We are off to Ireland next week for 13 days on the west coast. We will have our usual compliment of electronic toys such as point and shoot cameras, phone, ipod, ipad 2 all of which will need recharging at various times during the trip.

All of these can be charged via USB so I am thinking of using my MBP as a charging station. I think I understand that the Magsafe plug will handle the voltage and frequency differences once I get the correct plug converter. I am assuming that the 50Hz frequency will slow the recharging rate but overnight that should not be a problem (I hope). Will hanging two devices off the USB ports be a problem?

Is the Magsafe plug in Apples conversion package different from the Magsafe plug I now have? If they are the same, I would not need to spend that much for the single plug I'll need; if they are different, then it might be worth the cost.

What say ye, world travellers?

(BTW: the phone is T-Mobile's Garminfone. I do not plan to make any calls or texts while over there; I am hoping that the GPS functions work to identify just where we are during the trip. On a trip to Scotland a few years ago, we rode the bus for a while, got off and took some pictures, the rode some more, got off, etc. I knew what towns were were visiting but did not know just where the rural areas were. I hope the Garminfone will keep me better informed about just where we are. So long as I get back on the bus, it's not terribly important but would be nice to know!)

TIA



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/02/2012 10:50PM by Don C.

"I am assuming that the 50Hz frequency will slow the recharging rate..."

frequency has nothing to do with charging rate. Output of Magsafe is the same regardless of 120/240 VAC, or 50/60 Hz. Why do you Americans always think more is better? "

my 85w MBP power adapter worked fine in Budapest with 240v 50 hz. Just used a simple prong adapter. Maybe bring a cheap 4 port hub, the MBP probably only has 2 USB 2 ports.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/03/2012 02:38AM by Racer X.

My MBP 2.16 GHz is used to charge two iPhones and a headset but when I add an iPad it will only manage a 40% charge overnight. The iPhones and headset still get charged.

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Saint Cloud, Minnesota, where the weather is wonderful even when it isn't.

50Hz vs 60Hz ... at least one travel web site said that running a 60Hz clock will lose 10 minutes every hour when plugged into a 50Hz power supply. I thought that maybe the recharge rate would be slower as well. It has nothing to do with a "more is better" bias. It does have to do with lack of understanding of how the electronics of recharging work.

Line frequency varies. What kind of idiot would make a clock that uses the mains as a method of time-keeping?

Anyway, I used my MBA as you described. But I also took a separate charger because I always need more than two USB ports.

And remember that Ireland uses the UK-style plugs. I was just there last week and I didn't even think to check. I mean, they use the Euro, right? Shouldn't they use euro-plugs?


13 days seems like a long time just to do one coast! We were there 7 days. Landed in Dublin, drove to Kilkenney (You bastards!), then Kilarney, then Galway, then back to Dublin.

And the good stuff is on the east coast (Guinness, Jameson)!

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Lux Interior
Line frequency varies. What kind of idiot would make a clock that uses the mains as a method of time-keeping?
!

One can still buy timers with synchro motors and you can still buy synchro motors to keep retro clocks working.

yes, running a 60 Hz clock on a 50 Hz power supply will indeed lose 10 min/hour, but then do they still make clocks like that? and who takes their alarm clock when they travel, don't all hotels have clocks and wake-up calls?

regarding power conversion, this will not affect the charging rate on your MBP. And you understand that "more is better" was a joke, right?

I'd travel light, leave the MBP home and get one of those mobile device chargers.

What billb said. Mobile USB chargers are cheap and easily available. Carting an expensive computer around or having to set it in a place where it can charge for long periods is not the best strategy for getting a few watts into your portable devices.

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"So be proud to be a decent American instead of just a w'anker whipping up fear!" - Michael D. Higgins, President of Ireland

I use this as my daily charger: [www.amazon.com]
When only one device is plugged in, it'll charge at 2A for faster charging, 2 devices then 1A, etc. comes with international adapters, though I prefer to use a figure 8 style power cord to get the charger farther from the outlet. The only annoyance is the really bright blue light that I've covered with tape now.

It didn't used to, at least not often and not much on average. I don't know why this was deregulated.

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Lux Interior
Line frequency varies.

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Saint Cloud, Minnesota, where the weather is wonderful even when it isn't.

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Speedy
It didn't used to, at least not often and not much on average. I don't know why this was deregulated.

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Lux Interior
Line frequency varies.

It's tough to keep all those wind turbines synchronized.