Sony Laptop Q/USB Q

I read back several pages, and I'm still confused.  Honestly, I just think it's me being stupid, but here's my questions -

I have a Sony VGN-C140G.  I intend on bringing it with me to the UK this fall when I stay for two months, and then if/when I eventually move bringing it with me.  The box part of the cord says

Sony AC Adapter 19.5V in large letters, and then in a little green box says:

Input: 100-240V~ 1.3A-0.6A  50-60Hz
Output: 19.5V=    4.7A

So, what does that mean? Does this mean if I walk into Radio Shack and buy a US-UK plug converter to plug my cord into it will work? Or do I need to contact Sony and pay $98 for a new power cord that will work in the UK?  (I'm operating on a serious budget and I honestly don't have $98 to spend on a cord)

Also, I read on another site (I wish I still had the link) that you shouldn't use peripherals such as USB ports while traveling in the UK with a US laptop...and I had planned on charging my iPod via USB so I wouldn't have to deal with the plug issue for that.  Is it safe to plug things into my USB ports while plugged into a UK outlet?

I also plan on bringing my US mobile phone with me. Not to use as a phone, but because it has a camera you can use on it while the phone is "off", and I'll need it when I return to the states.  I assume I can plug that in with a plug converter as well?

If these questions have already been asked, feel free to flog me and point me in the right direction!

~Rebecca

You have nothing to worry about - your laptop is configured for use in both the US and UK (it will run on both 110 volts (US) and 240 volts (UK), hence the voltage range of 100-240volts and the frequency range of 50-60Hz) so all you need is a plug adapter in order to plug your US power cord into the 3-hole UK power outlets.

I have never heard of not being able to plug into a USB port when plugged into a different power outlet - I've been using my UK laptop in the US several hours a day for the pat 5.5 months and I plug things into the USB ports all the time (charging my mp3 player, uploading photos etc)... no problems at all - so I would hope that this would be the same for using a US laptop in the UK.

With your mobile phone, you'll have to check the voltage for the power cord, but you'll probably need a converter for it, as I'm not sure it will have the dual voltage range that your laptop has.

UK electricity is 230V, 50 Hz so based on what you have posted your laptop will work fine.  All you need is the cheap plug adapter that physically lets you plug the US plug into the UK socket.

There's no USB issues using US laptops in the UK.

Your phone charger will probably work but you'll have to check the rating.  You'll need to find the rating info. like you did for your laptop and it's the 'input' part you are interested in.  If it will accept 230V then you're good to go.

Does this mean if I walk into Radio Shack and buy a US-UK plug converter to plug my cord into it will work?

In a word, yes.   When you move here permanently you could then just cut off the U.S. plug and fit a U.K. plug to the end of the cord instead to save having to use the adapter all the time.

Or do I need to contact Sony and pay $98 for a new power cord that will work in the UK?  (I'm operating on a serious budget and I honestly don't have $98 to spend on a cord)

I hope that $98 means the entire power supply and cords, although even that is pricey.  Does your laptop charger have a detachable power cord?  If so, then you could just replace the cord itself, which would be much cheaper.

Also, I read on another site (I wish I still had the link) that you shouldn't use peripherals such as USB ports while traveling in the UK with a US laptop...

I have no idea where that idea originates.       USB ports provide 5 volts D.C. power, completely independent of whether you are running on batteries, 120V 60Hz American power, or 240V 50Hz British power. 

There's absolutely no technical reason not to use USB ports as normal.

I also plan on bringing my US mobile phone with me. Not to use as a phone, but because it has a camera you can use on it while the phone is "off", and I'll need it when I return to the states.  I assume I can plug that in with a plug converter as well?

Have a look at the label on the phone charger.  Many of these are designed for 100-120V or 220-250V use only.

You have nothing to worry about - your laptop is configured for use in both the US and UK (it will run on both 110 volts (US) and 240 volts (UK), hence the voltage range of 100-240volts and the frequency range of 50-60Hz) so all you need is a plug adapter in order to plug your US power cord into the 3-hole UK power outlets.

I have never heard of not being able to plug into a USB port when plugged into a different power outlet - I've been using my UK laptop in the US several hours a day for the pat 5.5 months and I plug things into the USB ports all the time (charging my mp3 player, uploading photos etc)... no problems at all - so I would hope that this would be the same for using a US laptop in the UK.

Thanks.  I feel like an idiot because now I can't find the article I had read and it's no longer in my page history, but I thought it was something I had linked to off a site that sells power converters. They had a "guide to using your laptop" or something like that and it mentioned something about possibly damaging USB devices if you used them.  Good to know it was a bunch of crap, since it will save me on buying another plug adapter! 

I hope that $98 means the entire power supply and cords, although even that is pricey.  Does your laptop charger have a detachable power cord?  If so, then you could just replace the cord itself, which would be much cheaper.

The $98 would be for the whole thing, but I can detach the part of the cord that goes from the box to the outlet, so perhaps instead of cutting off my cord when I move I can just buy that piece from somewhere? 

Your phone charger will probably work but you'll have to check the rating.  You'll need to find the rating info. like you did for your laptop and it's the 'input' part you are interested in.  If it will accept 230V then you're good to go.

My phone is an LJ 9900. The charger reads:

Input: 100-240V~50/60Hz 0.2A
Output: 4.8V==0.9A

So, since 230 is part of the range, I'd just need another adapter, right?

You guys are amazing

They had a "guide to using your laptop" or something like that and it mentioned something about possibly damaging USB devices if you used them.  Good to know it was a bunch of crap, since it will save me on buying another plug adapter!

It seems so silly that they would say something like that, because I thought the main advantage of a laptop was that it could be transported and used to it's full extent anywhere (hence the reason for the voltage range as I mentioned earlier - so it can be used around the world). So many devices use USB ports these days that it wouldn't make sense not to be able to plug them in to your laptop in a different country - after all, what about all those business visitors who travel the world giving presentations stored on USB memory sticks? 

My phone is an LJ 9900. The charger reads:

Input: 100-240V~50/60Hz 0.2A
Output: 4.8V==0.9A

So, since 230 is part of the range, I'd just need another adapter, right?

Every country in the world uses a voltage between 100V and 240V, so wherever you go in the world, you'll never need a converter if the Input voltage is listed as 100-240V. You'll only need a converter if the device lists a smaller range or just one voltage (e.g. 110V or 240V only).

It seems so silly that they would say something like that, because I thought the main advantage of a laptop was that it could be transported and used to it's full extent anywhere (hence the reason for the voltage range as I mentioned earlier - so it can be used around the world). So many devices use USB ports these days that it wouldn't make sense not to be able to plug them in to your laptop in a different country - after all, what about all those business visitors who travel the world giving presentations stored on USB memory sticks? 

Oh, I agree. I'm still trying to find the link where I had read it so I don't look crazy . I did think it was weird when I had read it, but I hadn't been able to verify it at the time.  But now I know

Every country in the world uses a voltage between 100V and 240V, so wherever you go in the world, you'll never need a converter if the Input voltage is listed as 100-240V. You'll only need a converter if the device lists a smaller range or just one voltage (e.g. 110V or 240V only).

Nice! Oooh, I just checked and even my external has that 100-200 thing listed on it  

(also My phone is an LG, not an LJ....I rock at typos!)

I can detach the part of the cord that goes from the box to the outlet, so perhaps instead of cutting off my cord when I move I can just buy that piece from somewhere? 

So long as it's one of the fairly common connectors at the power supply, you should have no trouble just replacing the cord.  I just did a quick search on your Sony model and the small pictures of the power supply are a little hard to make out, but it looks as though it might be the IEC C5 connector on it (commonly known as a "cloverleaf" connector), which is fairly common on laptop supplies.   If so, replacement cords with a U.K. plug are easily obtainable:

http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?ModuleNo=29240&doy=26m6

My phone is an LJ 9900. The charger reads:

Input: 100-240V~50/60Hz 0.2A
Output: 4.8V==0.9A

So, since 230 is part of the range, I'd just need another adapter, right?

Correct.   In most parts of the U.K. the nominal supply voltage is still really 240, but that's by the by.

It seems so silly that they would say something like that

It sounds as though somebody has got completely the wrong end of the stick.  USB is USB the world over -- There are no specific national differences in the interface.

Every country in the world uses a voltage between 100V and 240V

Well, if you want to be pedantic, there are still a few places which are nominally 250 volts.   

Well, if you want to be pedantic, there are still a few places which are nominally 250 volts.   

Okay, okay, be pedantic then - I just did a search for worldwide voltages and didn't come across anything less than 100V or more than 240V, so I assumed that 100-240V was the entire range (I'm not an expert on the subject by any means though).

By far the majority of places do actually fall into the 110-127V and 220-240V ranges these days.   In those countries using the higher voltages, only a few places now have either 250V at the top end of range or 200V at the lower end.  The only country using a nominal supply as low as 100V of which I'm aware is Japan.   

There was one far eastern country (I forget which -- Cambodia or Laos, perhaps) which used to use a very unusual 150V supply.  I believe they converted to one of the more conventional ranges some years ago though.   

Voltages are nominal anyway -- Variations of up to +/-10% are quite normal.  All of which is far more detail than anyone ever wanted to know anyhow!   

So long as it's one of the fairly common connectors at the power supply, you should have no trouble just replacing the cord.  I just did a quick search on your Sony model and the small pictures of the power supply are a little hard to make out, but it looks as though it might be the IEC C5 connector on it (commonly known as a "cloverleaf" connector), which is fairly common on laptop supplies.   If so, replacement cords with a U.K. plug are easily obtainable:

http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?ModuleNo=29240&doy=26m6

Paul, you're amazing   The detachable part of the cord says:

HRS-CMC
EF-66
7A  125V

If that's of any help.  I can also tell you that the model number on the box is VGP-AC19V13


Mine's actually a two-holed cord, so the one you linked me to wouldn't work.  I keep trying to find one that might work, and all I get back from the site is "you have encountered an error"     I swear, I'm not as computer illiterate as I sound!

I found this on eBay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320267503610&_trksid=p2759.l1259

and the seller says if they're shipping to the UK, it will have a UK plug on it, and  $12.99 doesn't sound bad at all!

Mine's actually a two-holed cord, so the one you linked me to wouldn't work. 

Is this the one?   IEC type C7, commonly known as a "figure of eight" connector:

http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?ModuleNo=1168&doy=28m6

If so, then like the "cloverleaf" type these are easily obtainable over here.

Is this the one?   IEC type C7, commonly known as a "figure of eight" connector:

http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?ModuleNo=1168&doy=28m6

If so, then like the "cloverleaf" type these are easily obtainable over here.

Yes, that looks exactly like it!  Is that the one I need?

If that's the correct connector for the power unit, then yes.    The plug at the other end fits the standard U.K. wall outlet.

If that's the correct connector for the power unit, then yes.    The plug at the other end fits the standard U.K. wall outlet.

Woo!  Thanks so much!