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andyh769
Joined: 26 Oct 2010
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 Posted: Fri Nov 19, 2010 11:40 pm Post subject: Confused about Korean adapters and voltage etc? |
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I'm moving to Korea next week from England and i'm not sure what type of plug adapters or power supply things i'll need? i don't want things blowing up or anything!
I plan on bringing my ps3, laptop, hair dryer etc
Thank you!! |
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lion
Joined: 27 Oct 2004
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| Posted: Sat Nov 20, 2010 12:07 am Post subject: |
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It's 220v here. I'm not from the UK but aren't you 220v over there too? So all you'll need is cables with differently shaped plugs. It'll be a lot easier to find them when you get here.
hth! |
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jc1257
Joined: 22 Aug 2010
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| Posted: Sat Nov 20, 2010 12:19 am Post subject: |
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| The plug and voltage are the same that they use in mainland Europe (Germany, France, Italy)....2 rounded prongs, 220v |
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veac
Joined: 16 Oct 2010
Location: Michigan
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| Posted: Sat Nov 20, 2010 12:42 am Post subject: |
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For the Americans living in Korea:
When I was in Korea for a short while I bought one of those large box (step down transformers?) that has two north American outlets on it from Homeplus. It didn't seem too expensive maybe 40,000won. Is this what other Americans buy? The outlet adapters bought in America are usually expensive and only have a single outlet. |
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Seoul'n'Corea
Joined: 06 Nov 2008
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| Posted: Sat Nov 20, 2010 1:56 am Post subject: |
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| veac wrote: |
For the Americans living in Korea:
When I was in Korea for a short while I bought one of those large box (step down transformers?) that has two north American outlets on it from Homeplus. It didn't seem too expensive maybe 40,000won. Is this what other Americans buy? The outlet adapters bought in America are usually expensive and only have a single outlet. |
Actually 99% of products nowadays are switch-mode which means those stepdown xmfrs are not needed anymore. (switchmode) means having a circuit that detects the higher voltage and clamps the voltage off at 115-120Vac, saving your device from oblivion.
ALL computers are switchmode, All shavers are switchmode and most household appliances. Heaters and coffee machines are NOT switch mode usually. |
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interestedinhanguk
Joined: 23 Aug 2010
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| Posted: Sat Nov 20, 2010 2:11 am Post subject: |
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| Seoul'n'Corea wrote: |
| veac wrote: |
For the Americans living in Korea:
When I was in Korea for a short while I bought one of those large box (step down transformers?) that has two north American outlets on it from Homeplus. It didn't seem too expensive maybe 40,000won. Is this what other Americans buy? The outlet adapters bought in America are usually expensive and only have a single outlet. |
Actually 99% of products nowadays are switch-mode which means those stepdown xmfrs are not needed anymore. (switchmode) means having a circuit that detects the higher voltage and clamps the voltage off at 115-120Vac, saving your device from oblivion.
ALL computers are switchmode, All shavers are switchmode and most household appliances. Heaters and coffee machines are NOT switch mode usually. |
Yes, I didn't need one of these transformers. I use a laptop, external monitor, charge a camera, and ipod. Just need the plug adapter. |
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jc1257
Joined: 22 Aug 2010
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| Posted: Sat Nov 20, 2010 4:27 am Post subject: |
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| veac wrote: |
Actually 99% of products nowadays are switch-mode which means those stepdown xmfrs are not needed anymore. (switchmode) means having a circuit that detects the higher voltage and clamps the voltage off at 115-120Vac, saving your device from oblivion.
ALL computers are switchmode, All shavers are switchmode and most household appliances. Heaters and coffee machines are NOT switch mode usually. |
My razor isn't dual-voltage, though everything else I brought was. Make sure you check first. Otherwise you could end up burning up your device with a few seconds of plugging it in.
If the item says "100-240v" in the voltage requirements than it will work just fine in Korea with the correct plug adapter. |
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interestedinhanguk
Joined: 23 Aug 2010
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| Posted: Sat Nov 20, 2010 5:52 am Post subject: |
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| I've heard the step-down transformers eat electricity, particularly if you leave them plugged in. Can anyone confirm this? |
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sheriffadam
Joined: 10 May 2010
Location: Busan
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| Posted: Sat Nov 20, 2010 7:05 am Post subject: |
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| Seoul'n'Corea wrote: |
ALL computers are switchmode, most household appliances. |
Thats just not true, if my computers you mean laptops then yes, desktops then NO! and for most household appliances? Check again...
Not sure of the OP has been to Korea before, but what I did was bring a 4way UK adapter with me, then cut of the plug and went down the equivalent of Poundland here (but with less Poles inside) and bought a 'blank' Korean plug to wire my UK 4way into, can now charge my phone/camera+friends appliances with ease.
HANG ON your username is 'Andy' and you're brining a hairdryer? GTFO!!! |
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crisdean
Joined: 04 Feb 2010
Location: Seoul Special City
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| Posted: Sat Nov 20, 2010 8:43 pm Post subject: |
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| interestedinhanguk wrote: |
| I've heard the step-down transformers eat electricity, particularly if you leave them plugged in. Can anyone confirm this? |
Depends on the specific model, but you shouldn't notice a significant difference. I leave mine on and the most I've had to pay for an electric bill here in Seoul this year was 16,000 won in Aug (damn AC); now that I'm not running the AC at all my bill is half that, so if the transformer is contributing it's costing me virtually nothing. |
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Seoul'n'Corea
Joined: 06 Nov 2008
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| Posted: Sun Nov 21, 2010 7:09 am Post subject: |
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| sheriffadam wrote: |
| Seoul'n'Corea wrote: |
ALL computers are switchmode, most household appliances. |
Thats just not true, if my computers you mean laptops then yes, desktops then NO! and for most household appliances? Check again...
Not sure of the OP has been to Korea before, but what I did was bring a 4way UK adapter with me, then cut of the plug and went down the equivalent of Poundland here (but with less Poles inside) and bought a 'blank' Korean plug to wire my UK 4way into, can now charge my phone/camera+friends appliances with ease.
HANG ON your username is 'Andy' and you're brining a hairdryer? GTFO!!! |
No you hold on, ALL PC desktop PSUs are dual voltage. There is a little switch (in red) on the back or a sign that will confirm 100-240vac. Since all PSUs nowadays are manufactured in China, which is on 240Vac system.
I know this from repairing countless PC and Mac desktop computers and I have never come across one yet that is only 1 voltage setting.
Take my word for it. |
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interestedinhanguk
Joined: 23 Aug 2010
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| Posted: Sun Nov 21, 2010 7:19 am Post subject: |
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| Seoul'n'Corea wrote: |
| sheriffadam wrote: |
| Seoul'n'Corea wrote: |
ALL computers are switchmode, most household appliances. |
Thats just not true, if my computers you mean laptops then yes, desktops then NO! and for most household appliances? Check again...
Not sure of the OP has been to Korea before, but what I did was bring a 4way UK adapter with me, then cut of the plug and went down the equivalent of Poundland here (but with less Poles inside) and bought a 'blank' Korean plug to wire my UK 4way into, can now charge my phone/camera+friends appliances with ease.
HANG ON your username is 'Andy' and you're brining a hairdryer? GTFO!!! |
No you hold on, ALL PC desktop PSUs are dual voltage. There is a little switch (in red) on the back or a sign that will confirm 100-240vac. Since all PSUs nowadays are manufactured in China, which is on 240Vac system.
I know this from repairing countless PC and Mac desktop computers and I have never come across one yet that is only 1 voltage setting.
Take my word for it. |
"All" is an awfully strong word. What if someone built their own computer? I'm pretty sure there's at least one in the US that isn't dual voltage. |
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