Posted on 07/06/2007 4:35:49 PM PDT by rudy45
My wife is in Hong Kong, and took her Toshiba Satellite R15-S822 notebook computer. It has a power supply that's supposed to be auto-sensing. Therefore, she plugged it directly into an outlet, using only a physical plug adapter, not a converter. Yesterday and the day before, while using it, she felt as though she was being bitten by mosquitoes, that is she felt stinging sensations on the outside of the computer. Just now, however, she has found the computer to be "dead." Whether the battery is in or not, nothing happens when she turns on the switch. Even the "battery charge" light is out.
If anyone can offer suggestions, I would appreciate it. Thanks.
Have her go out and get the proper converter, the concierge might have one. Try the laptop WITH the converter...hope it works. If not, it’s fried I think.
Travel Advice| Travel Wizards
Electrical Connection Wizard
So far, we’ve determined that:
* Your destination country is China (Hong Kong Region) which uses the 220-250 volt system.
We now need to determine if your appliance is “dual-voltage.” Some appliances are dual-voltage; they are designed to operate on voltage between 100-250 volts without damage to the components. These appliances do not require transformers. Many North American-made appliances, however, are designed to operate only within the 100-125 volt range. These appliances will suffer damage if plugged into 220-250 volts.
To determine the voltage requirements, you’ll need to look at the appliance. Power requirements are usually displayed on the appliance on the back where the cord is attached. Laptops and other equipment that have a detachable cord often have a box in the middle of the cord or a large box at the plug end that displays the input power requirements. If the appliance lists 110, 115, 120 or 125 volts only, it is not dual-voltage. If the appliance lists 100-240 or 110-230 or something similar, it is dual voltage.
Check out this website:
http://dyna.magellans.com/cgi-bin/mitcus/dyna/dynanbwJbI
Thanks, I checked the specs for this computer. The power supply is auto sensing, 110 to 240 volts. So theoretically it should work in HK without an adapter.
I hope all we need do is replace the power supply.
Probably stuned the beeber!
If the power supply was hot (steady +240) or dirty (spiking +240), you might be SOL. A few spikes could burn the auto-sensing, IMHO, leaving the DC side vulnerable to fatal overvolt.
I think you’re shopping for a new one.
Luckily, however, I’ll bet the hard drive is safe—and with it, your data.
If the power supply was...
Should be:
If the AC wall power was...
Toshiba sold top secret submarine propeller parts to the Soviet Union, allowing the commies to jump ahead years in the “silence” of their submarines (although still behind us).
I can’t help you, because I have never bought anything from Toshiba and never will.
The power supply is probably fried. I don’t know much about laptops, but PC power supply’s have built in protection circuitry on the low voltage output side of the power supply that will shut it down or clamp it before it can do damage to the rest of the electronics. If this is the case then you need only a new power supply in the laptop.
To avoid this problem then it might be better to use a converter even if it is not required. It would reduce the chances of this happening.
(As an aside, my ex-wife owned a Toshiba. Too bad the same thing didn't happen. To her, not the laptop. LOL)
Perhaps the power issue isn't the cause of your wife's trouble because I think that HK has the same power voltage as the UK.
I know I used both of my Toshiba satellites in Italy which has 240 V.
My guess is that the outlet she was using is not properly grounded or wired. If her Satellite uses the case for grounding then that is why she felt the tingle.
Get to a Toshiba dealer and get professional help.
Or find some 14 yo to help her.
************
Company Name: Chevalier iTech Group
Address: 7/F., Chevalier Engineering Service Centre
21, Sheung Yuet Road, Kowloon Bay
City: Hong Kong
Country: HK
Main Phone: (852) 2305 0384
Fax: (852) 2751 7912
Web: http://www.chevalier-itech.com/toshiba
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