Computer electric question

[chitown]

I know that in Thailand the electric is 220 and in the US it is 110. I have a computer that has a switch on my PC that says 115 and 230 on it. I am guessing it will work in the US, but am I right? Or should it have a switch that says 220 or 110?

[harrybarracuda]

I know that in Thailand the electric is 220 and in the US it is 110. I have a computer that has a switch on my PC that says 115 and 230 on it. I am guessing it will work in the US, but am I right? Or should it have a switch that says 220 or 110?

As long as you get it approximately right, you'll be OK.

But if you get it the wrong way round, expect bubbling and popping noises and a puff or two of smoke.

[Scandinavian]

230-115 is same as 220-110. Don't worry, plug it in.

[matsalleh]

230-115 is same as 220-110. Don't worry, plug it in.

Agree, just don't forget to FIRST switch on to 230 here, to avoid that burning taste in the entrails!

[inthaiguy]

Along those lines, I know a 110v appliance would fry in a 220v socket, but what happens to a 220v appliance plugged into a 110v socket? Just as bad?

[inthaiguy]

Anyone?

[harrybarracuda]

Anyone?

When I moved from a 220v to a 110v environment, I was told my 45's would play at 33......

[FlyFree]

Why not be safe and try it halfway first?

You should ask Jandajoy. He's got a lot of experience with computer electrics I believe. Plugging it in and technical things like that.

[crippen]

Along those lines, I know a 110v appliance would fry in a 220v socket, but what happens to a 220v appliance plugged into a 110v socket? Just as bad?

Not a lot. They just usually dont work at all.


But dont try to use Direct current or 400 c/sec supply like on a plane or ship. Big bang sometimes.!

[TizMe]

Does it matter that Thailand has 50 Hz supply and USA has 60 Hz?

I know when I lived in the middle east I had a clock that handled the difference in voltage, but 1 hour on the clock only took 50 minutes to pass.

[harrybarracuda]

Does it matter that Thailand has 50 Hz supply and USA has 60 Hz?

I know when I lived in the middle east I had a clock that handled the difference in voltage, but 1 hour on the clock only took 50 minutes to pass.

I'm surprised that people nowadays don't just buy stuff that covers all of the bases.

e.g. My Sony DVD writer (not exactly brand new) says input 100-240v 50-60Hz.

[Takeovers]

I know when I lived in the middle east I had a clock that handled the difference in voltage, but 1 hour on the clock only took 50 minutes to pass.

That clock was probably quite old. They used to derive their time clock from the frequency of the power grid simply by using a syncronous motor. They would run 20% faster on a 60 Hz network. And they run precisely only if the frequency of the network is really stable. They are stable usually but some not so well connected networks may become slow under high load.

We had this kind of clock in Berlin and it always run very reliably. Then came reunification and Berlin was integrated in the not yet connected grid of the former DDR. The clock would run several minutes slow in the day but they made up for it in the night so next morning the time was correct again.

Computer power supplies are switched devices. They don't care much for the input frequency 50 or 60 Hz. But look at the print on it. The specs should be right with the power specs.