OT: Lap-Tops in Foreign Countries
 

For you computer gurus out there...

My wife is giving a 3 year old HP laptop and printer to her parents who will be taking it back to Turkey with them. Our IT guy says that all they need is the plug adapter and not a step down transformer as 99.9 percent of lap tops are designed to work with dual voltages.

Correct?

Much Grass...

wierd... so not all countries are 110v 60 hz?

Yup, just about every PC has a switch, you just need the right power cord. But I take a converter when we travel. About $50 at Radio Shack IIRC.

110V? Just the Americas.

look on the power supply and see if it says it will handle 220-250. I've used a Dell all over the world, and haven't had any trouble using the standard power supply. It might get a little warm, but works fine. There isn't a switch on the laptop power supply, but it will say what it's input voltage range is.

Sometimes I've even used a US power strip, with the adapter on the power strip. That way You can power more than one laptop or other accessories that will handle the 200+ voltages

Laptops have a DC power supply. Those DC power supplies are usually good for a wide range of AC power. Usually all you need is the adapter. Sometimes the cord unplugs out of the DC power supply and you can just replace that cord.

Same goes for most stuff that has a DC power supply or "wall wart" like your Cell phone etc...

I used to ask for a converter in China till I read the label on my computer power supply and it said it would run on 110/220 both. Check the spec label on the power supply. I think they will be OK with it.
Elliot

Sometimes the 220v power supply has different plug in ends than the 110v

What do the wall plugs look like in Turkey?

You might needa adaptor for that...

allan, most models of laptops made now are deisgned to be universal. Actually, on most models, all is required is the end to be changed going from the wall to the AC adaptor. The IT guy is correct: The laptop transformers now have circuitry built in to automatically detect either 220V or 110V and anywhere from 50Hz to 60Hz power. You should be set, but double check the label, meaning you'll need your quadfocals out to see the little print. Look for INPUT: 110V-230VAC 50-60Hz and you should be set.

HP/Dell/Compaq/Apple/etc...all have gone to this.

b

:p

JK on the glasses poke

As others that stated, most modern laptop power supplies will handle the power systems of other countries with a plug adapter but you need to read the info on the power supply. My gateway laptop power supply states input voltage 100-240, 50-60 hz (and I used it over in Ireland, Scotland, and Germany this summer).

Don't take it for granted that it will work. I did that this summer in Germany and lost the battery charger for my digital camera.

Mike

Mine came with TWO converters.....

Isn't Japan also 110V?

Thanks for the info guys...SmileWavy

If you cant see the small print Allan, you can send it to me and i can take a look.

Take with you the little convertor 220v to 110vfrom Radio Shack with the extra plugs ($25). You can plug all kinds of stuff into it as you travel as different places have different plugs and voltages.

South America is slowly changing to 110v from 220v but hell the outlets aren't marked so ya have to be carefull. Europe is 220v mostly.