Is this safe?

[Twilight Terror]

My mum had trouble charging her Motorola V3 and I couldn't charge the rechargable batteries. I'm a little concerned because this year I need to charge the laptop and DSLR. I'm wondering whether it would be worth just getting hold of the US power cable for both rather than having to find adapters and converters for the volts. Any ideas people?

 

[Danauk]

We take a 6 way extension lead which DH put an American plug on. We also take a voltage convertor with us so I can still use my hair straighteners. My DH bought it from Maplins and we find it very usefull.

 

[wayneg]

We have taken Dell laptops with no problems and Our Toshibas are fine. Also no problems with Canon DSLR. All problems seem to be with phones.

 

[Twilight Terror]

We have taken Dell laptops with no problems and Our Toshibas are fine. Also no problems with Canon DSLR. All problems seem to be with phones.

Okay. Great about the camera! I can't be bothered with my phone. Shall prob turn on and off again once a day in case I have text messages, but that's all. My laptop is a Fujitsu Siemens though - Siemens do phones - eeek. I hope I'm not going to have a problem with it!!!

 

[MorningGlory]

Another question.....

My MP4, for example, takes 5 hours to charge fully. With half the voltage, will it take double the time i.e 10 hours?

 

[Phil Harris]

Perhaps this explanation will help:
UK voltage is 220v (it used to be 240, but it has been harmonised with the rest of Europe)
US voltage is 110v

If you have an electrical item, it needs to have enough voltage supplied to it to make it work, or one of these two things will happen:
1) It won't work
2) It'll work badly

Items such as GHDs and hairdriers will work badly, because they 'use' the voltage to make heat - less voltage means longer to heat up.

Most small electrical items, including phones, MP3, Ipod, laptops, cameras etc, need nowhere near 240 or even 110v to make them work. They take power from the wall, and pass it through an a transformer to ensure that the item gets the correct voltage (usually about 10 v). The transformer will either be a big plug (one that gets warm and is bigger than a normal plug - eg a mobile plug) or a 'block' in the middle of the cable. When you take these to the US, you need to make sure that the plug is rated for 110v. Somewhere (usually between the prongs) it will say either '220v or '110v~220v' is it says the latter, it will work in the US, and shouldn't take any longer than it would in the UK. I have loads of Nokia chargers, and not all of them work in the US, so this may be what everyone who mentions phone problems may be having problems with.
Phil

 

[MorningGlory]

Thanks Phil, just checked my chargers and they are all 100-240

 

[wayneg]

Great explanation Phil, where you been for past few years?
Just checked the Motorola charger, just says 230v so thats why it would not work. The new Samsung says 100-240v so we should be OK if what you say is correct.
Thank you.

 

[Twilight Terror]

How bizzarre. I know my mum had the Motorola V3 and I have the V3i, but my charger says it's 100-240v~, as does the laptop and camera cables. So I guess I'll be okay then?

 

[we_love_epcot2]

Just watch your items will run on US voltage ok (110volts).
Some items say on them something like 110 - 240 v, but some are only designed to run on UK voltage (240v) and wont run on US voltage.

I took some walkie talkies and they wouldnt charge up at all. Where as my sat nav would, but it just took longer than in the UK. Some mobile phone chargers are designed to be used worldwide, some not.

I've done all sort of dodgy wiring jobs to get things charged, so i wouldnt freak out at using a 4 way adaptor.

But i would say use it when you are in the room and not asleep - just to be sure it doesn't go up in flames and you can keep an eye on it!!

Also, if you are thinking of using your hire car to charge things - be aware they sometimes disable the cigarette lighter to stop you smoking in the car - which also stops you using it to charge/power items (like my sat nav!!)

PS - GHDs = a brand of hair straighteners

 

[wayneg]

Also, if you are thinking of using your hire car to charge things - be aware they sometimes disable the cigarette lighter to stop you smoking in the car - which also stops you using it to charge/power items (like my sat nav!!)

Never heard of this before, any companies in particular? Never had a problem with Dollar thankfully.

 

[we_love_epcot2]

I honestly cant remember who it was without looking through our paperwork.

But this has happened two years in a row, so i thought it was more than a coincidence, especially as they had taken the cigar lighter away, and put "no smoking" signs all over the dash!!

Its just worth having another option on hand (i'll be taking my Tom Tom wall charger with me next time, so i dont have to "adapt" the camcoder charger!)

 

[wayneg]

Mines a PDA with GPS housing and has to be plugged in to work. Dont use it much in Florida as I know my way around pretty well but will need it in Vagas and Cali later in year.

 

[MorningGlory]

Never heard of this before, any companies in particular? Never had a problem with Dollar thankfully.

Good to know Dollar hasn't disabled their power ports. I bought a wireless audio transmitter so I could play my mp4 through the car stereo and it needs to be plugged into a cig lighter socket.

 

[wayneg]

Good to know Dollar hasn't disabled their power ports. I bought a wireless audio transmitter so I could play my mp4 through the car stereo and it needs to be plugged into a cig lighter socket.

I got one of these for MP3 player, last 2 cars I have had in Florida have had jack input.http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/3-5mm-3-5mm-j...QQihZ011QQcategoryZ116850QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[ziggybaby]

Great thread