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Computer Electrical Protection

At home I plug my computer into an adapter and a power strip, but it is heating up quite quickly. Although I have lived overseas a number of times, this is the first time that I have brought my computer from home. Wondering if there is anything else I should have between the power source and the computer cord plug. Any advice MUCH appreciated! Steph

posted about 8 months ago by travelgoddess - viewed 337 times
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answered about 8 months ago by mnguyen

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You need to check the voltage on your power supply, there may be a switch on the back to switch voltage. That voltage needs to match the outlet power, or you will need a power adapter.

If you have a laptop, voltage is normally not an issue, but for a desktop it could be one.

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answered about 8 months ago by natinnam

Firstly if your in a rented house, see if you have a voltage stablizer installed. This regulates the voltage and to some extent the frequency. If one isn't fitted, this maybe the problem, due to the national grid here in VN, the voltage/frequency is all over the place, which plays havoc with electrical equipment.
Also i would do yourself a favour and proberly get a UPS, sudden blackouts are not uncommon.

How do i know this ? Iam currently building/commissioning my 3rd power station in Vietnam, and see 1st hand what the grid is upto.

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answered about 8 months ago by natinnam

Just forgot to say, check with what mnguyen said first.
If your from the US, your computer will be 110v/60hz and in Vietnam it is 220v/50hz. If thats Ok, proceed with what i suggested.

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answered about 8 months ago by natinnam

Also read this article i just found:

http://buyersguide.bargainoffers.com/voltage_guide.shtml


Yes !! I am bored at work right now, as a national holiday and no one else here.

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answered about 8 months ago by travelgoddess

Thanks for the info. I have a laptop. I dont know about the voltage sttabilizer things, but it looks like all the outlets in the apartment have a little box that sticks out from the wall. I have a power strip that the laptop is plugged into, but it sparks every time I plug it in and my laptop seems to be getting overheated fast. As for power outages, I unplug my computer every time I leave the place, for this and other reasons.

Steph

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answered about 8 months ago by travelgoddess

Oh, whats a UPS?

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answered about 8 months ago by Snellopy

An Uninterrupted Power Supply - a few big batteries welded into a box, that sits between the powerpoint and your computer, with a powerboard on the back so you can plug in a half a dozen things. If the power cuts out, it means that you don't lose that document you should have saved but didn't, and they also tend to help with fluctuations and power spikes. With a big spike, it should die without passing the surge on, instead of your computer/router or anything else plugged into it.

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