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Help! Will my U.S. electronics work in Korea?

 
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Pligganease



Joined: 14 Sep 2004
Location: The deep south...

PostPosted: Wed Sep 29, 2004 7:33 am    Post subject: Help! Will my U.S. electronics work in Korea? Reply with quote

What adapters and such will I need to bring to Korea with me? I want to bring my notebook, but not if it won't connect to the internet. Help me out! Shocked

What I want to bring:

1. Notebook/Laptop Computer w/ Wireless
2. GameBoy Advance SP

Any advice would be most helpful...
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Pyongshin Sangja



Joined: 20 Apr 2003
Location: I love baby!

PostPosted: Wed Sep 29, 2004 9:43 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

You'll just need to buy a voltage converter when you get here. It will accept NA plugs and give you the 220V juice you need here. A 2KVA converter is USD $25.00 or so with two outlets.
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Bulsajo



Joined: 16 Jan 2003

PostPosted: Wed Sep 29, 2004 12:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Your notebook shouldn't require anything more than a cheap adaptor plug for the end- you want a North American to European 2-prong adaptor.

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mindmetoo



Joined: 02 Feb 2004

PostPosted: Wed Sep 29, 2004 4:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Most laptops have an external power transformer. One end plugs into your laptop. The other end plugs into the wall. The cord running to the wall can be pulled out of the transformer and swapped for a cord with the local male end. Costs about a buck or two. You can pick one up at technomart or any computer store. If you can't speak korean just bring your plug and wave it around in their face until they figure out what you want.

Hair dryers won't work, of course. My razor has a plug that can be pulled out and swapped for a local version. That seems to work okay.

Some stuff you can just but a male converter, plug your sensible north american plug into one end and the other end has the weird big assed Korean end.

Some stuff you need to buy a converter. You can get one at radio shack. Some stuff might need these weird power transformer things. It's this brick sized thing you plug into the wall, it powers up, and does its magic.
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Demophobe



Joined: 17 May 2004

PostPosted: Wed Sep 29, 2004 5:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Just look at the accepted voltages on your products. 110 ~ 240v. will work anywhere with the adapter Bulsajo pointed out.
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teachingld2004



Joined: 29 Mar 2004

PostPosted: Fri Oct 08, 2004 11:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

for less then one dollar you can buy a plug in that you put the american flat prongs into, and voila! you plug the rounded prongs into the korean outlet and you are on the go.
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Gregarious Monk



Joined: 13 Sep 2004
Location: Busan

PostPosted: Sun Oct 10, 2004 10:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Demophobe has an excellent point. Make sure what voltage your devices are rated for (check the labels) before plugging them in. A friend in the middle east had an unfortunate 'smoke test' because she plugged her 120v printer adadter into the 220v line using the simple 'prong adapter'. If your device says it can handle 120v ONLY then use a transformer kit.
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Goodgoings



Joined: 27 Mar 2003
Location: Seoul

PostPosted: Wed Apr 13, 2005 7:15 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quick question.

Anybody know if my North American equipment which is rated at 120 Volts is safe to run on a 110 Volt transformer?
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Anasazi



Joined: 25 May 2005

PostPosted: Thu Jul 14, 2005 12:26 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

So . . . where do you go to get a transformer in Korea? Hardware store? Department store? Can someone post a picture of what I'm looking for?
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Bulsajo



Joined: 16 Jan 2003

PostPosted: Thu Jul 14, 2005 12:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Similar to this:





They vary in size/weight/price depending on wattage- unless you're planning on powering a monster stereo, some toasters and microwaves, refrigerators you can stick with the smallest/cheapest lightest ones around 500-750 Watts.

Last time I looked they were found in places like Emart Walmart and Kim's Club as well as hardware and appliance stores.
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cubanlord



Joined: 08 Jul 2005
Location: In Japan!

PostPosted: Thu Jul 14, 2005 3:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

i have a 500 watt for my N/A laptop. Works fine. Careful though, I bought a weaker one and it blew up! Shocked

I'm not kidding.
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keninseoul



Joined: 09 Mar 2004
Location: Seoul

PostPosted: Thu Jul 14, 2005 6:45 pm    Post subject: 110 vs 120 and where for transfromers Reply with quote

I think this all was covered in posts long ago, but....................

110 or 120 stuff works fine on 110 or 120 - dont sweat the difference for 99% of 'portable' consumer products.

same applies for 50 or 60 cycle stuff, though some (OLD) clocks use the cycles as a time marker.

Transformers are MUCH cheaper in a hardware store - nearly half the price. Bring a drawing/picture, or K friend.
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