laptop and converter
 

it would be really great to have use of my laptop, as i'm studying abroad in spain (barcelona) for a semester and the university does provide housing that has 24 hour internet in every room. however, the converter i bought at radio shack back in the states "popped" and smoke came out of it after being plugged in about 2 mintues. the man who sold it to me said it was the right one to use with computers, so i'm not sure what is wrong. anyone have suggestions of brands of converters that really work?

In almost all certainty, unless your laptop is quite old (like 5+ years), it will work on both 110 V (North American+) and 230 V (European+) power. Your power supply (i.e., the "brick") should say something like "Input: AC 100-240V". If this is the case, all you need is an adaptor plug. If you're going to be there a while yet, you may even want to look into buying a new cord to eliminate the need for the adaptor. (I've been running my US purchased Sony laptop here in Germany using such a setup for the past 18 months with no problems.)

If this is not the case, reply (perhaps with the brand and model) and I or someone else can give some more suggestions.

Paul

Hi Saramarie,

Radio Shck sold you a faulty converter.

As suggested, check your power supply.

Your mistake was going to Radio Shack. I went there to buy needed accessories before going to Europe and they tried to sell me various things insisting that I'd need a voltage converter, while I clearly told them my new laptop was dual voltage. Then they said my regular phone cord would plug into the phone outlets anywhere in Europe -- that they are all alike. Huh?? I knew that wasn't true.


Whose computer is it? I bought the necessary things for my Gateway from Gateway. Your manufacturer or their technical support is the best person to tell you, but other than the phone connection cords or plugs, most new laptops will need nothing more than a plug converter for the power.

Best bet is to check the mfgrs specifications for your laptop. If you use a transformer when plugged in it probably is OK. Machines in which you just plug a cord into the machine and the wall usually have a slider switch somewhere that you move to the position for the voltage you are using.

thanks for the suggestions! things are very crazy here at the moment and i have to take off on a 3 wk orientation, but when i get back i will look into solving the laptop problem, and might take you up on you kind offers of assistance!

Call Magellans or use their website for converters, etc etc. Their people on the phone are very knowlegdable about what you need. Trust them.
www.magellans.com
1-800-962-4943
No I do not work for them.
Lisa

I bought my laptop in the US but live in the UK. I just bought a converter pack at Staples. It included the phone line converter, along with converters for just about every country in the world.

Whoops. Please replace all instances of "converter" with "adaptor". My laptop is dual voltage.