ILX TRAVELISTS: UK power adapters for US electronics help plz thx

The laptop charger is good to go, I just need to get the 3-prong socket adapter I believe, yeah. Ed I have no idea what your second sentence refers to.

Definitely get all this shit sorted in the US. As for the Powerbook adapter, the two-pronged thing you might notice can be separated from the rest of the box. Just take that small piece off (and make certain not to lose it) and attach a figure-8 to UK plug cable, which should be easy to find in the UK. The adapter is configured to be able to handle all international socket standards, so it'll be fine.

Tracer I'll bring you some pomade if you SHOW UP Mr. "Oh I Don't Think That Week Is Good For Me"!!!!

Tom I would say something about your question but I'm being schooled already, so I have nothing to add, besides the fact that those 20 pound "adaptors" that let you plug straight in can, well, die awful deaths relatively quickly. And the one time I tried plugging an American coffee maker into a transformer I only got about half a pot before the fuse blew. Maybe you're not supposed to do that, though. Guess I had something to say after all, huh? Anyway that iGo thing looks rad.

x-post: yeah Ally I dunno it's just oh FINAL EXAMS for the thing I've spent THOUSANDS on.

x-x-post: well I I certainly don't want it in that condition, suzy!!

Also if this is the weekend we do understand the whole monastic vibe but only TO A POINT. You will not go on a bender under these circumstances but seeing friends is GOOD. Be assured Ally, he is one of the stars of his year so very unlikely to suck in the exams.

It is the 19th-23rd that we shall be in London. That is many hours in which one can spare an hour. And remember the pomade.

Not terribly expensive ($15-20 maybe?), and saves you from worrying about voltages, or lugging around more power adapters (these things are really pretty tiny, just the two plugs on either end). I bought one of these recently, and I've been very happy with it.

Don't bother with an adaptor for a hairdryer. As others have said, they're expensive and they break easily. You can have my UK hairdryer, it's got four settings and I don't know what they are.

Standard plug adapters work for most computers, video cameras, minidisk chargers, phone chargers. I thought you had to get a really really fancy phone for it to work in Europe and America? Does everyone have the fancy ones these days?

I recommend buying a travel hairdryer. Mine was about £15 from Boots and is pretty decent. It has adaptor plugs for Europe and the US and a thing at the back which you screw round using a coin to change the wattage so it doesn't blow up in your face.

Stevem, I had trouble with my Nokia charger in Denver - it started charging for 5 seconds, then cut out. I wondered if it might be a wattage thing.

What sort of cell phone do you have as I have spare nokia and sony/ericsson chargers.

If you are serious about lending me cables that would be awesome, see the thread question for an actual real email address

+
Haha "heat producing devices" this would include my Powerbook G4, wouldn't it?

Just kidding.

I actually didn't really worry about any of this until this week, because the only electrical thing I plan to bring is my hair dryer (though I won't now). I was earlier operating under the assumption that the hotel room would have a hair dryer, like a US hotel, but in consideration of how difficult it was to find a hotel with a BATHROOM in the room, I imagine perhaps I was assuming far too much? Alas. Anyway we should get together with all of you then on Tuesday to steal your things and have a drink.

*cough*anynightbutfridaypleaseformeandseveralothers*cough*

• Fitting a terrorist, narcotics trafficking, criminal, or other profile.

• Involvement in black-market activity.

• Discovery by the host government of material on your person or in your luggage that is banned or strictly controlled.

• Associating with individuals the government labels as dissidents.

• Having language fluency, declared relatives, or organizational affiliations in the country you are visiting.

there are usually hair dryers, but you'd have better luck with someone standing over you and blowing on your head. the kind that are most common have a long flexible tube attached to a nozzle thing that emits a feeble whoosh of lukewarm air. i would not wish it on my worst enemy.

Dude, the message is supposed to self-destruct in seven seconds. Not be posted on the Intard-web. Did you just Plame yourself?

I need converters for my cellphone and iPod...

I got prices from two different places in town for power/voltage converters... Home Depot and Radio Shack..

Radio Shacks sez: Radio Shack brand converter = $25(US)
Home Depot sez: RCA brand converter = $8 or $9(US)

My instinct tells me, for many obvious reasons, I should go to Home Depot, given that Radio Shack usually means "dead on arrival" in my book, when it comes to their electronics quality.

Anyone here want to defend the Radio Shack converter as a great and wonderful thing over the RCA one? Maybe the price difference means something I'm not aware of?

Looks like I have to call Radio Shack and see what the deal with their converter is.

Ed, would iPod charger fall in the same category as laptop charger or cellphone charger? I'm guessing the latter based on the wattage of the iPod charger.. which can range from 40 to 96 watts. but who knows..

(sorry Ed, couldn't resist :) )

Our hotel room had an iron and a hairdryer already provided. I should expect most hotels do this now unless you stay in something super inexpensive (the Russell was $150 a night, not bad at all esp. considering location).

(OTOH, it looks like I'll have to get that Radio Shack 40W voltage converter for my cellphone charger, but apparently it will work all over the world, so I might as well get it.... then again, what the fuck am i saying? it's RADIO SHACK... sigh)

Also, does anyone have a clue about Nokia phone chargers? Am I best off just buying a US one over there?

Finally, if I buy an iPod over there, will using it here just be a question of a 3 pin - 2 pin adapter, or something more complicated?

I don't even think it's as complicated as that. The AC adaptor (for when you're not charging it via Firewire/USB2) comes apart into two pieces, and I think you can buy the but with the actual plug on in an Apple shop. Or the whole thing I suppose. Actually, I have no idea. But I'm sure someone said something about this once. But yeah, if all else fails, an adaptor will be fine I think. I'm never entirely sure when the voltage thing matters, but I know people have bought iPods in the US and used them here fine.

And the laptop will be fine with a US plud adapter. The DC converter you describe can deal with the full range of wall current the globe offers.

Have fun! Boston sucks!

Hi! What do i buy in New York today to plug in my laptop in London tomorrow?

(or will my big-chain hotel be able to sell me one bcz Americans all the time)

like, this?

https://www.radioshack.com/products/radioshack-eu-uk-au-removable-plugs-black?variant=20331034885

You need something that deals with the different wattage. Buy at NY airport if all else fails. Don't rely on our hotels.

like, this?

https://www.radioshack.com/products/radioshack-eu-uk-au-removable-plugs-black?variant=20331034885🔗

Those pictures don't fill me with confidence. Airport prices are a little higher but they cater for these situations.

ok, thx

morbs - take a look at your power brick and see if it's rated for 240V (i'd say it's likely)

if so, you'd just need something to adapt to the different outlet plug. could probably pick up something in chinatown for $5 or something

ive read that my laptop 'brick' deals with the wattage diff, tho i haven't checked it today at home.

xp!

ilx comin' through with the full range of contradictory posts :)

morbs if it is rated for 240V, then yeah that radioshack thing would work. you wouldn't need all of those, just the one on the right (the three prong one).

i suspect the Shack does not sell separately. i have to go home and pack too.

The branch of Robert Dyas at 123 Tottenham Court Road (minutes walk from where your staying IIRC) will have these in stock unless you are spectacularly unlucky: http://www.robertdyas.co.uk/connect-it-uk-travel-adaptor

There are many shops up and down that street who'll meet your adapter needs at a similar price if Dyas are out. Don't fret!

you're, obv

ilx has a lot invested in this holiday it better fucking be good

ok! there's also an electronics store in my JFK Terminal