The electricity mains, and you
 Location: London
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Sounds like a 60s educational video title, isn't it? I was planning on bringing with me from the good ol' Britland to the good, but not as ol' USAerland 4 pieces of electronics, to entertain me during the long long flight and the long long bus ride to and from Pittsburgh, as well as serve me during my 1 week AC stay: As you may or may not be aware, the queen and its many minions, offer the good people of Britland power at 220v. A special magical electricity converter exist, but costs way too much (roughly 20 pounds, which is roughly 40 green pieces of paper), so that's out of the question. Wallowing over those facts, I presumed I can leave the mini fridge at home, fully charge my cell phone and hope it would survive a week, and charge my Ipod through USB plugs. Won't you help me sir? Help me find answers to my problems, and I would give you this shiny thing my good friend Sir Bunnyrabbit once gave me. (This message was brought to you by - crazyness. Crazyness - You'd be insane not to have one!) |
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Go to any electronics store that sells adapters for chargers of all kinds: cell phones, Nintendo DS, iPod, etc. Over here, Wal-Mart, Circuit City, Best Buy, and Radio Shack sell such things. Over there, not sure, which is why I said "any electronics store" as I'm not sure what is offered over there.
And, believe it or not, but 220v IS offered over here.
It's used to power the large appliances such at washing machines, dryers, dishwashers, and other high power machines.
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permalinkthe walmart where I work, has cell phone chargers for about $15, ds chargers, for about 11$
and has a 220- 110 device for those in the states going overseas for $20, I do not know if there is one that goes the other way here
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permalinkLocation: Pennsyltuckey
Website: [Link]
Ebay (works on 110, 220, even UK 220) lists Nintendoe DS power supplies in the 110V flavor for 10 or less pieces of green paper. Looks slightly different than the more common DS Lite adapter so be careful of that difference.
US 220 is slightly different than UK 220 and we like ours slightly faster at 60Hz than the Queen's 50Hz. Closer but still runs the risk of that black hole effect.
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permalinkMy problem with getting a new charger, is that I'm using a DS original.
Those chargers are rarer, and more expensive.
Noy
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permalinkA couple years ago, in a Wal-Mart, I've seen an actual adapter set, for chargers, for international traveling that allowed you to plug onto the stock prong with a Euro-Spec one. Not sure if those are still offered, tho.
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permalinkLocation: Pennsyltuckey
Website: [Link]
They still can be found, just have to look carefully at the plug or specs.
Item 140234748972 ?
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permalinkLocation: Cwmbran, UK
Website: [Link]
Blog: [Link]
With the exception of my shaver, which is 110/240 switchable (and will explode if I forget to reset it after the trip), everything I'm taking is auto-switching (the EeePC even comes with a detachable faceplate on the plug so if you take it off you have the 2-prong US thing).
Since it seems to be possible now to build very small switched-mode PSUs for almost nothing, most phone chargers are auto-switching as well these days, at least the Nokia ones. I'd be very surprised and disappointed if the iPod and DS weren't that way too, so double-check. The fridge thing may be a problem.
If I were in your shoes I'd consider bringing one of those 3-way power cubes, and a UK-US adaptor.
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permalinkLocation: NJ
Move to the USA! Then problem solved!
*And we get to tax you more!* >:]
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permalinkThe good people in Heathrow gave me a neat present for checking out their new terminal.
On the one side, loads of holes, that you can fit into electrical thingies that use the US, UK and EU systems.
On the other, retractable plugs for the US, UK and EU mains.
So you can pretty much switch anything to anything.
With the only real problem being the DS charge, I'll ask the guy at the local gaming shop, or the guy at the UK version of Radio Shack.
Noy
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permalinkBlog: [Link]
look very closely at the power adapter. Many electronics today, especially the ones that have some sort of large brick in the line that goes to the mains, will have something printed on them that says "INPUT: 110 - 220 v". If that is the case, then it is designed to operate at either voltage level. You will need only an adapter to fit into our tiny little electrical sockets over here.
If it has no such printing, or the input says "220 v" only, then you will need the expensive converter.
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permalinkOr don't use your DS. After spending that kind of money on airfare I would spend more time surfing the local area then playing video games.
The mini fridge shouldn't be a issue. Even the crappiest hotels in the U.S. have a fridge. And for a extra $50 a night you can have a microwave the size of a toaster in your room.
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permalinknot all of them do. I've stayed in some that do not.
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permalinkThe Westin, I know, doesn't have mini-fridges for every room, nor enough for every room that ASKS. Priority, of course, goes to those who NEED them for medication or whatever.
The Omni, I know, doesn't have mini-fridges in every room, but
I never asked how many they had, if any.
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permalinkBlog: [Link]
In fact, I don't know where you've been traveling, but I stay in lots of hotels throughout the year, and only about 10% of them have refrigerators. In fact, I've noticed that the cheaper hotels are more likely to have them; the larger and more plush ones do not for some reason.
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permalinkNothing says "Class" more than the good old ice bucket.
19th century people used them, and they were as classy as it gets...
Noy
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permalinkLocation: Washington DC
Website: [Link]
You're kinda cheeky for a Brit.
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permalinkAren't all Brits cheeky?
Noy
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permalinkLocation: Washington DC
Website: [Link]
Ooo! I wanna meet you.
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permalinkWebsite: [Link]
You might want to check the ice tongs; last year I noticed some crud on the ones in my room thus I didn't use them; I left them out for housekeeping with a note to that effect but they never did replace them
It wasn't worth bothering the front desk about though...
No, I won't say which hotel it was...
Ron
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permalinkLocation: Roseville, CA, USA
Wait...you got ICE TONGS?!? I didn't get any ice tongs!
How come YOU got Ice Tongs, anyway?
(Heck - I got an Ice Bucket, but I had to FILL it...had to stop at three different floors to find a machine with ice, and carry it back, up the stairs, too - and I was damn glad to have even THAT...)
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permalinkLocation: Cwmbran, UK
Website: [Link]
Blog: [Link]
While I agree in principle (with the 'Don't use the DS' argument, since the threading seems to have gone funny), he wants it for the flight. Also, in the zoo last year, people were using them to do a sort of joint sketching thing over the wireless links. Which looked kind of fun.
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permalinkThat's pretty much what I was going for.
excluding the airports themselves, I have about 34 hours of to and from travel time.
I'd might even resort into bringing a book with me.
They're allowing those through customs, right?
Noy
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permalinkWhat, the book or the DS? Both are banned substances. However if you have a 'Cokemule' membership card you can carry up to a kilo of coke and save 10% on your next trip.
unfortunately theres a surcharge on explosives and weapons now.
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