re-charging your North American (110V) iPod in a 220V country. Need help?
I will be travelling to Thailand in about a month. I know that Thailand uses 220V electrical outlets (versus our 110V in Canada).
I've looked into "Step-Down Voltage Converters", and i'm thinking of purchasing this one at Canadian Tire for $21.99. However, I am rather worried.
Is it safe to charge my iPod (or even my digital camera battery) with a rinky-dinky Canadian Tire voltage converter? Does iPod/Apple have specific recommendations on what exact types of converters are safe to use, or will the Canadian Tire one suffice?
All Apple power supplies are both 120V (nominal standard for North America) and 240V (nominal standard for Europe and Asia), with support for between 100V and 240V. All you need is something that changes the physical plug. You can buy the Apple World Adapter kit, which snaps on the adapter in place of the North American plug, or you can use one from any other store.
I'm not sure of how you would do it with a camera, but you can charge any USB-chargable device off of either a USB 2 computer, or a USB power adapter (like the Apple iPod one).
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That power converter from Canadian Tire is good for hair dryers and such, but not good for electronic devices.
You can tell by it being light weight and covering from 50 to 1800 watts; a true transformer, good for electronic devices, is much heavier and one for 1800 watts is quite large.
You can buy a small, up to 50 Watt step-down transformer that would be suitable for electronic devices (up to 50 watts of course), but as John wrote, you don't need it since the Apple power supplies can be used with an input voltage of 100 to 240 volts.
I bet the same is true for the charger for your camera. Take a look at the nameplate on the charger to see if it doesn't say something like input voltage: 100 - 240 VAC, 50/60Hz.
The outlets in Thailand can apparently be of two types, either the flat two-prong like we use here, but not polarized or the two-prong they use in many European countries.
You can get a physical adapter like that at most dollar stores.
Be aware that things will run hot when plugged into the 220V outlet. The adapter will get hot as will your power supply. It isn't a problem but if you aren't ready for it it makes your wonder if all is well. I try not to leave things plugged in any longer than necessary.
Have a great trip.
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I will be travelling to Thailand in about a month. I know that Thailand uses 220V electrical outlets (versus our 110V in Canada).
I've looked into "Step-Down Voltage Converters", and i'm thinking of purchasing this one at Canadian Tire for $21.99. However, I am rather worried.
Is it safe to charge my iPod (or even my digital camera battery) with a rinky-dinky Canadian Tire voltage converter? Does iPod/Apple have specific recommendations on what exact types of converters are safe to use, or will the Canadian Tire one suffice?
Let me know plz!
thx,
M.
Do not, do not, do not plug your iPod power transformer into another "voltage converter" transformer. Connecting two transformers together is a fire hazzard.
As John Clay wrote, all Apple power supplies support voltages from 110 - 240 VAC. Go to the Apple online store and search for "Apple World Travel Adapter Kit". That's what you need.
Alternatively, you should be able to buy a simple adapter to change the North American flat-prong plug into whatever you'll need in Thailand. Note that you want just an adapter to change the plug - NOT a voltage transformer!
Sorry - but neither of the two posts above is corect.
Quote:
Be aware that things will run hot when plugged into the 220V outlet. The adapter will get hot as will your power supply. It isn't a problem but if you aren't ready for it it makes your wonder if all is well. I try not to leave things plugged in any longer than necessary.
At 220 volts, the power supply will draw half the current than at 110 volts - higher current will cause a rise in temperature if you have a poor connection, not higher voltage.
If anything, the adapter will run cooler.
And a power supply that can be used from 100 to 240 VAC is a switching power supply - they don't run hot because their efficiency is very high. Doesn't matter if the input is 110 or 220 volts. People use these same power supplies in Europe with 220 volt input and have them connected all day long without problems.
Quote:
Do not, do not, do not plug your iPod power transformer into another "voltage converter" transformer. Connecting two transformers together is a fire hazzard.
I don't follow this either. The whole AC power distribution network is based on transformers being connected together and there is certainly no fire hazard.
You have atep-up transformer at the power plant, then step-down transformers along the way to the final step-down distribution transformer that feeds your house and a few in the neighbourhood - connected to that are additional step-down transformers in TV's, stereos, etc,
What you can't do is use a transformerless power converter to drive a switching power supply, which, except for it's high frequency transformer, also does not incorporate a power transformer. But there is no problem connecting two power transformers together - I did that for the four years I lived in Europe to use 110 volt appliances, radios, computers etc. - 24 hours a day, with no problems.
Indeed my iPod charger is 100-240VAC, and so is my cell phone charger!!
Even my Phillishave razor's charger is 100-240V!!
I'm so happy!!!!!
Those are the only 3 electrical devices I am taking with me, and all 3 chargers are 100-240V!
Thx again boys n girls!!!!
MACMALL
Eh...before you jump with glee and plug in your phone charger and razor charger, check the frequency cycle, if it's 50 or 60 hz. Canada runs on 60 hertz, and if your charger only does that, it's gonna do something funky in a country that's 50. And Thailand is a 50 hz country.
Eh...before you jump with glee and plug in your phone charger and razor charger, check the frequency cycle, if it's 50 or 60 hz. Canada runs on 60 hertz, and if your charger only does that, it's gonna do something funky in a country that's 50. And Thailand is a 50 hz country.
It doesn't hurt to check the frequency, but all of the switching power supplies (which is what these must be to cover the full voltage range without selection switches) will handle 50 and 60 Hz.
So you are good to go except for the adapter to possibly convert the mechanical power pin arrangement.
PS: Frequency is important in devices that use synchronous motors like some clocks or inexpensive turntables.
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