No Necesitar un Convertidor Para mi Laptop
For anyone preparing to travel with electronics, the first thing to get is a converter. And the more paraphernalia involved with establishing your new electronic base when you arrive at your overseas destination, the more secure you feel in your ability handle any current regardless of the wattage.
There’s always a sense of dread when you plug in for the first time - especially when you’re not an electrician and you have $1500 in electronics at the end of the plug. But I was feeling pretty confident with my notebook plugged in, and the AC light engaged.
Then the smell of burning plastic.
I recalled a similar smell in Eastern Europe last year. It never amounted to much then so I chose to ignore it this time. But after five minutes and the melting plastic smell only getting worse, not to mention the fact that the converter was hot-to-touch, I figured I should probably take a closer look. I was also vaguely aware that my wife would soon appear from the bathroom, and be wondering what THAT smell was.
Pulling the converter from the plug revealed a steady stream of smoke. Later, a Google search revealed this was probably not a good thing (read “Stay Safe” courtesy of wikitravel.org ).
While I’m out an expensive converter, what knowledge this experience did impart, was that I didn’t need the converter in the first place. Luckily I had a enough juice left to do a few searches, and learned that the the AC adapter already acts as a converter of sorts, and as long as the “brick” indicates the correct range (120-240V) you should be safe.
Save the converter for the hair dryer.
