need help with power issue for laptop

[bcnvcanada]

Please to assist. We are leaving today for a cruise to europe. We weren't taking the laptop, but have changed are minds about taking the laptop. We have an adaptor, Will we be alright in Spain, Italy with an adaptor or will we need a watt convertor? Thanks

[Toto2Kansas]

It you are from the U.S./Canada and your laptop is 110V, you will need a convertor if you are staying in any hotels as Europe is 220V. But onboard the ship, you will have access to 110V in each stateroom.

[borgy]

Both my laptops have power adaptors that are dual voltage (as do all of our electronics). I've never taken a convertor, just the plug adaptor.

[bcnvcanada]

The laptop brick reads 100-240v 50/60hz---We both a plug and a convertor. Do we need both. Thanks again,

[Coral]

Most recent electronics will work in both 110/220. Look at the power adapter with your laptop and it should say just 110 or 110/220. If it says both, you will just need the plug adapter. Where I work, I have a lot of coworkers who travel to Europe and almost everything they are taking now as far as laptops are now dual voltage.

[Toto2Kansas]

It your laptop can switch between 110/220, then all you will need is the adaptor. Enjoy!

[Coral]

The laptop brick reads 100-240v 50/60hz---We both a plug and a convertor. Do we need both. Thanks again,

 

Agree with Toto. You just need the plug adapter. You do not need the voltage converter.

[paul929207]

You sill need the adaptor to go from the North American 3 prong plug style to the European style. Since you laptop will operate on 110 or 220, you will not need the convertor.

[spongerob]

You will be fine without the converter since your power supply already does that for you. You just need to silly-looking plug thingies. If by chance you notice smoke curling out from your laptop when you plug it in, remember that all advice posted here is free, and worth every penny. :)

[sirwired]

You do have to pay attention though... while most (if maybe not all) laptops will be fine, there are other things that do need a converter.

 

I have a $100 travel alarm/white noise machine from Brookstone, and I found out the hard way that it was not universal voltage. Luckily it just burnt out the DC adapter, and I was able to steal one from a cheap iPod dock that worked. (And, oddly enough, the $12 iPod dock does have a universal voltage adapter.)

 

I was not happy with Brookstone... you'd think a $100 alarm clock would spend an extra fifty cents to get a universal voltage wall wart.

 

SirWired

[bcnvcanada]

thanks everyone !!!!!!i knew that i could count on cc . laptop that we were not taking in going to get into the carry on now. we leave in a couple of hours. again thanks bcnvcanada

[Crzn-Life]

Most laptops have converters that will work fine on either 110/220V. I've taken mine all over Europe and all I've needed is a converter plug. Be sure to take one because even though most hotels can provide you with a converter many times they won't accept the 3 prong plug typical in the US. Also be sure you have a universal converter because the plugs vary from country to country.

[northwestbear]

We learned the hard way.... we usually take an extension cord when we travel - since you never know where the outlets will be and I use a CPAP machine... while your electronics will propably handle a 210 Volt - extension cords from the US will not.

[-Lew-]

With the number of electronics and electrical appliances we bring with us when we travel ever increasing, we found the Belkin Mini Surge Protector with USB Charger quite useful. For European trips it allows us to charge and use a number of appliances at the same time while needing only one adapter. It's small and the 3-prong plug rotates 360°.

 

You can find info on it here.

 

Lew

[taxatty]

With the number of electronics and electrical appliances we bring with us when we travel ever increasing, we found the Belkin Mini Surge Protector with USB Charger quite useful. For European trips it allows us to charge and use a number of appliances at the same time while needing only one adapter. It's small and the 3-prong plug rotates 360°.

 

You can find info on it here.

 

Lew

I agree--I've found this item to be indispensable on both foreign and domestic trips to let you plug in a camera, cell phone and other items that let you charge electronics with the USB and regular 3-prong outlets at the same time and give you extra outlets to use as well. Almost every department and electronics store sells it.

 

Les

[billie5]

The statement about extension cords in incorrect. For fixed resistance devices (some irons, water heaters, etc) which will run hot on 220 v and draw more current, a US extension cord may not be appropriate. However, for electronic devices it should be just fine, as their power demands are fixed, not their resistance. Well, at least the ones which do not turn into toasters. :) Just remember the plug adapter.

 

Bill