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TheMosco · Feb 20, 2007, 08:13 PM

I am traveling to london in 17 days for 7 weeks. In terms of electronics, I will be bring:

My macbook
A cell phone
My camera + charger
Possibly an iron

What kind of adapters do I need? Do I need a converter or just an adapter?

Sijmen · Feb 21, 2007, 06:43 AM

Apple has these traveling kits with all the possible variations on power plugs, for the rest:

Domestic AC power plugs and sockets - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Mediaman_12 · Feb 21, 2007, 06:57 AM

UK 'mains' power runs at a whopping 240v (does the us run 110v) and will instantly destroy any non-switching USA transformer.

Your Mac Book transformer should be ok, and may only need a plug adapter, as i think they have auto switching transformers.
You cell phone & Camera charger, will probably have those integrated plug/transformer things, so you would likely need new UK rated ones (remember that the UK phone network is GSM as you are over here for a while get a UK sim if you don't ALL the calls you make will be at international rate).
Don't bother bringing an iron over. It's likely not to work and anyway you can get dirt cheap steam irons (like this one for £5).

Paco500 · Feb 21, 2007, 04:18 PM

Your MacBook will be fine, and don't waste your money on Apple's overpriced plug adapter as a $5 one from Radio Shack will do the same thing.

If your cell phone even works over here, it's likely it will be fine as well with just and adapter, same goes for your camera. Just check the specs- most modern portable electronics have an auto switching power supply, check the tech specs and see if it says 110-240v on it somewhere. EVERY bit of portable gear I brought from the states (and most stationary stuff as well) was auto switching.

The iron? Probably will not work without a power converter that will cost more than a cheap iron.

As for the phone, I would get a pay-as-you go from a place called Carphone Warehouse- their in-house network is called Mobile World. They are all over london, and often have deals for a free (or very low price, 10-20 GBP) phone with a SIM card purchase. Their UK rates are the same as everyone's, 15p a min, but calls back to the US are only 5p a min- damn cheap. If you have an unlocked quad-band GSM phone, you could just get a sim card from them.

Paco500 · Feb 21, 2007, 04:20 PM

Oh, and one last thing. Bring money. Lots and lots of money. Think of the most money you could possibly need to survive in London for seven weeks, then double it, and you should be good for the first three weeks.

nonhuman · Feb 21, 2007, 04:50 PM

Originally Posted by Paco500

Oh, and one last thing. Bring money. Lots and lots of money. Think of the most money you could possibly need to survive in London for seven weeks, then double it, and you should be good for the first three weeks.

Er, they have ATMs in London (including in Heathrow, there's one off to the side in the greeting area for arriving flights off to right if you're heading towards the ramp down to the trains)... No need to bring cash. You get a better exchange rate that way too.

Peter · Feb 21, 2007, 04:52 PM

my swedish friend gets raped when he withdraws money out his foreign bank account -- like £20 per withdrawal in fees.
Be wary

Paco500 · Feb 21, 2007, 05:45 PM

Originally Posted by nonhuman

Er, they have ATMs in London (including in Heathrow, there's one off to the side in the greeting area for arriving flights off to right if you're heading towards the ramp down to the trains)... No need to bring cash. You get a better exchange rate that way too.

I'm aware of the ATMs. It was really just a way of saying it was expensive in London. I was meant to be kind of funny. Didn't work I guess.

TheMosco · Feb 21, 2007, 05:50 PM

Yeah, I have a quadband GSM phone and just plan on getting a SIM.

In terms of money, yeah.... I know. I have ATM card that works over there, and my bank re-reimburses me on ATM fees. I will also have CC. And I know its going to be in expensive. My housing is already payed for along with my oyster card(zones 1-2). Travel outside of london/UK and food are going to be my biggest expenses.

Thanks for the help.

Paco500 · Feb 22, 2007, 04:02 AM

If you can plan your excursions in advance, travel can be pretty cheap. If you end up traveling at the last min, you are going to pay through the nose. If you are planning on getting around the UK by train, there are ways to get cheap fares if you put some work in to it- but if you just buy your ticket at the machine right before you travel, you will pay a lot. If you do end up going somewhere at the last min, at least buy your ticket from a human at a booth- you sometimes get better fares by default, but you can also ask if there are any discounts. I've found joy in this way about 30% of the time.

Food? Can't offer much advice there. It's all pretty expensive.

OreoCookie · Feb 22, 2007, 04:31 AM

Your Macbook adapter will be just fine as will most rechargers for cell phones. You should definitely check the power bricks, somewhere it reads for what voltages it is rated. If it reads 110-240 V, you're fine. Your iron, however, will most definitely not work, unless it's a travel iron. If you're not sure, don't use it.

moonmonkey · Feb 22, 2007, 07:16 AM

London uses the same plugs and sockets as the rest of the UK.

Mithras · Feb 22, 2007, 07:22 AM

Originally Posted by Paco500

I'm aware of the ATMs. It was really just a way of saying it was expensive in London. I was meant to be kind of funny. Didn't work I guess.

No worries, it was funny.

philm · Feb 22, 2007, 02:05 PM

Originally Posted by moonmonkey

London uses the same plugs and sockets as the rest of the UK.

..as does Hong Kong I believe...

Trygve · Feb 24, 2007, 11:53 AM

and most other places the Brits went... ie Dubai

moonmonkey · 08:23 PM

All the places that drive on the left need special plugs.

Angus_D · Feb 25, 2007, 04:31 AM

Originally Posted by moonmonkey

All the places that drive on the left need special plugs.

They drive on the left in the Bahamas, but have US style plugs.

moonmonkey · Feb 25, 2007, 05:27 AM

Originally Posted by Angus_D

They drive on the left in the Bahamas, but have US style plugs.

Wow, thats a real recipe for disaster.

Angus_D · Feb 25, 2007, 05:37 AM

Originally Posted by moonmonkey

Wow, thats a real recipe for disaster.

Well, what's worse is that most of the modern cars are imported from the US and therefore left-hand drive. D'oh.

moonmonkey · Feb 26, 2007, 04:46 AM

They should just get right hand drive cars from Japan, silly Bahamians.

TheMosco · Mar 5, 2007, 05:41 PM

So I have my adapters but I have another question:

I have an extension cord that doesn't have any voltage info on it. Would be ok to take an extension cord and plug it into my adapter or does the extension cord have to be rated for 240V?

I leave friday, I am so excited!!

kick52 · Mar 6, 2007, 02:20 AM

if macbook chargers are the same as ibook chargers, you can pull out the american mains plug, and stick a ps2 mains lead in there.

Paco500 · Mar 6, 2007, 02:58 AM

Originally Posted by TheMosco

So I have my adapters but I have another question:

I have an extension cord that doesn't have any voltage info on it. Would be ok to take an extension cord and plug it into my adapter or does the extension cord have to be rated for 240V?

I leave friday, I am so excited!!

I would wait and pick one up in London- grab on at Tesco for a few pounds. That way you don't have to worry.

Enjoy London- it's a blast. Try to get to the Tate Modern and ride the slides.