North America Voltages

meld51 · 02-08-2003, 17:26

Does anyone happen to know if my laptop will work in Canada? ALso my digital camera? Both have UK 240v power adapters.

There must be loads of people who travel there and I was wondering what happens.

02-08-2003, 17:30

It's impossible to say without knowing the specific equipment involved. With the laptop you would probably be OK, these typically have a PSU that can cope with either power supply. There should be something on the PSU or in the manual that states what power supplies they will work with.

meld51 · 02-08-2003, 17:42

Thanks,

Yes the power adapter on both my PC and my camera say 100 to 250 volts ! Glad about that. I didn't want to buy anything!

bob_builder · 02-08-2003, 18:01

Quote:

Originally posted by meld51
Yes the power adapter on both my PC and my camera say 100 to 250 volts ! Glad about that. I didn't want to buy anything!

You might have to buy a plug adaptor to convert a UK 3-pin mains plug to a US mains socket (depending on whether you have one aready or not)!

Jerrek · 02-08-2003, 21:29

U.S. and Canada:

Xaccers · 02-08-2003, 21:44

Ok, why are the live and neutral holes different sizes?

Lord Nikon · 02-08-2003, 21:45

because not all plugs have 3 pins and this way they can stop live going to neutral

Tricky · 02-08-2003, 22:32

Word of warning - some devices that "Charge" have trouble - my battery (AA) charger, camcorder (Panasonic) and digital Camera (Canon G3) all charge fine but both my minidisc players don't charge (don't know why they just don't)

Xaccers · 02-08-2003, 22:35

Quote:

Originally posted by Lord Nikon
because not all plugs have 3 pins and this way they can stop live going to neutral

But it's AC.....

philip.j.fry · 02-08-2003, 22:56

Quote:

Originally posted by Xaccers
But it's AC.....

I think he meant live into earth and vice versa

02-08-2003, 23:56

Quote:

Originally posted by Xaccers
But it's AC.....

Xaccers, its to prevent reverse polarity on the appliance.

I am not sure of the voltage in canada though ?

Xaccers · 03-08-2003, 00:22

But it's ac so the polarity is alternating anyway (hence why on the continent you just get two pin plugs identical in size).
Unless it's a carry over from the old days when they used dc...

03-08-2003, 00:57

Quote:

Originally posted by Xaccers
But it's ac so the polarity is alternating anyway (hence why on the continent you just get two pin plugs identical in size).
Unless it's a carry over from the old days when they used dc...

We have AC here, but we have 3 pin socket outlets......

Xaccers · 03-08-2003, 01:10

We have three pins cos one of them is the earth to give a bit of protection.
A lot of appliances may have a three pin plug, but the earth pin isn't connected to anything, its just there to open the gate in the socket.

In Saudi for instance they use two pin sockets, with no earth, and no gate to prevent an inquisitive 6 year old sticking the break cable from his bmx into it just to see what would happen

PS what happens is one of your fingers goes knumb and "mum's gonna kill me" goes through your head

Jerrek · 03-08-2003, 01:15

Quote:

Originally posted by Xaccers
But it's ac so the polarity is alternating anyway (hence why on the continent you just get two pin plugs identical in size).
Unless it's a carry over from the old days when they used dc...

Not quite. Yes it alternates, but one is the phase wire, and one is the neutral. You would want to be able to distinguish them from each other. Appliances with two pins, such as coffee machines, have one pin slightly bigger to indicate the phase wire. Since houses are wired with 2-phase power, you can create 220 volts AC by using two phase wires instead of a phase and neutral. That will create 110 v + 110 v = 220 v.