to be well today.