Foreign voltage

akeva · November 20th, 2009, 05:49 PM

hi! im taking my pc from the US to asia wherein the voltage onthe outlets is 220v. Is there a way to configure my pc (110v) to run on 220v with having to use a transformer?

stroyal · November 20th, 2009, 06:35 PM

Check you power supply, I haven't seen one in years that does not have both voltages and cycles, for Europe and the US.

All you should need is a new cord, with a 230v end on it.
edit:
Where are my manners, Welcome to TechIMO!

Europe 50 cycles. US 60 cycles.

electric · November 20th, 2009, 07:09 PM

i would buy a new power once you settle in your new home

making changes to an existing PSU is dangerous ,especially at the 120/220 volt
in put side

you could cause a fire hazard or electric shock to you or kin

butch81385 · November 20th, 2009, 07:27 PM

Is it a laptop or desktop?

As stroyal said, for a desktop may only need to flip a switch to make it 220v. as for a laptop you would have to check your power cord to see if it could handle the voltage or you would have to get another power cord that could.

Nude_Lewd_Man · November 20th, 2009, 07:36 PM

Hi,

I would check the PSU to see if it can handle both input voltages - and also the cycles (Hz) of the power...

As stroyal mentioned, most of the PSUs made/sold in recent times have the ability to work globally, but it is best to check before you find out that it doesn't work...........the hard/painful/costly way...

If it is a laptop, then the worst case is that you're gonna need to get a new cable, if it is a (proper) PC, then you'd need a new PSU unit - although, again, this is a "worst case scenariio"...

Let us know how it goes..!

stroyal · November 20th, 2009, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by electric

i would buy a new power once you settle in your new home

making changes to an existing PSU is dangerous ,especially at the 120/220 volt
in put side

you could cause a fire hazard or electric shock to you or kin

Flipping a switch on the back of the PS rated for 120-240 is not a mod. Some are automatic.
The cord would probably have to be purchased in Europe anyway.

Nude_Lewd_Man · November 21st, 2009, 06:30 AM

Why would the cable/cord need to be bought in Europe, when the machine is going from the US to Asia...?!?

stroyal · November 21st, 2009, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nude_Lewd_Man

Why would the cable/cord need to be bought in Europe, when the machine is going from the US to Asia...?!?

Senile. I thought he said Europe and Asia.

He can get one in Asia too.

akeva · November 21st, 2009, 03:52 PM

hi! thnx all for your helpful replies!...will indeed check out the psu on my desktop and look for the voltage/cycle adjustment as well as replace the cord......awesome site, awesome people!!!.....thnx again!!!

Nude_Lewd_Man · November 21st, 2009, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by akeva

hi! thnx all for your helpful replies!...will indeed check out the psu on my desktop and look for the voltage/cycle adjustment as well as replace the cord......awesome site, awesome people!!!.....thnx again!!!

Well, we do like to help - most of us have used the site to get help at some stage or other...

With regards to the PSU in your desktop, you might find that it has a switch on it to allow you to choose "High" or "Low", or the ones I have also have the option to use "Auto". If not, then the info sticker on the PSU itself should state what it can take... For example, most LT chargers that I've seen are capable of 110~250 Volts and 50~60 Hertz - Volts is basically the actual current, and Hertz is the frequency (in cycles per second) at which it fluctuates...