Power Converters For worldwide travel
 

Freight Dogs,

I have recently been hired at an ACMI, I'll be out on the line here by mid november more than likely. I am looking for some advice on electricity.

I can, easily enough, buy adapters for the outlets, but i'm trying to go a step further and a step more technical.

I certainly plan to get out of my hotel room and actually see the world from beyond the airports but for when I can't:

I bring video game consoles and a small hard-shell case with a monitor built in called a vanguard with me on my trips. It saves me a ton of money when money needs saving by supplying me with unlimited entertainment options with or without an internet connection or reliable television.

What it does require is stable power at the right voltage and frequency that can be connected to an extension chord and surge protector that is set up for standard american outlets. A simple universal wallplug adapter will not suffice and will probably wind up causing all of my expensive toys to burn.

What I would really like is box that can intelligently convert any input from any outlet into the correct type of power, preferable smalish in size. If such a thing does not exist, then a series of boxes I can use to convert from various continents.

Does anyone know of the best way to approach this? I've read some articles online, but it seems like a fairly complicated issue to correctly and safely manage.

This could be a dumb question but have you checked your console to see if it can already handle 220 volts? Most computers, portable TVs, device chargers, etc, anything were the power has to be changed to DC, will work on the overseas juice without issue.

I would really recommend getting into pc gaming- you do not want to be lugging a console briefcase around the world all the time. I'm assuming you will be carrying a laptop- just get one with a decent video card and an Xbox controller. I play all kinds of stuff on boring layovers on a 15" Alienware that fits in my backpack just fine.

YGBSM...So much potential for fun and sarcasm.............but I'll bite my tongue.

What about drinking, chasing women, seeing the world and all the rest of the normal pilot stuff? :rolleyes:

Good one, bro. I get out and do it all, and then sometimes im on the back side of the clock at 3am and wide awake and want to do something besides scratch my balls and yell at fox news.

You'll be overseas, so it will be yelling at CNN International and BBC World.

Check whatever electronics you're looking to lug. Most will accept a wider variety of power than you think. Today's consumer electronics are built for a wide market. If it will accept 220, then all you need are the adapters. I never needed a converter myself. You used to see them either in the room or available at the front desk. With the reasons stated above, I saw fewer and fewer.

Funny story. I used to carry an X-box when I was doing a regular run to the sandbox. I grabbed a power strip from Wal-Mart to serve as an extension cord. Plugged it in in Bahrain and kablooie! The surge protector did not care for the 220V current they use over there. The X-box's own power pack was fine, it can handle either 110v or 220v (Most, but not all can. Check your placard.) But the surge protector did its job and shorted out. Spectacularly.

Most international hotels have TVs that will accept HDMI inputs, and a remote that allows you to change the video source, so you can skip the monitor. Many US hotels have proprietary remotes that do not. AFAIK, British hotels are 100% X-box unfriendly.

Surprisingly enough, no. I just assumed. I'll look in to it.

It's certainly an option, although I have a 30 something game library back log before I invest too much in to new stuff, and I don't really want to drop $3000 on an alienware laptop right now and I never find myself gaming at home. It's pretty much become a trip only pastime.

Carrying the vanguard does suck though. It detracts from available space for other **** I'd like to pack for a 20 day trip. But, honestly, I have no idea how I'm going to pack for trips that long anyways. Certainly can't bring 20 days worth of clean clothes. Laundry is going to have to be done somewhere.

Which brings up another question... how doable is laundry in ****hole south America and Africa?

There are a lot of ways to skin this cat. Some smell more than others.

But FYI, there is such a thing as "travel/camping underwear", plus shirts and pants. They have their issues, and I don't make a daily routine of using them. But a set or two of these things, which are easily sink laundered before going to bed, can stretch a normal 6 day's worth of clothing almost indefinitely.