Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!lll-winken!lll-lcc!lll-tis!ames!pasteur!ucbvax!homer.Berkeley.EDU!luigi
From: luigi@homer.Berkeley.EDU (Luigi Semenzato)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac
Subject: Re: Using a mac in a 220V/50Hz environment
Message-ID: <23120@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU>
Date: 25 Feb 88 19:23:33 GMT
References: <1073@pembina.UUCP>
Sender: usenet@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Lines: 12
Keywords: portability, power supply

I have brought several Macs to Italy and never had any problem.  Italy has a 220V/50Hz
system, just like India.  I used a simple iron-core transformer from 220 to 110, and
connected both Mac and printer to it.  I was a little paranoid about power -- the
transformer I bought would handle a max. power output of 3000W, and it cost about $50.
The models I brought were: a 128K, a 512E and an SE.  Printers: both Imagewriter I and II.
The best thing is the SE: no power transformer is needed, just get a plug adaptor and
plug it in.  Its power supply senses the voltage and adjusts itself to it automatically
(if you look in the back, it even says 110-220V 50-60Hz in the power requirements).

I have never tried the solid-state transformers.  They are much smaller and lighter,
but their output can potentially be a lot dirtier, if not properly filtered.

Luigi Semenzato