universal voltage compatibility

[LeoAlpha]

going from USA 170 voltage to 220 foreign. Do my laptop and PDA chargers automatically adjust, or do I need new chargers? IF the answer is Yes, I'm going to bite something, hard. Also, if the answer is yes, where in the world do I get new chargers? I know you need a plug adaptor to fit the socket, but if you just do that without adjusting to voltage will fry the thing.

 

[becroydon]

is it a straight AC connection or does it have a transformer

 

[LeoAlpha]

By trasformer do you mean the little thingamabob you stick on the end to make it fit the outlet, or the big brick-like thing halfway through my laptop charger cord? (The PDA cradle doesn't have one.) Bec. the little outlet transformer is no problem- 1.99 at the local electronics store. But htey told me that my appliance would fry if it wasnt compatible with the voltage.

I just checked the label on the cradle plug, and it says INPUT 120V~. does that mean 120 and up, or just 120?

The label on the laptop brick says 110-240. I guess that includes 220?

 

[knuckle50]

going from USA 170 voltage to 220 foreign

where the hell'd you get 170 voltage in the us?

usually on power supplies, there is just a switch to switch it to 200 volts, but i dont know about laptops. does the charger plug even fit into the socket?

 

[theshackie11]

most laptops are auto sensing for voltage or have a manual switch on them, all you need is a converter for the plug itself for that country.You can get them at radioshack. as far as your pda
most do not convert 110 to 220 and you will need a voltage converter also available at radioshack

 

[hygor]

if your "brick" as you called it says 110 - 240 then all you need is a plug adapter (to make it fit the socket in europe) so the laptop will be fine... however you will need to either buy a transformer/voltage converter(radioshack, or any good electronics store will have one of these) for your PDA or source a european cradle for it (available from the manufacturer or off ebay)


*by transformer i mean a voltage transformer not a plug shape adapter. as yes you will fry the PDA on our more powerful current without getting a 220 to 110 converter!

 

[LeoAlpha]

Thanks, I think I get it. And the best part is, I dont need to fix up the PDA situation- my charger wasn't working, and they sent me one with all the adaptors and compatibilities.