FOAK: Using AC-DC Adapters in the USA

Right then, I'm not afraid to admit that I'm a complete numpty when it
comes to thing electrical. This being the case, I would appreciate
any advice you seasoned travellers have about adaptors.

The story so far ...

I have an iRiver H10, lovely little thing it is, I'm planning to take
it to the States with me in a bit over a week so that I don;t have to
put up with my lecturer's choice of music in the minibus.

As yet they don't do a car charger for this, so I did a bit of delving
around and worked out that I probably needed a step-up converter to
enable me to charge it from the mains whilst I'm out there. I bought
one, it's arrived and guess what, due to the orientation of the UK
charger (big sticky up bit above the earth pin) it doesn't bloody fit!
Aaargh (1).

However, having read the numbers on the back of the charger, I'm
wondering whether it will work out there with the correct travel plug
adapter. It says that the input is 100-240V ~ 50/60Hz 350mA - the
input on the step-up adapter says 110V ~ 50/60Hz.

Now I'm sure there's probably some fundamental electrical thing that
I'm missing here but surely if the input ranges from 110-240V I should
be able to use it in the States without the step-up converter?

Any advice would be very much appreciated.


(1) Yes I am truly a fuckwit for not checking first, I know.

--
Elly - a confuzzled Pixie
ZX9R-E1 - <Giggles>
Spike - FZ400 - It's dead Jim!
MRO#32 ibW#25 BoTAFOT#46 BoTAFOF #46 GP#1 UKRMRM#00 TWA#3
http://www.garagepixies.co.uk
elly at garagepixies dot co dot uk

 

Elly wrote

Buy a charger/adapter locally. I had a result when I was in Jamaica
when I bought a charger that outputs 3-15V through half a dozen
different sized plugs and runs on *anything* as long as it is mains.
350 bucks local it cost @ 106 to the pound.

Ditch the ginger git and come over to a real man.

 

You can definitely use it without the step up converter, all you need it a
three to two pin adapter. Which you can buy at LHR or wherever, if you
don't find it elsewhere. Did it not come with one? Don't leave it till you
get to the US, btw, it's damn difficult to get UK to US plug adapters
anywhere except airports over there. I've used loads of devices over there.

Ali

 

Yes, you can use it as is. Just get a travel plug and you're sorted.

No comment.

 

That will work fine - as will many laptop, phone and gadget chargers - just
read the voltage rating.

All you need is the relevant US 2-pin adapter.

 

Yep, get a travel plug at the airport, sorted. Alternatively if the
Spiccy one is going to come around to pick up that battery he's
supposed to pick up sometime next week before you leave, I should have
a spare one that you can borrow.

 

<snip electrickery numptiness>

Thank you all ... I shall source the relevant travel plug adapter.

--
Elly - a less confuzzled Pixie
ZX9R-E1 - <Giggles>
Spike - FZ400 - It's dead Jim!
MRO#32 ibW#25 BoTAFOT#46 BoTAFOF #46 GP#1 UKRMRM#00 TWA#3
http://www.garagepixies.co.uk
elly at garagepixies dot co dot uk

 

<grins>

--
Elly - a tired Pixie
ZX9R-E1 - <Giggles>
Spike - FZ400 - It's dead Jim!
MRO#32 ibW#25 BoTAFOT#46 BoTAFOF #46 GP#1 UKRMRM#00 TWA#3
http://www.garagepixies.co.uk
elly at garagepixies dot co dot uk

 

Yep, many of the external chargers/PSUs these days are 'World' rated. It
should be fine to plug it in once you get to the States. As far as the
physical plugging in goes... you need to make up a short flylead with a
single trailing 13A UK socket on one end for your charger and a US plug
on the other.
--
Dave
GS850x2 XS650 SE6a
I demand nothing of you except that you amuse me.

Folding@Home Team UKRM
http://vspx27.stanford.edu/cgi-bin/main.py?qtype=teampage&teamnum=47957

 

remind me to leave a couple out when you pop over next week.

--
Adie
(replace spam with nickname to reply)

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Triumph 955iSS / ZX9R / GSF1200 bandit (for sale) / CG125
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Where abouts you going again? how long for?
Just that it seems that I'll be heading that direction on April 3rd too.

--
Dnc

B1200 - +30bhp ~|~ ZZR1100 - faster when upright
V2300 - flat cap and rug ~|~ A6 2.5TDi V6 Quattro Sport

MIB#26 two#54(soiled) UKRMMA#26 BOTAFOT#153 X-FOT#003

 

I have the same bit of kit, bought in a recent trip to Japan.

Yes, your 100-240 input adaptor will work in the states, you may need
a physical adapter so it can be plugged into their mains.

You do NOT need a step-up adapter.

I find a more convenient option is to use a variety of USB power
adapters, these let me charge it from - a USB port, the mains, a 12V
cigar plug and so on.

 

Will do, cheers

--
Elly - a tired Pixie
ZX9R-E1 - <Giggles>
Spike - FZ400 - It's dead Jim!
MRO#32 ibW#25 BoTAFOT#46 BoTAFOF #46 GP#1 UKRMRM#00 TWA#3
http://www.garagepixies.co.uk
elly at garagepixies dot co dot uk

 

Southwest USA taking in amongst other things Meteor Crater, The Grand
Canyon, Mt Zion National Park, Glen Canyon Dam and Monument Valley.
We'll be arriving in Las Vegas on April 3rd and then heading back to
LA to fly home on April 5th.

--
Elly - a tired Pixie
ZX9R-E1 - <Giggles>
Spike - FZ400 - It's dead Jim!
MRO#32 ibW#25 BoTAFOT#46 BoTAFOF #46 GP#1 UKRMRM#00 TWA#3
http://www.garagepixies.co.uk
elly at garagepixies dot co dot uk

 

Gah. So close.
Landing on the 1st, I have a free day in LA on the 2nd. Then flying from
LA to Chicago on the evening of the 5th.

Small world.




--
Dnc

B1200 - +30bhp ~|~ ZZR1100 - faster when upright
V2300 - flat cap and rug ~|~ A6 2.5TDi V6 Quattro Sport

MIB#26 two#54(soiled) UKRMMA#26 BOTAFOT#153 X-FOT#003

 

Indeed!

We depart LA at 20:50 on 5th April - maybe see you at the Airport

--
Elly - a tired Pixie
ZX9R-E1 - <Giggles>
Spike - FZ400 - It's dead Jim!
MRO#32 ibW#25 BoTAFOT#46 BoTAFOF #46 GP#1 UKRMRM#00 TWA#3
http://www.garagepixies.co.uk
elly at garagepixies dot co dot uk

 

[elly's escapade]

Should be good - not seen any of those other than on the telly.

You'll barely get past the jet lag before coming back! That's a hell of
a long way to go for a rampaging tour spread over 2 and a bit days.

Have a good time nonetheless.

 

Ah, what I neglected to mention was that we actually start off in Los
Angeles on 27th March and do all the above before arriving at Las
Vegas on 3rd April.

Even so, looking through the field course guide, it's going to be a
hell of a trip nontheless. We'll be in a different hotel every night
of the trip apart from spending 2 nights in Williams and 2 nights in
Las Vegas.

The bizarre thing is that this year's first years aren't interested in
doing this field course in their second year. Only 12 have signed up
compared to about 40 of us this year.

--
Elly - a tired Pixie
ZX9R-E1 - <Giggles>
Spike - FZ400 - It's dead Jim!
MRO#32 ibW#25 BoTAFOT#46 BoTAFOF #46 GP#1 UKRMRM#00 TWA#3
http://www.garagepixies.co.uk
elly at garagepixies dot co dot uk

 

Fortunately this step-up adapter only cost me £6.50. I'll have to see
if I can shift it on Ebay at some stage.

--
Elly - a tired Pixie
ZX9R-E1 - <Giggles>
Spike - FZ400 - It's dead Jim!
MRO#32 ibW#25 BoTAFOT#46 BoTAFOF #46 GP#1 UKRMRM#00 TWA#3
http://www.garagepixies.co.uk
elly at garagepixies dot co dot uk

 

Pssst... guys... fight behind the bike shed, after school, pass it on.