Help- Plugging In Aus/Nz Electronics In Thailand

[emmjay]

I'm living in Chiang Mai and ever since I arrived a few months ago I've been having trouble with my electronics. I don't know much about electricity but apparently the Thai power output is 220 V; the converters you buy here are 250V and NZ/ Aus power cords take up to 240 V. I'm not sure what all this means really, but up until about a month ago I was using my HP laptop and just using an adaptor but when my laptop was plugged in it would kinda shock me when I touched it, multiple times. Like it would kinda vibrate when I touched it, then it would actually sting if I kept my hand on it. The cord also got really hot so I think too much electricity was going through it. Eventually something must have blown because it stopped working.

I left it for 6 weeks or so, but now my friend has just sent a brand new iphone over to me from Aus so I went hunting for a volt converter. I can't find an appropriate one here in Chiang Mai. I think I'll just buy a Thai wall charger for my iphone but I just plugged it in to a computer in the net cafe by USB and touched it when it was plugged and and it gave me an electric shock! Is there something wrong with the phone or is it just coz my friend plugged it into her laptop in Aus and it had some built up electricity... I'm too scared to touch it again now haha.

Also, my laptop- is it likely that it could still work? Should I just buy a new power cord? Will it work or will it be detrimental to my laptop? Basically, should the appliances still be fine if I use thai chargers/cords instead of Aus/NZ ones?

[Darrel]

Hardly any power supplies need voltage convertors anymore. Just about all the gadgets you buy new are good for 100-250V.

Have a look at the labels.

[emmjay]

It says "240 V" on my electronics and they've been electrocuting me though???

[MTH]

The reason you’re getting shocked from your devices, is that they are not connected to a grounded outlet.

Unfortunately it’s still very uncommon with grounded outlets in Thailand.

There are lots of posts on this on the forum, if you want to search for it.

Does your laptop have an AC/DC adapter on the power cord (a small brick), or does it convert power onboard?

As it’s most likely the converter that has been fried due to a power spike.

[Crossy]

Yup, tingles from your technology is invariably due to poor or no earthing.

Look here http://www.crossy.co.uk/wiring/2pin.html for some ideas. As a minimum try connecting the ground pin of your computer to something metallic that is earthed (try balcony railing, water pipe etc) that should stop the shocks (you don't need a very good earth to ground the leakage current).

Do note that this is not a fault, modern switching PSUs have inlet filters which require a ground to function correctly, with no ground the metalwork floats up to about 50% of mains voltage.

BTW, 'electrocution' usually implies death, since you're posting you're really just getting small shocks

[newcomer01]

http://www.crossy.co.uk/wiring/2pin.html

Earth/ ground is always a problem here. All the Australian appliances will work OK here. If you live in a house put in a earth spike. Turn off power. Connect wire to earth point of the plug and run the wire to the spike. Not pretty but works. Available Homepro, Global. Also adapter plugs

Amorn has all the adapters that you may require. As far as connecting earth to the metal of a building really not such a good idea. What can happen is can make that whatever you connect it to live.

[Crossy]

As far as connecting earth to the metal of a building really not such a good idea. What can happen is can make that whatever you connect it to live.

Google 'Ufer ground'

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ufer_Ground

When there is no possibility of getting a ground in the conventional way structural steel is adequate providing that an RCD is installed.

[outofoz]

good to know!