Very Easy Question

[Briggsy]

I will be taking my new Compaq laptop to the UK soon. The Thai recharger has 3 pins. The UK standard socket has 3 pins but I know it won't fit and it will be the wrong voltage.

I will either need an adaptor or

a new Compaq lead with the right connection for a UK socket.

Can anyone advise what they did and where the right lead or adaptor can be purchased (in Thailand).

Thanks very much in advance.

[JohnC]

UK Voltage is the same as Thailand, just buy a multi use adapter that can be used worldwide available here or in the UK , simple

[Briggsy]

Thank you.

[davee58]

I use my UK laptop worldwide always with the same power adaptor (power brick), but take a different mains power lead when travelling.

The power lead plugs into the power brick and I have:

- a power lead for the UK with a UK plug on the end.

- a power lead with the US style two flat pin mains plug.

- a power lead with the European style two round pin mains plug.

Check that your power cable is detachable, and if you are lucky the power cable will be the standard one used for radios, tape recorders etc.

Alternatively, use a multi use mains adaptor as suggested by JohnC, I have used a shaving adaptor in the past, it worked fine...

[Crossy]

Yup ^^^, either get a Thai to UK plug adaptor (cheaper in Thailand, try HomePro), or get a UK mains lead when you get there.

No issues with voltage

[Briggsy]

davee58

Yes the power brick is detached and separate from the power lead. The power lead has three prongs. So I need to use an extension lead in Thailand (as opposed to a wall socket). This seems to be standard for computers in Thailand.

Where did you buy your UK power lead which is compatible with a Compaq 'power brick'?

Thanks

Briggsy

[Crossy]

Your power lead will either have a 3-pin 'clover-leaf' shape (round pins) or a square-ish 'IEC' connector (rectangular pins).

Both are standard and any computer store in the UK will have them

[davee58]

davee58

Yes the power brick is detached and separate from the power lead. The power lead has three prongs. So I need to use an extension lead in Thailand (as opposed to a wall socket). This seems to be standard for computers in Thailand.

Where did you buy your UK power lead which is compatible with a Compaq 'power brick'?

Thanks

Briggsy

Hi Briggsy.

Here are a couple of Amazon.UK links so that you can see what I mean, just search till you find the right one for your power brick, mine is actually a Dell.

You could buy from Amazon and get UK delivery, good price as well.

My first laptop needed the Cloverleaf plug to fit into the powerbrick.

Cloverleaf lead

My current laptop uses the standard fitting

Standard lead

Don't forget, there is always the electric shaver adaptor if all goes wrong.

Cheers

Dave..

[keeniau96]

The several different types of leads for the power brick->to the wall plug are readily available in the shops in Pantip Plaza. Check the ones on the ground floor toward the back; look for the shops that have a huge assortment of computer trivia eg. mouse pads, CD blanks, various adapters. Wander around, look for cardboard cartons on the floor filled with those black electrical cords. Show the one you have to the vendor so they see the brick end plug, then ask for England (they know that better than UK) plug for other.

[dave2]

Alternatively.... errr uummm .... how can i put this ?

cut the thai plug off ...... put a uk one on

when you come back here reverse the process ..... simple : )

dave2

[Crossy]

Alternatively.... errr uummm .... how can i put this ?

cut the thai plug off ...... put a uk one on

when you come back here reverse the process ..... simple : )

Seems excessive when the adaptors and leads are readily available.

A word of warning if you do go this way. I've removed the (Schuko) plugs from a number of PC leads obtained here, all were made with a very thin and springy copper core, dam_n near impossible to solder and very difficult to wrap round screw terminals, the cores even untwist when trying to make a connection, lord knows what alloy they're made from (must be cheap though).

[Briggsy]

The several different types of leads for the power brick->to the wall plug are readily available in the shops in Pantip Plaza. Check the ones on the ground floor toward the back; look for the shops that have a huge assortment of computer trivia eg. mouse pads, CD blanks, various adapters. Wander around, look for cardboard cartons on the floor filled with those black electrical cords. Show the one you have to the vendor so they see the brick end plug, then ask for England (they know that better than UK) plug for other.

I took your [keeniau] advice; don't worry I am of the same ilk. Went to Pantip Bangkapi. There's an excellent shop on the underground floor called D Plugs. (I don't normally plug businesses - no pun intended). He sold me the right adaptor for 30 Baht. You can't beat that. He also offered me a sort of amazing adaptor which has a variety of pull out and twistable pins so you can use it in a variety of countries for just 180 Baht. I went for the 30 Baht version.

Job done.