Laptop - do I need new power cord or converter??

Hello:

I have a HP 2000 laptop purchased last July here in the states...what do I need to do to be able to use my laptop in England? New power cord? Converter? If going the converter route what are my options?

Thank you in advance!

Most likely you only need a new power cord to plug into your existing laptop's power adapter.  Look at the label on your power adapter and see if there's a part that says something like "INPUT: 100-240 V~1.7A 50-60 Hz"  If that's there, then all you need is a cord with a UK plug at the end to replace the US one you're using now.

Most laptops nowadays are fine for dual voltage. I use a simple plug adapter with my MacBook charger from 2011 and I have never had a problem.

Most laptops nowadays are fine for dual voltage. I use a simple plug adapter with my MacBook charger from 2011 and I have never had a problem.

Yeah, same here. All laptops should be dual-voltage as they are designed to be mobile and used anywhere in the world.

I have a US Macbook and I just use it with a US-UK adapter. I've had it for 2 years now and haven't had any problems.

Alternatively, I could buy a power cord with a UK plug on it instead of using the adapter, but they are quite expensive so I haven't bothered so far.

If you look on the "brick" it will give you the voltage, and I would wager large sums that it says 100-240V. Even my HP printer is dual voltage, so any modern laptop is almost certainly dual. An adapter from the pound store will do the job.

Thank you everyone!!!!  I will then use a UK adapter...I appreciate your suggestions/responses!!

I used a uk plug adapter for my older HP laptop (G62 model, bought in 2011) for a long time. Noticed that the box on the cable would get extremely hot at times, so replaced it with a uk cable and box, but later found out that the boxes on my model laptop had actually been recalled due to them overheating, so it had nothing to do with the UK/US thing.

If your power cord actually comes in two parts (one with the box and one with the plug end) the you can just switch out the plug end of the cord.  My UK plug end cost <£10 on Amazon and is so handy to have.

Alternatively, I could buy a power cord with a UK plug on it instead of using the adapter, but they are quite expensive so I haven't bothered so far.

Are they Mac specific?  I only ask because for an HP laptop you could get a UK plug on Amazon for about a pound.

Are they Mac specific?  I only ask because for an HP laptop you could get a UK plug on Amazon for about a pound.

Actually, I can't remember as it's been a while since I looked - as it works fine with the adapter, I just haven't bothered. Looking on Amazon now, it does seem like you can get fairly cheap ones.

I have had to replace the brick part of the power cord twice now - the first time, Apple replaced it for me for free as it was still under warranty, but they only gave me the brick part of the cable. The other time I ordered one off Amazon, but again it only came with the brick half of the cable. I do have a UK plug that goes straight into the brick, but not a longer cable with the UK plug on the end.

Are they Mac specific?  I only ask because for an HP laptop you could get a UK plug on Amazon for about a pound.

I think they are. I've never seen another laptop charger that fitted together the same way macs do. I know my pre-Mac laptop didn't.

If your power cord actually comes in two parts (one with the box and one with the plug end) the you can just switch out the plug end of the cord.  My UK plug end cost <£10 on Amazon and is so handy to have.

I'd had to do this for the US end as the dog had chewed through it (luckily not while plugged in!) but I can't for the life of me remember what specifically that part is called. Is it literally just called "plug end"? I don't need an end replacement now but never know for the future.

No idea if there is a more formal name.  The plug dohicky usually gets the point across.