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trinity24651
Joined: 05 Nov 2006
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 Posted: Sun Jan 14, 2007 9:45 pm Post subject: Adapters |
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| What kind of adapter will I need? I'd like to try and get it before I arrive. If I have to get up and go to the classroom the day after I arrive, there is no way that I will wake up on my own...I'm gonna need that alarm clock!! |
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europe2seoul
Joined: 12 Sep 2005
Location: Seoul, Korea
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| Posted: Sun Jan 14, 2007 10:08 pm Post subject: Re: Adapters |
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| trinity24651 wrote: |
| What kind of adapter will I need? I'd like to try and get it before I arrive. If I have to get up and go to the classroom the day after I arrive, there is no way that I will wake up on my own...I'm gonna need that alarm clock!! |
Well, I strongly suggest you get a battery operated digital alarm clock (digital so you have that God-blessed snooze button). Also, make sure you test it before you come here so its not some cheapo chinese stuff that is off 2-3 mins every day cumulative.
Usually, alarm clocks that are plugged in and use regular electricity from the house, to advance time they use frequency of the AC current.
In US it is 60Hz and in Korea it is also 60Hz. So you would just need a voltage down-converter from 220-240V in Korea to 110-120V in USA for your USA appliance. Tehnically it should work, but dunno....if converter is not good enough your time may be off and being either late or run faster...and after 12 hours get substantial delays.
It is best you get the converter when you are already here in Korea (in Emart, Homeplus, etc...- those are major supermarkets like Walmart, etc) - a big bulky one (12 lbs+) with coils. You could get an electronic downconverter at the airport though - they are OK for cell phone chargers, etc...but nothing fancy. Then you could also get a traveler's battery operated alarm clock and stick with it in Korea, or if you want buy a proper big one here.
Also terminology:
adapter - its an adapter for the plug to fit into the socket. Doesn't change the voltage. Usually used when your appliance can sense voltage automatically and adjust.
transformer/converter - transforms one type of current into another. For example AC current into DC.
down-converter - transforms higher voltage to lower voltage - say 220V in Korea to 110V for US appliances.
up-converter - transforms lower voltage into higher - say 110V into 220V. Usually can be found in machine shops in USA whose tools run on higher voltage, keeping the amp rating of the power cable down, making it less bulky so its easier to be used.
Of course, lines are blurry so for notebooks websites say "power adapter".
I am giving this "lecture" here because I can see by your post you are not tech savvy and if you go to some hardware store and ask for an adapter you will mostl likely get just a socket adapter. Plugging your stuff in would result in them catching on fire, fuses also breaking (hopefully you have automatic ones), possibly also hurting you. |
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trinity24651
Joined: 05 Nov 2006
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| Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2007 11:40 am Post subject: |
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| I'm sorry...but I'm obviously having a "blond moment"!!! When I go into Emart, what do I ask for? A converter...and it weighs 12 pounds!!?? Wow!! |
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sock
Joined: 07 Oct 2006
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| Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2007 1:59 pm Post subject: |
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hahahahaha
| Quote: |
| I'm sorry...but I'm obviously having a "blond moment"!!! When I go into Emart, what do I ask for? A converter...and it weighs 12 pounds!!?? Wow!! |
Have you ever even traveled to a non-English speaking country before, much less Asia? You can only walk into Emart and "ask" for something if you know how to speak Korean, know how to write Korean, or know someone else who does and is willing to help you. I think you're going to have some culture shock, my dear. But don't worry, everyone else goes through the same thing, and we've all survived. Mostly.
Bring a battery-operated clock. If you're that worried, mention to whomever you signed a contract with that you will need to have an industrial-powered alarm clock to wake you after you've been up half the night due to massive jet lag. Or fly in on a Friday, give yourself a weekend (at least) to adjust, if possible.
It's usually cheaper (but also usually more difficult) to buy adapters & converters here. Save your suitcase allowance for something you value.
Oh, and nothing here is measured in "pounds" unless you're trying to change some money from the UK.
Welcome to Korea! |
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trinity24651
Joined: 05 Nov 2006
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| Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2007 2:11 pm Post subject: |
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Have you ever even traveled to a non-English speaking country before, much less Asia? Nope
You can only walk into Emart and "ask" for something if you know how to speak Korean, know how to write Korean, or know someone else who does and is willing to help you. I think you're going to have some culture shock, my dear. But don't worry, everyone else goes through the same thing, and we've all survived. Mostly. Since I have never been there, I wouldn't know that.
Bring a battery-operated clock. If you're that worried, mention to whomever you signed a contract with that you will need to have an industrial-powered alarm clock to wake you after you've been up half the night due to massive jet lag. Or fly in on a Friday, give yourself a weekend (at least) to adjust, if possible.
It's usually cheaper (but also usually more difficult) to buy adapters & converters here. Save your suitcase allowance for something you value.
Oh, and nothing here is measured in "pounds" unless you're trying to change some money from the UK. Being a "yank", what I know about the metric system could probably be carried in a thimble!
Welcome to Korea! Thank you! |
I appreciate the help. |
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amberflannery
Joined: 25 Oct 2006
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| Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2007 6:31 pm Post subject: same boat. |
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oh trinity, i'm in the same boat as you.  lol |
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Yaya
Joined: 25 Feb 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2007 9:50 pm Post subject: |
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| I hear that using a convertor to power something is bad for the appliance over the long run, but I have a JVC TV that I need a 220-110 convertor for, and I've had no problems. |
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europe2seoul
Joined: 12 Sep 2005
Location: Seoul, Korea
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| Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2007 10:44 pm Post subject: |
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| Yaya wrote: |
| I hear that using a convertor to power something is bad for the appliance over the long run, but I have a JVC TV that I need a 220-110 convertor for, and I've had no problems. |
If you get a good quality, stablizied converter (with a fuse) you would be OK with that. Dunno where you heard those rumors from....anyway electrical companies are down-converting from thousand+ Volts in the power lines to 110V AC or 220V AC using the transformers in your neighbrohood, so...
If you want more protection, get an UPS or power strip with 5-minute/UPS thingy APC makes and plug your appliance into that. In case of some hughe mishap, UPS device will be scrapped. |
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ilovebdt
Joined: 03 Jun 2005
Location: Nr Seoul
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| Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2007 12:14 am Post subject: |
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I suggest you go to your local electric store and ask them for a universal adaptor. You can also get them at the airport. Just make sure it is suitable for Korea.
ilovebdt |
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europe2seoul
Joined: 12 Sep 2005
Location: Seoul, Korea
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| Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2007 12:23 am Post subject: |
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| ilovebdt wrote: |
I suggest you go to your local electric store and ask them for a universal adaptor. You can also get them at the airport. Just make sure it is suitable for Korea.
ilovebdt |
I suggest for you not to do that. You will pay higher price and things may not work using them. Good for cell phone charger, etc.....but for example your crock-pot won't work. Arrive to Korea, go to the store and buy a normal heavy-duty transformer in the "tools" section they all have. |
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Fofazoju
Joined: 09 May 2006
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| Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2007 12:42 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| I am giving this "lecture" here because I can see by your post you are not tech savvy and if you go to some hardware store and ask for an adapter you will mostl likely get just a socket adapter. Plugging your stuff in would result in them catching on fire, fuses also breaking (hopefully you have automatic ones), possibly also hurting you. |
So how do I know if I just bought a "socket adapter" and will it REALLY catch fire. I plugged in my american appliance and it worked just fine. Is it bad if I continue to use it?
| Quote: |
Have you ever even traveled to a non-English speaking country before, much less Asia? You can only walk into Emart and "ask" for something if you know how to speak Korean, know how to write Korean, or know someone else who does and is willing to help you. I think you're going to have some culture shock, my dear. But don't worry, everyone else goes through the same thing, and we've all survived. Mostly.
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Do not listen to this guy. I have gone into Emart or any other place MANY times not speaking a WORD of Korean and gotten exactly what I had wanted. Sure obviously knowing the language helps. But people are smart...they can usually figure you out. It just takes adding an "uh" (ie. "adapte-uh") on the end of what you want AND/OR doing a lot of hand motions - ala charades.
I have managed just fine using my own little technique.  |
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europe2seoul
Joined: 12 Sep 2005
Location: Seoul, Korea
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| Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2007 12:47 am Post subject: |
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| Fofazoju wrote: |
So how do I know if I just bought a "socket adapter" and will it REALLY catch fire. I plugged in my american appliance and it worked just fine. Is it bad if I continue to use it?
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Dear God, you humanties majors...
If your appliance was made for voltage in Korea then use it. Here voltage is 220V and in US it is 110V.
If you appliance is actually notebook power adapter, then they usually have auto-sensing 100V-240V and you just need "socket adapter" so you can phyiscally plug it in.
In some cases some devices can be plugged in (usually heating devices with no electronics) but they will not heat properly since they do not get enough amps. |
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ilovebdt
Joined: 03 Jun 2005
Location: Nr Seoul
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| Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2007 10:39 am Post subject: |
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| europe2seoul wrote: |
| ilovebdt wrote: |
I suggest you go to your local electric store and ask them for a universal adaptor. You can also get them at the airport. Just make sure it is suitable for Korea.
ilovebdt |
I suggest for you not to do that. You will pay higher price and things may not work using them. Good for cell phone charger, etc.....but for example your crock-pot won't work. Arrive to Korea, go to the store and buy a normal heavy-duty transformer in the "tools" section they all have. |
I suggest you do. I went to my local store and got a continental and international plug/adaptor and the international one works fine in Korea.
ilovebdt |
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ESeufert
Joined: 27 Dec 2006
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| Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2007 11:48 am Post subject: |
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| I'd imagine that alarm clocks at least look the same in Korea as they do in the US. It shouldn't be hard to buy one there. Bringing an alarm clock with you and then purchasing a 12 lb "converter" seems like overkill. When I lived in the Czech Republic, all I had to do was buy a few socket adapters to use my appliances. |
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OiGirl
Joined: 23 Jan 2003
Location: Hoke-y-gun
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| Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2007 2:03 pm Post subject: |
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The same cheap Chinese-made alarm clocks are available in Korea as in the US and I assume other places.
There are also some homes that have a few 110v outlets. I thought it was only in older homes, but I keep seeing more and more of it. |
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