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Going to Poland (question about charging/electricity)
Xeno
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
Yeah, I live in Canada and I'm going on vacation to Poland. I believe they use 220v in Poland. Anywho, I want to take my DS, cameras, trimmers, and other small stuff. Im confused as to what to buy. We got a convertor from CAA (AAA) that plugs into a Polish outlet and you can plug something into it. However, the guy said that on the charger, it should say whether it supports a higher voltage. For instance, on my Casio digital camera, the charger says 100-240V, so that would be ok to plug in. But the DS charger only says 100V so that is not ok to plug in.
1. If it says 100-240V, its ok to use in that outlet without it getting overloaded?
2. The CAA guy said only to charge things 20 minutes at a time. The fuck? It would take a whole day just to charge my camera.
3. What do I do about my DS?
1. If it says 100-240V, its ok to use in that outlet without it getting overloaded?
2. The CAA guy said only to charge things 20 minutes at a time. The fuck? It would take a whole day just to charge my camera.
3. What do I do about my DS?
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http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2036264&cp=&pg=1&fbn=Converter%2FYes&searchSort=TRUE&f=PAD%2FPower+Converter%2FYes&fbc=1&retainProdsInSession=1&y=9&kw=voltage+converter&x=20&s=A-StorePrice-RSK&parentPage=search
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2036265&cp=&pg=1&fbn=Converter%2FYes&searchSort=TRUE&f=PAD%2FPower+Converter%2FYes&fbc=1&retainProdsInSession=1&y=9&kw=voltage+converter&x=20&s=A-StorePrice-RSK&parentPage=search
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062420&cp=&pg=1&fbn=Converter%2FYes&searchSort=TRUE&f=PAD%2FPower+Converter%2FYes&fbc=1&retainProdsInSession=1&y=9&kw=voltage+converter&x=20&s=A-StorePrice-RSK&parentPage=search
The first one is for lower watt stuff, like electronics. The second is for high watt stuff like hair-dryers/etc. The third is a selectable one that has options for both electronics and higher watt stuff.
These take the 220/240v input and step it down to 110/120v so that you can plug whatever charger or whatnot into it without worrying. If you just use a plug adapter you need to be very careful about what the charger accepts.
http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/1762/cimg1318go5.jpg
The black plug plugs into the socket, then I attach the hi=lo converter into that and then plug my ds in. One question though. It says on the side of the converter this. "Do Not use for computers and all other electronic equipment" So what does that mean? Its not good for my ds? Or because I have the black plug, its fine?
Also, it says to use for only short periods of time to a maximum of three hours. So whats the cooldown time? 5 min, 30 min, hour?
Oh the irony of this statement. Electronic equipment are supposed to be plugged into it... Since, you know... It's a voltage converter.
But I think it may be talking about large electronic equipment. A computer draws a lot of juice, so maybe it can't convert it fast/efficient enough?
HAHA, I know. Yeah, the biggest thing I'm going to use is my camcorder to recharge it. So you guys think I'll be ok with what I have?
Worked fine, but I was very paranoid about leaving it to charge. I left it plugged in nearby for a few hours tops and then unplugged everything to let it cool down. Once it gets cool to the touch, you should be fine to give it another go. Unfortunately, with about 2 weeks before I came back, I left my DS plugged in for too long and it blew something inside the converter. It also blew a fuse somewhere in the house, because the power went off for. Dont just plug it in and forget about it, you have to actively monitor your charging habits. No damage to the DS, but it just made me even more paranoid about power. Heck, if you want, you could always buy a DS adapter over there specifically designed for their power supplies. It should be compatible with your system, since all DS's have the same requirements.
If the device is rated at 100-240V, then you just need an adapter that will fit the plug, not a full blown converter. If in doubt, just use the converter.
Just curious, where exactly in Poland are you visiting?
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I don't know what the difference is really, but a lot of converters don't recommend using with sensitive electronics because they're designed more for things like hair-dryers/irons/etc. This one (http://www.luggagefactory.com/cgi-bin/shopper.cgi?preadd=action&key=S059-11007HL ) which is I believe the same one you have says it's designed for appliances and shouldn't be used for more than 30 minutes at a time (probably due to heat buildup). I don't have any direct experience with them, so I probably would tend to be more cautious and get one targeted for electronics.
2. The black prong one has 2 prongs and a third hole for the other prong that mojo mentioned.
3. You think something like this would be better? http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?logon=&langid=EN&sku_id=0665000FS80730207&catid=25949 I would just pick up 2 of these so I don't have to baby the charging process as long. (2 ds's and 2 cameras would need charging)
4. I'm going to Warsaw, Bialystok, and other places my folks know more about, haha.
The DS not traveling well has been covered here again and again. A great solution (which I have no idea who suggested first) is to buy a USB charger for it. Most computers/laptops have 110-240 chargers so you just need the plug adapter for them.
The DS would most likely be fine with either voltage adapter you have linked, the concern with these is voltage spikes. The cheaper they are, the more likely they could damage your DS'.
The last option, which worked well for me in the UK, was to stop by an electronics store and buy a replacement DS charger once you land in Poland, just like here they should have no-name brand ones that will work just as well.
No telling for sure without being able to test the system, but in a case like this where there's an external power brick, there's at least a decent chance that your system itself is okay. The power brick probably protected the system from any crazy voltage spike or anything like that.
Buy a decent adapter for your laptop (since it's multivoltage just get an adapter for the wall) and usb charge EVERYTHING ELSE.
One brave traveling tip for those who are reckless: The DS will charge in MOST "shaver only" outlets in hotel bathrooms. Same with a sony ebook reader (and presumably a PSP too since the bricks are very similar) I have had it trip the breaker once however and though i had lost my ds. I didn't though. Then I went usb and never looked back.
Well that's good, I have a cheap OEM brick on the way. So let's pray :P.