How do I get an american laptop to work in England?
Has anyone tried this before? =\
Thanks a lot :] hehe.
Answers:
Technical considerations:
Laptops sold in the U.S. run on DC and come with a transformer (this may be called an A.C. or AC adapter or adaptor) that converts the A.C. electricity that comes from the thing on the wall (this is called the mains in Europe and the outlet in the U.S.) into DC of a much a lower voltage. Look at the rated voltage and frequency ranges on the transformer; if it can handle both U.S. and UK electricity (the voltage and the frequency are both different), then you just need a need power cord for the transformer. If not, you need to buy a new transformer. For a limited amount of time, you can use the batteries to power the laptop before you make the needed purchase.
An inverter is used to convert DC back to AC. You do not need this.
A plug adapter that allows U.S. plugs to fit outlets/mains of countries with higher voltages is not safe to use unless you check that the thing you are powering can use the higher voltage and the lower frequency AND that the power cord attached to the plug is safe to use at the higher voltage.
Legal considerations:
The U.S., Canada, and Mexico ratified NAFTA. The EU (including the UK and over 20 other countries), Norway, Iceland, and one or two other countries are in the EEA. Goods do not move as freely from a NAFTA country to an EEA country or from an EEA country to a NAFTA country as they do within the EEA or from one NAFTA country to another NAFTA country.
You may have to pay import taxes or custom duties or VAT or something when you bring the laptop into the UK (the U.S. is not in the EEA), so I am not sure if you will save any money. Persons who buy laptops in their home areas (EEA or NAFTA) can usually travel anywhere with them and bring them back home, but buying something while on another continent and then bringing it permanently to your home country is different and usually means owing whatever taxes would have been paid (by you and by the importer) if you bought it in your home country.
Electrical products purchased in the U.S. may not be compliant with the LVD and EMC Directives. Make sure that there is a CE mark. If not, you may not be able to import it to any EEA country. Even if their is a CE mark on the product, it is sometimes sold with instructions that are written for U.S./Canada requirements, so you will have to obtain the product's instructions for Europe, which should be with it when you try to bring it into Europe.
If you buy it in the U.S. and it is not sold in the Europe, you will not have the protections of the take-back provisions of the WEEE Directive and may have to return it to the U.S. for disposal at the end of its life or pay for disposal in Europe at your own expense. This is going to be especially difficult if it is not RoHS-compliant (has lead solder, hexavalent chromium plated screws, or certain other things that are now prohibited in products placed on the EEA market).
I just came back from Ireland. While there I used my MacBook Pro with an ordinary converter plug with no problems. Living in the USA
Hey Dude,
I have done this alot. Most American laptops run on both 110v and 220v so all you need is an adapter. Something that turns the American two prong to a English three prong. You can find them at most airports and computer stores.
Hope I could help.
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