Ask Slashdot: Surge Protection For International Travel?

New submitter gaiageek writes: As someone who has lost a laptop power supply (and thus use of the laptop) due to a late-night power surge while traveling in a developing country, I'm acutely aware of the need for surge protection when traveling abroad. While practically all laptop and phone power adapters these days are voltage auto-sensing 100V-240V compatible, most so-called "travel" surge protectors are restricted to either 110V or 220V. Given the space and weight constraints of carry-on only travel, I'd like to avoid having to carry two separate surge protectors knowing I may go from Central America (110V) to Southeast Asia (220V). Strangely, laptop specific surge protectors typically are 100V-240V compatible, but this doesn't provide protection for a phone or tablet that requires the original power supply (can't be charged from a notebook USB port).

Is there really no solution out there short using a 110V-240V notebook surge protector with an adapter to go from a "cloverleaf" notebook plug to a 5-15R (standard US) plug receptacle?

Comments

Surge protectors *must* be voltage specific

[markus_baertschi]

The problem is, 200 Volts on a 110V circuit is a surge and will fry a 110V power supply. So surge protectors need to be voltage specific or they become ineffective at lower voltages.

I would go another route: Make sure that your have spare/alternative ways to power or charge your equipment. For example carry a 12V charger for your laptop (also works on some airplanes). Only buy equipment (phones/tablets) you can charge from an USB outlet. Carry a spare USB charger.

This will get easier over time with the USB type C connector and USB power delivery, as modern devices get equipped with it.

Re:Surge protectors *must* be voltage specific

[Z00L00K]

A surge protector for 230-240 volts is what's needed.

So get a power strip with surge protection for Schuko (Common style in most of Europe) connectors, replace the plug with a male connector same as power supplies as stationary computers have and then get a country specific power cable in the country visited.

The reason to use the Shuko connector is that most devices are available in European format alternative, fewer in the UK format and the Schuko plug is smaller than the UK plugs as well. Any talk about need to identify live and neutral is just bollocks on anything manufactured after 1980.

If all the power supplies connected are auto-ranging up to 240 volts there's no need to have a voltage specific surge protector, the power supplies can cope with it.

Re:Original power supply

[Anonymous Coward]

I hope you realize that the optimal "waveform" from a USB charger is a flat line. There isn't such a thing as "waveform quality" with DC power, which is what USB uses. Ripple, maybe, from insufficient filtering, but not "waveform". That is only an issue with inverters that output AC mains voltage power.