Using an American Power Supply in Ireland/UK

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Can anybody tell me if its possible to use an American Power Supply in
Ireland or the UK? The Power Supply in question is a PC Power & Cooling 850
Turbo-Cool and it has a detachable cable connecting it to a wall socket with
an American plug on it. Which it says use a 14AWG power cord. Can I just
exchange the power cord for one with an Irish or UK plug or do I have to use
a Transformer?
Thanx for any replies I would really like to use this one.
 
Gerb68 said:
Can anybody tell me if its possible to use an American Power Supply in
Ireland or the UK? The Power Supply in question is a PC Power & Cooling
850
Turbo-Cool and it has a detachable cable connecting it to a wall socket
with
an American plug on it. Which it says use a 14AWG power cord. Can I just
exchange the power cord for one with an Irish or UK plug or do I have to
use
a Transformer?
Thanx for any replies I would really like to use this
one.
Click to expand...


USA is 110 volts, UK is 240 volts - you'll need a step-down transformer....
 
Grab your reading glasses or a magnifier and read the fine print on the
power supply itself.

Most current power supplies such as laptop bricks are now rated
110v-240v which means that they automatically handle different voltages
and DO NOT NEED a conversions transformer.

Assuming your power supply is so rated, you will only need to get a plug
adapter or replacement power cord.

As for desktop power supplies, again, check the label specification
_and_ look for a 110v-240v switch on the power supply itself... if the
latter, be _sure_ it is in the correct position or get ready to buy a
replacement and possibly components downstream.

Beverly Howard [MS MVP-Mobile Devices]
 
Thanx for the help especially so quick.
On the Label on the actual Power Supply it reads:

Input: 100-240VAC 12A 50-60Hz
.98 Power Factor

Does this tell me anything?
 
Gerb68 said:
Thanx for the help especially so quick.
On the Label on the actual Power Supply it reads:

Input: 100-240VAC 12A 50-60Hz
.98 Power Factor

Does this tell me anything?
Click to expand...

It's telling you that it will work.
 
Input: 100-240VAC 12A 50-60Hz
.98 Power Factor

Does this tell me anything? <<

It means that the unit can be used without a transformer...

Can you clarify what type of power supply this is? a url or image would
really help.

for example, is it a power supply for a laptop (a brick) or is it the
metal box type that get's mounted inside a desktop computer box?

If the latter, is this replacing an original power supply? If so, it's
possible that the switch was hidden when it was installed.

Beverly Howard [MS MVP-Mobile Devices]
 
Beverly said:
.98 Power Factor

Does this tell me anything? <<

It means that the unit can be used without a transformer...

Can you clarify what type of power supply this is? a url or image would
really help.

for example, is it a power supply for a laptop (a brick) or is it the
metal box type that get's mounted inside a desktop computer box?

If the latter, is this replacing an original power supply? If so, it's
possible that the switch was hidden when it was installed.

Beverly Howard [MS MVP-Mobile Devices]
Click to expand...

The OP's original post stated that this was a PC Power and Cooling 850
watt power supply. These power supplies are auto-sensing and do not
need a switch to set the voltage.
 
It will work. Make sure that you move the switch on the PS to the 220-240
volt setting before plugging it in when in the UK and return it to the
100-120 setting once you return to the US.

If you don't want to purchase a special power cord for the UK you may be
able to get by with a "socket converter" similar to the ones here:
http://www.samsonitecompanystores.c...oductId=239430&storeId=10151&langId=-1&pc=C35
(long URL so watch word wrap). You can purchase in your local Radio Shack
or similar stores or in the Samsonite Company stores in your local outlet
mall.

While I use my laptop when I travel and it has the autoswitch power supply,
I still need a power cable converter to get the outlet the same as my male
plug. I purchased two sets of single converters that I keep packed in my
carryon for all the various power outlets in the world. You, since you have
a desktop power supply, will need a grounded outlet converter like I have
shown above.
 
LVTravel said:
It will work. Make sure that you move the switch on the PS to the 220-240
volt setting before plugging it in when in the UK and return it to the
100-120 setting once you return to the US.

If you don't want to purchase a special power cord for the UK you may be
able to get by with a "socket converter" similar to the ones here:
http://www.samsonitecompanystores.c...oductId=239430&storeId=10151&langId=-1&pc=C35
(long URL so watch word wrap). You can purchase in your local Radio Shack
or similar stores or in the Samsonite Company stores in your local outlet
Click to expand...

Since I couldn't find your model on the manufacturer's web site after a
quick search, I didn't know that this is an autoswitching unit. You only
need the different power cord or outlet converter that I described.
 
looks like you are home free... see Michael's response... the unit auto
senses the line voltage.

Beverly Howard [MS MVP-Mobile Devices]
 
Gerb68 said:
Will it work even do there is no 110v-240v switch on the power supply?
Click to expand...


Yes, it will automatically handle any AC line (mains) voltage between 110
and 240, and any line frequency between 50 and 60 Hz. That pretty much
covers the entire planet. :-)

-John O
 
Just to Update,

I contacted the manufacturer PC Power & Cooling and asked if I could infact
use this exact model of the Turbo-Cool 850 SSI in Ireland. I explained all
about the 110 volt output in the US was different to the 240 volts output in
Ireland and the UK. I said I purchased this model with a US power cord and
wanted to know if I could simply change this to an Ireland/UK power cord.
I also asked if Input: 100-240VAC 12A 50-60Hz
.98 Power Factor

and if Active Power Factor Correction meant that, even with no switch
located on the PSU that this Power Supply would adapt automatically to the
output in Ireland.
The reply I recieved was short and sweet they said "YES the power supply
would auto-select the power output and all I needed was to change the power
cord this is exactly what Active Power Factor Correction(or Active PFC)
means.

Thanx to all who offered help. Not only do I now not have to fork out for a
new PSU but know more now than when I posted origionally.

P.S. I think Passive Power Factor Correction(or Passive PFC) means the PSU
has a switch between 110 and 240 on the back.
 
Gerb68 said:
Just to Update,

I contacted the manufacturer PC Power & Cooling and asked if I could infact
use this exact model of the Turbo-Cool 850 SSI in Ireland. I explained all
about the 110 volt output in the US was different to the 240 volts output in
Ireland and the UK. I said I purchased this model with a US power cord and
wanted to know if I could simply change this to an Ireland/UK power cord.
I also asked if Input: 100-240VAC 12A 50-60Hz
.98 Power Factor

and if Active Power Factor Correction meant that, even with no switch
located on the PSU that this Power Supply would adapt automatically to the
output in Ireland.
The reply I recieved was short and sweet they said "YES the power supply
would auto-select the power output and all I needed was to change the power
cord this is exactly what Active Power Factor Correction(or Active PFC)
means.

Thanx to all who offered help. Not only do I now not have to fork out for a
new PSU but know more now than when I posted origionally.

P.S. I think Passive Power Factor Correction(or Passive PFC) means the PSU
has a switch between 110 and 240 on the back.
Click to expand...

Nice to know that that PS can safely cross the pond.

Either PC P&C misunderstood your question or you misunderstood their answer:
PFC has nothing to do with the capability to use either 120V or 240V AC, or
the capability to use either 50Hz or 60Hz. Power factor is the ratio of
VA to W (Volts*Amps to Watts), and the .98 PF spec for that PS shows that
that PS includes some PFC circuitry.
 
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