international power conversion

[cellio]

Dear LazyWeb,

I am travelling to Israel and want to take some of my US electronics with me. I've found "international power converters" that claim to cover "just about everybody" but when they list countries/regions, Israel is never on the list. What kind of power do they use? What are the magic keywords that will let me not fry my laptop? As far as plugs are concerned, is "if it fits it's right" a safe approach, or dangerous?

Thanks.

Comments

[brokengoose.livejournal.com]

Check out http://www.kropla.com/electric2.htm

DO NOT assume "if it fits it's right". DO assume that most cheap power converters handle voltage but NOT frequency. Israel uses both a different voltage AND a different frequency. If you look at the fine print on your power brick, it'll tell you what voltages and frequencies it will accept. If you're really lucky, it'll work with just a plug converter. If you're kind-of lucky, it'll work with 50Hz, and you'll just have to deal with the voltage and plug difference. With many (most?) laptops, you're just screwed. You'll either need a new power brick or a really expensive power converter.

[brokengoose.livejournal.com]

A bit of googling also turned up

http://users.pandora.be/worldstandards/electricity.htm

Nifty graphs and a better picture of the Type H plug and socket.

[cellio]

Thanks for the pointers. I hadn't thought to check frequency; I thought it was just a voltage problem. Bummer.