HELP! Traveling to So. America... (watts/transformer)

2 questions...

1st question....
Im traveling to So. America (Lima, Peru) and I need a transformer (220v>110v) but my question is, how many WATTS do i need the transformer to be??
I have a HP Pav dv5120us. I know watts vary but i want the max watts needed. .....

2nd question, I cant find anywhere in town that carries transformer for laptops. I only find converters for 'non-electronic' devices. Do you think i can find one at the airport or anywhere in Lima?? Best buy, circuit city, radio shack dont carry it locally. Im leaving in few days!!

 

Are you sure your laptop cannot handle 220 and 110 v input. most laptops do.

As for maximum watts read it of the power brick, or you can calculate it from the amps, if watts isn't listed

 

qwester has a good point. I know my power brick says "100-240v" input and I'm going to Europe in the next few weeks. I've been told that all I should need is an adapter for my U.S. plug and it should be fine.

And I don't know of anywhere local that carries stuff like that (besides I don't know where you live) but franzus.com carries a pretty wide range of converters and transformers. Maybe they could overnight something to you?

 

you are right. I had my fujitsu with me a couple of times already, and other brands before in europe and the middle east and all I needed was a converter to the european style socket (the 2 round thingies ) I think the UK has a different standard though, never been there.

EDIT: Something like this: http://www.targus.com/us/product_details.asp?sku=APK01US

 

Mine is an adapter for a "German Schucko" type plug. Two round plugs and a ground contact. I've also heard it's a good idea to use a decent surge protector, as current tends to fluctuate some places more than it does here.

 

i still want to know how many watts my laptop uses. it just got it like 2 days ago.... (the power brick doesnt say anything

 

doesn't it list amps. It should have some power rating on there.

 

I found a formula for estimating how much wattage your notebook uses. For example, on my power brick it says "OUTPUT 19v === 4.22A". So you mulitply volts times amps to get the wattage estimate. So:

19 x 4.22 = 80.18 watts

Sounds like a reasonable number for a notebook of my configuration, so I would guess it's fairly accurate.

 

High school physics Note it is a different formula for AC current (what you get out of the wall socket) I cannot remember it

Yup that is about right for the N3500, mine is a 150W 17" and a power hungry P4.

 

my power brick reads:
INPUT 100V-240V ~ 1.7A (50-60Mhz) [does that mean i dont need a transformer for 110/220V?]

OUTPUT 18.5V 3.5A equals approx 65W [sweet, 65 watts]

also: whats the purpose of the power brick anyways? it makes this low buzz sound when i put it next to my ear and it gets very hot (this is normal right?)

 

the power brick converts AC (alternating current) to DC (direct current). DC is what all computer circuitry and hardware runs on.

yes it does get hot. Mine is toasty at 150W

some do produce a bit of a buzzzz, the capacitors and inductors inside sometimes do that.

You don't need a transformer as I originally predicted, it will automatically adjust to anything with in the 100-240V range. You will just need a wall socket converter that will be available at almost any electronics store (like the targus one I linked to earlier). Radio shack has them, for a couple of bucks, just make sure what the standard is over there.

 

Just in case you need more ppl to verify previous replies - Yes, it's correct, the only thing you need is a wall socket converter - it doesn't do anything else than make the prongs fit into the socket from a diiferent country, and it's as simple as that. Most stores carry these, CC, CUSA, BB, Fry's and others.