Thinkpads Forum

I'm trying to look for an AC adapter thats sold here in the US and can be use in the UK. I cant find it on the Lenovo site.

My understanding is that all recent Thinkpad AC adapters can handle 100-240VAC input (check the label on the adapter to be sure). What you are needing is the AC cord, which varies by each country's standard. You have two choices:

- use an AC cord specifically designed with the appropriate AC plug which fits the wall outlet and plugs into the AC adapter's receptacle
- or use a plug adapter which fits the wall outlet but allows you to insert the US 2-pin AC plug

The AC cord can probably be ordered through Lenovo/IBM. The AC plug adapter can be found at Frys, Radio Shack and sometimes at the airport (if you want to pay outrageous prices).

ref: http://www.frys.com/product/3517294?sit ... IN_RSLT_PG
ref: http://www.radioshack.com/product/index ... Id=2036266

edit: WARNING! These AC adapter plugs DO NOT convert the voltage coming out of the wall to US (120VAC) standards. It is up to the design of the equipment that you are plugging into that adapter which allows the use of 220-240VAC. Carefully read the label on whatever you are using to make sure that it accepts 200-240V input. Another consideration is the power line frequency. In the US it's 60Hz. Other countries can use 50Hz. For an AC adapter it doesn't matter too much but for some motors, it will run slightly slower.

ref: http://www.kropla.com/electric2.htm (Table of international AC power standards)
ref: http://www.kropla.com/!g.htm (British 3-pin AC plug)

One way around the problem is to buy a charger with 12 volt input and whatever output you need for your Thinkpad. Then you charge up the Thinkpad from a car's cigar-lighter socket.

BTW, standard voltage within the EU is 230 volts AC. There is a tolerance of + or - 10%, so anything between 207 and 252 volts complies with the standard. The voltage at my house is exactly 250 which is quite normal for rural parts of the UK.

i've spent ~7 months in poland with my thinkpad T60. i ran it on 220V, no problems whatsoever. just get an adapter and you will be fine. i think only macbooks require you to get a special adapter for 220V, right now most computers should be able to handle higher voltage. it became a standrad.

Like said - you only need an AC cord / AC plug adapter. Both are standard and available in many electronics/electrical equipment shops.

I prefer just to replace the cord. Notice that there are two possible cords - two prong (8-shaped) and three-prong (clover-shaped). You need to get the one that matches your power supply.

The voltage isn't a problem, my adapter says "INPUT 100-240V".
You only need an appropriate plug to go in the local power point.

A powerpoint plug adapter is pretty cheap and light, less than $1 here, as it doesn't convert voltage.

My AC adapter has a removable cable on the AC side, which has a socket common with many laptop chargers having 3 round pins in a triangle. This should be available cheap too; I got a cable at a flea market for about 50 cents for when I go to Australia.

Also I've seen a socket that fits in the adapter and converts it into the 3 flat pin type, as in desktop PCs and office machines, and these cables are dirt cheap or free for the asking (I've got a drawer full of them from old hardware and periodically throw a few away.)

And of course you can just cut off the plug on a US one and attach a UK one when you get there.

However, note that there is no single UK powerpoint standard.
You can find at least 3 different styles. I guess the 3 flat pin, "13V" style (http://kropla.com/!g.htm) is most common, but you might find yourself having to use an adapter whatever kind of plug you have. Local people should be able to sort you out easily.