Off the Continent but Still Online

AC Power: If the Plug Don't Fit

If there's any technical standard that you'd think would be ubiquitous, it's the good old power socket. Plug something into the wall--a computer, a hair dryer, or a toaster--and it works, right?

Wrong. Once you leave North America, you'll face two problems when using any AC-powered device: voltage and the plug itself.

North American AC power runs at 120 volts (120V), but elsewhere the current runs at speeds between 100V and 240V, with most countries standardized at 220V. Plugging a notebook computer designed for 120V into a 220V outlet could fry its circuitry.

If your notebook is less than five years old, its AC adapter is probably designed to handle multiple voltages. Check the tiny print on the adapter itself; you're safe if you see something like "Input 100-240V." Contact the manufacturer if you're not sure. If your notebook's AC adapter is stuck at 120V and the manufacturer doesn't offer a solution, you'll need a voltage converter (also known as a step-down transformer), which will cost about $40.

The AC adapter for my Dell Inspiron 5000 notebook handled Germany's 220V power just fine. But I also wanted to take an external Zip drive with me, and the Zip's AC adapter could handle only 120V. The solution? Iomega sells an international AC adapter for about $20.

Whether your notebook can handle the voltage without help, you still need to plug it in. Outlets come in all shapes and sizes: There are about nine AC plug standards worldwide. The solution is a plug adapter for the country you're visiting. You can buy a single adapter for $10 to $13, or a kit containing assorted adapters for particular countries or continents. These kits also contain adapters for the country's telephone jacks. Which leads us to the next overseas wrinkle...