power conversion

I have a friend visiting from Austrailia next month. He wants to bring his PC with him but was concerned about the power difference here. Standard power there is 230v@50cycles. I think all he has to do is change the power selector on his power supply and replace the power cord. Am I right here?


Blu

 

I hesitate to answer this as I'm not any kind of an electrician at all, but I had always thought that the switch on the power supply was there for that reason. It would seem to me that your assumption is correct but I really don't want to be responsible if something goes wrong here. Your post has been viewed 22 times and no answers yet so I would guess that nobody else is willing to stick there neck out either. Just thought I'd get the ball rolling here. Hang tight and I'm sure you'll get an answer from somebody who knows for sure.

 

Hi Zander, nice to hear from you.
LOL! He thought he needed to buy an external power converter to use here, but like you, I figured the computers are made up of the same componets, just different input voltage. That's why the power selector on the power supply. I just don't know if the 50 cycles there and 60 cycles here would matter or not. Doesn't the motherboard itself run on DC power? If it does, the cycles wouldn't matter. I think. Yep, I hope somebody come along that knows.



Blu

 

Edit.

 

markp62---You need to seriously check your information before posting.

The mass distribution of DC power would be a nightmare, with huge cables and the absolute lack of ability to step voltages up or down easily (DC power cannot be transformed through a transformer unless pulsed---only accelerating electric fields produce magnetic fields).

99.9% of the world uses AC power and since computers transform and rectify that power, 50Hz or 60Hz will make no difference if the voltage settings are correct. Europe uses AC.
http://www.kropla.com/electric2.htm

Blu---
http://www.laptoptravel.com/cgi-bin...1/Ext/LT_InfoCatalog/ViewProduct/ART_DualVolt
http://www.laptoptravel.com/cgi-bin...Product/GLOBEADAPT?catid=24&prodid=GLOBEADAPT
http://www.laptoptravel.com/cgi-bin...ViewProduct/EUUS0014?catid=24&prodid=EUUS0014
http://www.laptoptravel.com/cgi-bin...g/ViewProduct/EUUS009?catid=24&prodid=EUUS009
Use an adapter like these and flip the switch on his computer and you'll be all set. These adapters are widely available, probably at your local hardware store. Traveling (travelling?) with computers is pretty common, as you might expect.
Or, lend him your cord.

If he is bringing his monitor, that could be a different story. He'll need to check to see if it supports 60 Hz power at our voltages.


markp62 ---could you please tell us where you got that very unusual computer that can use DC power?

 

Blufx,

Speaking from experience.

I took a pc to Great Britain (also 230V and 50Hz) from the U.S. a few years ago. My monitor said that it would work between 100-240V and 50-60Hz. I moved the switch on the tower and replaced the cables with ones I bought over there - worked like a charm.

Brought it back to the U.S. - moved the switch on the tower back and replaced the cables with the originals - no problems whatsoever.

If your friend is bringing the monitor - how does he plan to ship it? When I worked at Gate@@@ tech support they wouldn' t let us ship any CRT monitors in aircraft - had to do with it possibly riding in an unpressurized cargo hold - CRT monitors don't react well with the atmospheric pressure at 35,000 feet.

Now I haven't riden in any cargo holds lately to be able to tell you who uses unpressurized cargo holds but if he is bringing a CRT monitor it's worth checking in to

Just a thought.

Ice

 

Ice

LOL You know, I haven't even thought about the monitor. I wonder if he has. probabaly not. I'll pass on the word. I guess I'll end up finding him one to use while he's here. Thanks for the info.


Blu

 

That was a simple typo concerning my power supply.