Voltage in the states and here - laptops

Bri

Does anyone know what the deal with laptops are from the states? Presumably the charger is a diff. voltage - but does this make the battery itself different than its European version?

14.4 Volts 3200mAh is what I'm seeing in the states - And 14.4V in Europe too. But no mention of mAhs...which I don't understand in the first place.

Any advice? :eek:

Redshift

Laptops by their nature are mobile computers and should work on the mains supply in any country. The chargers adapt automatically to the input voltage.
So in essence a dell power supply and battery from America should be more or less the same as a European one.

14.4 Volts 3200mAh is what I'm seeing in the states - And 14.4V in Europe too. But no mention of mAhs...which I don't understand in the first place.

This states that the battery can supply 3,200 millamps for one hour at 14.4 volts so if the laptop has a current consumption rate of 800 milliamps then the battery can power the laptop for four hours. 3,200/4 =800

Khannie

Bri wrote:

But no mention of mAhs...which I don't understand in the first place.

mAh's stands for milliAmp Hours. Basically it's a measure of how long the battery will last giving out 1mA of current.

Bri

Ok grand so - thanks for the info.

/me trots off to eBay.

brasher

I have bought quite a few laptops in the states, no problem, just need to change the power lead! Have never come across any other laptop issues (once you get a region cracker for the dvd player etc.).
Going to get one myself when I am there. Have a look at this one, not a bad spec and super low price when you convert it to euro's! Plus you can just walk in and buy one, once you are there of course...

Bri

Thanks for the help!

Capt'n Midnight

Bri wrote:

Does anyone know what the deal with laptops are from the states? Presumably the charger is a diff. voltage - but does this make the battery itself different than its European version?

14.4 Volts 3200mAh is what I'm seeing in the states - And 14.4V in Europe too. But no mention of mAhs...which I don't understand in the first place.

Any advice? :eek:

Most laptops have a universal power supply that will run from ~90VAC/100VAC to 250VAC at 50/60Hz so you could use on either side of the Atlantic. Pick up and look at the bottom of the adaptor to be certain !

Desktops might have a switch on them set to either 110V or 220/230/240V - if the switch is set to 110V and you plug it in here then the PSU has an MTBF of about 5ms....

StickyMcGinty

hey if your lookin for laptops try this fella:

http://closo.com/index/region/220647/category/laptops

i'm not advertising, i bought a laptop off him and its on its way to me now, thought i got a good deal!

So all i'd need is a american -> UK plug changer then?

Bri

Thanks for the info. guys. By the looks of things I'm keeping my old laptop and just getting a new battery from eBay.

Much appreciated.