Bringing My Laptop

My laptop is the only electronic I'll be bringing to the UK with me when I move. What information do I need to know about it in order to know what I will need to plug it in there? I've heard the terms adapter and converter used, but I am not sure which I would need.

Any help is appreciated 

When I went to Australia with my US laptop, I just used a plug converter.  I was told electronic devices have built in voltage converters so just using a plug converter was fine.

Most (if not all) laptops are dual voltage, so all you'd need is a plug adaptor. Just check on the power adaptor if it says 110/240 on it.

Thank you.

So are plug converters/adapters the same thing?

Yes, it's just the thing that goes on the end of the plug so it will fit in the British wall plug instead of the American one.

You have to be careful because some people mix up the terms "adapter" and "converter". If the word "plug" is specifically used, then I would say they mean the little plastic and metal gizmos that just go between a US plug and a UK outlet, which I call "adapters". These do not change the voltage. They cost about $5 or less.

This is described as a "US to UK Plug Travel Adaptor" £2.89 on Amazon



The heavier, more expensive things in a case that have a cord with a UK plug on the end, and a US outlet on the case, that change the UK 240 volts to US 110 volts, I call "converters". These have a power rating in Watts, the bigger this number is, the more they cost. This first picture is a 150 Watt laptop adapter that costs around $20.



The second picture is a big, beefy 3000 Watt adapter that could run more than one power hungry item like an iron, microwave, etc, but would be HEAVY (no weight mentioned, but I would be surprised if it weighs less than 15 lbs) and costs around $100 upwards.

If your laptop is multi voltage you just need the plug adapter, or you can just buy a new cord when you get here.

OK, I've checked my laptop charger and it says "AC 100-240 V" on it.

Thanks for the clarification!

Ah, yes, I just meant plug adaptor in my post.  Not up on my electronic terminology 

Ah, yes, I just meant plug adaptor in my post.  Not up on my electronic terminology 

I don't think you actually made a mistake - sometimes the things that turn one kind of plug into another are called "converters" as well as "adapters". For example I bought one for the projector at work that we plug into laptops - it was described as a "male to female converter". I have seen them called "converter adapters" and also "adapter converters". That's what I call hedging your bets or is it covering all the bases?

OK, I've checked my laptop charger and it says "AC 100-240 V" on it.

I've never come across a laptop before that wasn't dual voltage (100-240V) because laptops are basically designed to be used anywhere . 100-240V covers all the different voltages around the world so that laptops can easily be used in any country. The only difference between the different countries is making sure that the plug you have will actually fit into the sockets... which is where the adapter (not converter) comes in, to ensure that your US 2-pin plug will fit into a UK 3-pin socket .

Check if your laptop charging cord comes apart in two pieces. If it does, you only need to order a new cord half that plugs into the wall. I got one on Ebay for 3 quid. Keep the original for when you travel back to the States and take your laptop with ya.

Like others have stated, it should be dual voltage, almost all are now. So you will just need the adaptor. Luckily for me, my boyfriend has a toshiba laptop too so I don't have to drag my charger with me when I visit the UK.  I have the small one even, as I have the netbook, but it still manages to consume so much room!

This is the half of the power cord that you need.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Laptop-3-Pin-Mains-Clover-Leaf-Power-Cord-Cable-UK-lead-/120605351718?pt=UK_Computing_CablesConnectors_RL&hash=item1c14a39f26#ht_3142wt_905

Nice link. I'll be purchasing one of those when we are ready to move. I know my laptop can use it because i used my mother in laws last time we visited Now the desktops. That will probably require a different cord.

Nice link. I'll be purchasing one of those when we are ready to move. I know my laptop can use it because i used my mother in laws last time we visited Now the desktops. That will probably require a different cord.

Practically all desktop computers worldwide use a cord with the IEC C13 connector on the end that plugs into the computer. (That's the one on the left of the picture)



As long as the desktop PC is multivolt or has a switch then you can use these or else use a plug adapter with the cords you already have. These cords are everywhere and are really cheap. Like 2 or 3 pounds.