Power Adapters – travel with your Mac laptop
Mac Tip #367, 17 December 2008

If you’re travelling outside your own country, the first consideration is how you’ll power your laptop.

Here in New Zealand the power supply is 240 volts, but in the US it’s 110 volts. You can ‘blow up’ some appliances such as hair driers by plugging them in to the wrong voltage — always check the label first.

Mac laptops are designed to cope with the various voltages different countries use. What may be a problem though is the shape of the ‘blades’ or prongs in the plug.

Our power plugs have flat angle blades arranged in a V shape (usually with a third blade too), while US plugs have two flat parallel blades. Other countries use other variants. What you may need if you travel is a plug adapter.

Power supply, cable and adapter.

Apple have some helpful information and diagrams of power adapters for a few countries.

While it’s easy to buy such shape converters — try your local supermarket — I bought a clever little adapter that can match the wall sockets of over 150 countries. The Multi-National Plugs Adaptor was low cost and lightweight.

Shipping was cheap and quick. In fact I bought two adapters, so that I could use my computer and charge up my camera battery at the same time.

If you’re travelling for a long time in one place it may also be easier just to buy a new power cable.

Apple’s laptop power system has 2 sections. One cable plugs in to the laptop, these days using a magsafe connector. At the other end is a standard adapter into which the second cable or plug fits.

That second cable has a local power plug at the other end. A new power cord should cost around US$20, though there’s no trace of one in the online Apple Store. Try Googling: Apple Replacement Power Cord if you wish to buy one.

Upcoming Mac Tips will explore other issues around travelling with a Mac laptop, iPod or iPhone, such as bags, Internet connections and security.