Parts Catalog Accessories Catalog How To Articles Tech Forums
Call Pelican Parts at 888-280-7799
Shopping Cart Cart | Project List | Order Status | Help



Go Back   PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum > General Discussions > Off-Topic Discussion

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 12-17-2007, 02:01 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 18,350
Electrical adapter question

We're heading to the UK on Saturday. My wife purchased this adapter so that she and my daughter can use their Ipod chargers, hair dryers, curling irons etc in the UK.
http://www.swisstravelproducts.com/power/adapter.html

I don't think it will work. It converts plugs but according to the instructions it does nothing to the voltage as far as I can tell. Inputs/outputs are the same as the standard voltage in the country. Since the UK uses 240 volts, I don't think we should be plugging 110 volt electrical devices into the system. What does everyone else think?
I'm surprised the adapter has no comments or warnings about this. Or, am I missing something?
__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 12-17-2007, 02:04 PM
Dee8go's Avatar
Senor User
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: The People's Republic of Arlington, VA
Posts: 7,197
Although it doesn't say that in the blurb on that ad, I can't imagine that it would NOT also convert the voltages. It would be pretty useless, if that were the case. Did you look at the PDF manual?
__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 12-17-2007, 02:07 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 18,350
If you look at the bottom of the ad, it doesn't say anything about voltages but it does list input/output. It says UK/UK and USA/USA. I can't figure out what that would mean if it didn't mean voltage.
I did look at the PDF manual and the user's guide in the package. Not a word about voltages anywhere.
And you're right. It seems to mean the thing is worthless.
__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 12-17-2007, 02:09 PM
E150GT's Avatar
I'm a chicken
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS
Posts: 1,148
Yeah it should work. Don't come looking for me though if it cooks the ipod. When I went to Europe, my brother blew up a surge protector in the flat. Well come to think of it, It didn't change the voltage obviously.Hmmmmm. I don't know man my computer still works.
__________________
1984 300SD Orient Red/ Palomino
1989 560SEC
2016 Mazda 6 6 speed manual
1995 Ford F-150 reg cab 4.9 5speed manual
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 12-17-2007, 02:07 PM
cscmc1's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Central IL
Posts: 2,782
That, that looks like it converts the plug-end only, not voltage. Check your electronics, though; my Braun razor, camera battery charger, iPod, and iBook are all 110-220V input, so all I need to run them in Europe is indeed that little adapter piece. Things with heating elements are usually another story altogether. Just buy one when you're there or check eBay for 220V units.
__________________
1992 300D 2.5T
1980 Euro 300D (sadly, sold)
1998 Jetta TDI, 132K "Rudy"
1974 Triumph TR6
1999 Saab 9-5 wagon (wife's)
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 12-17-2007, 02:08 PM
Dee8go's Avatar
Senor User
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: The People's Republic of Arlington, VA
Posts: 7,197
One of these days I hope to need such a device before my passport expires . . . .
__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 12-17-2007, 02:35 PM
KarTek's Avatar
<- Ryuko of Kill La Kill
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Bahama/Eno Twp, NC
Posts: 3,258
As stated in #4 above, check your devices for power compatibility. For curling irons, and hair dryers, sometimes they have a switch on them that can be set for 240v operation. On many however, the "switch" is just a device that makes the thing run in "low" mode only on two speed devices. You end up with one speed or temperature only. When I went to the UK, I checked and set all the devices prior to departure to ensure we wouldn't have trouble on the other side...
__________________
-Evan


Benz Fleet:
1968 UNIMOG 404.114
1998 E300
2008 E63


Non-Benz Fleet:
1992 Aerostar
1993 MR2
2000 F250
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 12-17-2007, 03:12 PM
Medmech's Avatar
Gone Waterboarding
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 117
They work fine, the converters contain a step down transformer.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 12-17-2007, 03:29 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: CT
Posts: 185
Correct, I travel to the UK and EU frequently. iPod, phone, and laptop all work with just the plug adapter, you don't need a seperate (e.g. additional) converter.
__________________
2002 E320 4-Matic
2008 Subaru Outback
2009 Subaru Forester
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 12-17-2007, 03:53 PM
iwrock's Avatar
roflmonster
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Hella NorCal
Posts: 3,313
Im looking at the plug for my Lenovo, and it says it can take 240v in....




My lenovo laptop charges everything I have via USB.
__________________
-Justin

91 560 SEC AMG - other dogs dd
01 Honda S2000 - dogs dd
07 MB ML320 CDI - dd
16 Lexus IS250 - wifes dd

it's automatic.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 12-17-2007, 05:46 PM
pawoSD's Avatar
Dieselsüchtiger
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Posts: 15,438
That thing you posted will step the voltage down to 120 if desired (probably has a switch on it) but note the fine print. MAX of 275 Watts! You're not going to want to power much more than a laptop or TV off of it. A curling iron maybe....depends on the wattage. Hair dryer, no way, they consume over 1200 watts, it would melt/destroy it in seconds.

Hair dryers are pretty cheap in europe....just buy one there for the trip.
__________________
-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 12-18-2007, 12:13 AM
Stressed Member
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Florida Big Bend region
Posts: 721
Quote:
Originally Posted by kerry View Post
We're heading to the UK on Saturday. My wife purchased this adapter so that she and my daughter can use their Ipod chargers, hair dryers, curling irons etc in the UK.
http://www.swisstravelproducts.com/power/adapter.html

I don't think it will work. It converts plugs but according to the instructions it does nothing to the voltage as far as I can tell. Inputs/outputs are the same as the standard voltage in the country. Since the UK uses 240 volts, I don't think we should be plugging 110 volt electrical devices into the system. What does everyone else think?
I'm surprised the adapter has no comments or warnings about this. Or, am I missing something?
On the page you linked, there's a link to the Swiss Travel Shop.

They state there that this adapter does not perform any voltage conversion - but only do so on the German language version of the page!

As noted by several others in the thread, this is useful as a means of plugging in devices that are, by design, inherently flexible with respect to operating voltage. As you already suspected, it's not going to make your "110 V only" devices run happily on 220 V mains.
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 12-18-2007, 12:28 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Seattle
Posts: 1,971
Those "spec sheets" are pi** poor. It does appear to convert voltage but only at max 2.5A as stated by others. So no curling iron etc. Hair dryers are provided at all hotels as far as I know. There are other adapters that do not convert and they are smaller, and are for devices with "universal" input (90-240 VAC). These are things like cell phone chargers, electric razors, electronics etc as said before.
__________________
1998 C230 330,000 miles (currently dead of second failed EIS, yours will fail too, turning you into the dealer's personal human cash machine)
1988 F150 144,000 miles (leaks all the colors of the rainbow)
Previous stars: 1981 Brava 210,000 miles, 1978 128 150,000 miles, 1977 B200 Van 175,000 miles, 1972 Vega (great, if rusty, car), 1972 Celica, 1986.5 Supra
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 12-18-2007, 12:42 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 18,350
Quote:
Originally Posted by Eskimo View Post
On the page you linked, there's a link to the Swiss Travel Shop.

They state there that this adapter does not perform any voltage conversion - but only do so on the German language version of the page!

As noted by several others in the thread, this is useful as a means of plugging in devices that are, by design, inherently flexible with respect to operating voltage. As you already suspected, it's not going to make your "110 V only" devices run happily on 220 V mains.
German consumer laws require some honesty in merchandising?????

Looks like the Ipod and MacBook chargers will work but that's about it.
__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 12-18-2007, 02:06 AM
pawoSD's Avatar
Dieselsüchtiger
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Posts: 15,438
Quote:
Originally Posted by kerry View Post
German consumer laws require some honesty in merchandising?????

Looks like the Ipod and MacBook chargers will work but that's about it.


You won't need it for electronics adapters....all modern units are fully 110-240 volt capable with nothing but one of the little prong adapters to switch the plug style. No voltage step down unit needed. You can pick up the little plastic adapter couplers in the country you will be heading to (most any country) for about €1 each, or probably not even half a pound in the UK.
__________________
-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 08:05 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2024 Pelican Parts, LLC - Posts may be archived for display on the Peach Parts or Pelican Parts Website -    DMCA Registered Agent Contact Page