Laptop Adapter For India Question

SeahawkSteve

Hey -

I'm going to India next month am having a very hard time finding the correct adaptor for charging my Apple Macbook laptop. I want to ensure its safety from surges and not have it blown out. I have gotten all types of opinions.

Some stores have said I need a dual converter that will convert the electricity to the 220/50 HZ that India uses, others say I simply need a plain old adaptor you use for a hairdryer, camera charger, etc...

Does anyone have any experience in using Macbooks or laptops from North America in India? And what did you use? I am so terribly confused and worried I'll get to India and be without the correct equipment. Any input would be helpful!

2cents

If the adaptor is rated for 240V/50hz input and power handling capacity of 60W(For Macbook Pro its 85W),that would do fine for use in India.
In case you have difficulty in finding an adaptor with suitable rating,a converter that steps down 240v supply to 110 v would do the job when coupled to your regular adaptor.However make sure that the rated power handling of the converter is 60W or above.
As far as protection from power surges goes, travellers who have used their laptops while travelling out here recommends anything from a regular spike buster to a small portable UPS.Try these threads for more info :-

surge protectors

Voltage stabilisers/Surge protectors

fsg

At this very moment I am using my Macbook in India, the last thread dealt with my original query, and was answered to my satisfaction. I.E. Mains power is only charging the BATTERY. All the other electrical bits and pieces I have too are battery run, so I have not bothered with any safety devices, I have not had any problems in the past with my gizmos, bar there being no current, but that seems to get better each year I visit.

You need an adaptor for your plug to an Indian one, but readily available at cheap rate

nycank

Many places sell you adapters for various countries - From the stores at the airport, travel stores to Sharper Image. between 3USD to 19.95USD. I have one from Sharper Image;

Had no problems with ibook,ipod,and my recchargable batteries for my Canon.

Merchant

You don't need a voltage converter. That's what the little box on the power cable does (it's a transformer). You only need a plug adapter. To be safe, though, you might invest in a surge surpressor.

Bodhisattva

Does anyone have an idea of how to get connected in Pune. I was thinking of Sify.. but wouldn't ir require me to be rooted to one place all the time? And having a laptop...that's verry boring. I checked out Reliance but that's very slow and I do a lot of downloads....
Please help me out! Is there anything by which I can get connected even when I'm outside my place..barring wi-fi of course, which to my knowledge, is right now only in the Camp area...

__________________
All our best men are laughed at in this nightmare land......

2cents

Merchant, the little box on the power cable is basically a rectifier - converts AC to DC - and not merely a transformer.So if the box is rated for only 110V line supply, then you do need a voltager converter that steps down the 240V supply to 110V level.

2cents

If you found Reliance Datacard too slow for your needs,I don't think there are any better options when it comes to accessing the net while on the move.Perhaps you could try out one of the 'free access' hotspots in Pune - Wi-Fi Zone finder - Pune

I wonder how cheap broadband rates have to become before people in these parts starts joining a shared wireless access network like Fon.

Bodhisattva

My guess is never!
Because all these IT people in that city have everythinf funded by the corporates and the students are simply not interested...
basically nightmare for me!
Thanks anyways...

Anders

Look at the bottom of the little box that connects to the power cable. It will tell you what voltages it works on. If it does work on 220V, all you need is a plugadapter and that plugadapter is easy to buy in India for a few rupies.

gregornot

Namaste,
Can I get a 240 volt 50Hz adapter and then plug a 6 plug adapter into it so I can protect my laptop and charge some high quality batteries for my camera Canon XT digital and also batteries high quality for my camcorder or do I need three different adapters?

I used to be a computer geek and now I am just a geek

Where in the USA could I find what I would need, please?
thanks in advance, gregor

__________________
To conclude with the ever inspiring words of the Buddha:
"If the roots remain untouched and firm in the ground,
a felled tree still puts forth new shoots.

If the underlying habit of craving and aversion is not
uprooted, suffering arises anew over and over again."
~Dhammapada XXIV verse 338