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From: ram-ashwin@YALE.ARPA (Ashwin Ram)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st
Subject: Re: Using a North American ST in Britain and Europe
Message-ID: <8708141723.AA18797@ATHENA.CS.YALE.EDU>
Date: Fri, 14-Aug-87 13:23:52 EDT
Article-I.D.: ATHENA.8708141723.AA18797
Posted: Fri Aug 14 13:23:52 1987
Date-Received: Wed, 19-Aug-87 04:31:00 EDT
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Distribution: world
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>     I need some advice on using my ST in Europe.  I am taking my
>     1040 ST, Monochrome Monitor, Printer, and Modem with me to Great
>     Britain and Europe. What should I do about a power supply for all of
>     the above?
> 
>     Choices:  1. Buy a step down transformer here in Canada  (estimate
>                  I need about a 200 watt capacity: probable cost $100.00.)

50-1600W voltage convertors cost US $10 to $12 and are available all over the
place (from Radio Shack to your local equivalent of Bradlees or K-Mart).  These
are not your average big bulky step-down transformers, but rather little guys
that fit directly in the outlet and give you a 110V American-style outlet on
the other end.  I think the commonly available wattages are 50, 1000 and 1600
(at least in the U.S.).

I used a 50W convertor of this kind with a TI-99/4A personal computer in India
with no problems at all, but I haven't tried it with a monitor.

One caveat -- some of these convertors explicitly specify that they
should/shouldn't be used with electronic equipment.  Check the specs.

>               2. Wait until I get to Britain and buy a converter that
>                  will take my North American plugs.  (Unknown cost).

You can buy British-style plugs that give you American-style outlets on the
other end (no voltage transformer, just an outlet conversion) for a dollar or
two, but I imagine the voltage convertor would be just as expensive in Britain
as here.

Good luck...  Ashwin Ram.

ARPA:    Ram-Ashwin@cs.yale.edu
UUCP:    {decvax,linus,seismo}!yale!Ram-Ashwin
BITNET:  Ram@yalecs