iMac (old CRT style) Power UK to US?

M

mac

Guest
Could someone help.

I have an imac purchased in the UK. I am British.

I am hopefully heading stateside later this year.

What I ask is - Can I convert/use my iMac to work in the US?

mac
 
Joined
Feb 25, 2003
Messages
5,279
Reaction score
138
Points
63
Location
Tropical Island, Jealous?
Your Mac's Specs
MacPro 3.0Ghz 16GB RAM, 4x256 Vid, 30''cinema display
Well I know that there are Europe Converters for the americans traveling to Europe.. Im shur you have the same power converters in europe. Unless you have the same power plugs as us (doubtful)
 
OP
M

mac

Guest
Thanks for that - i was just wondering if you could change the internal power within the imac?
 
Joined
Apr 25, 2003
Messages
1,301
Reaction score
62
Points
48
Location
The home of the free and the land that did for Bra
Your Mac's Specs
24"iMac, 15"MB-Pro, MacBook, G4 iMac, PM G5 2x2Ghz, G4 iBook & Some PCs
mac said:
Thanks for that - i was just wondering if you could change the internal power within the imac?

I thought the Mac uses auto sensing powersupplies?

Anyhow the good thing about going in the westerly direction is that you can't break a 240v power supply by plugging it into a 120v supply so the worst that can happen is that it won't work, going the other way usually results in tears. ;)

My US friends who have taken equipment back that isn't either switchable or autosensing have had to purchase a converter to up the voltage supply, they are quite expensive I believe and most people sell the awkward stuff before they go.

What may be easier would be to find out what power supply you have in the iMac and get a replacement part in the US, I doubt whether that would be any more expensive than buying an converter.

Amen-Moses

This is the sort of thing you need:

http://www.voltage-converter-transformers.com/step-up-transformer-2.html
 
Joined
Apr 25, 2003
Messages
1,301
Reaction score
62
Points
48
Location
The home of the free and the land that did for Bra
Your Mac's Specs
24"iMac, 15"MB-Pro, MacBook, G4 iMac, PM G5 2x2Ghz, G4 iBook & Some PCs
The good news is that the iMac spec sheets for the CRT model from Apple say that the power supply can cope with 100v-263v at anywhere from 40-70Hz so it looks like you just need to replace the plug, that is one of the reasons Apple gear is more expensive, they think of (nearly) everything.

Amen-Moses
 
Joined
Jun 11, 2003
Messages
4,915
Reaction score
68
Points
48
Location
Mount Vernon, WA
Your Mac's Specs
MacBook Pro 2.6 GHz Core 2 Duo 4GB RAM OS 10.5.2
All you need is a plug converter. I have been all over the world and have taken my powerbook with me and have had no problems.. just needed a plug converter :)

Cheers!
 
Joined
Jul 21, 2003
Messages
1,185
Reaction score
16
Points
38
Location
Coruscant, Galactic Republic
Your Mac's Specs
14" iBook G3 900/640/40 _ _ Power Macintosh G3 All-In-One 315/768/20 _ _ 20 GB iPod
Well if the power supply will indeed funtion on US voltage as Amen-Moses stated, www.voltage-converter-transformers.com has a simple plug adapter that will allow the UK plug to plug into a US outlet, and it's only $1.99 US.

If it turns out that you do need the added voltage, the same site has a 200 watt (which should be more than enough for the iMac) step-up converter to convert US 110 volt power to UK spec. for $19.99 US.
 
Joined
Jun 11, 2003
Messages
4,915
Reaction score
68
Points
48
Location
Mount Vernon, WA
Your Mac's Specs
MacBook Pro 2.6 GHz Core 2 Duo 4GB RAM OS 10.5.2
I know when I travel around the world all I need is the plug adapter for the specific country I am going to. I am about 85% certain that Apple uses the exact same transformer for all their products, regardless of country that way they can just produce one item instead of multiple.. saves on production. They just change the plug on the second part of the power cord. Much cheaper for them to do this. The transformer part on one end has the transformer while the other end plugs into your pb/ib etc so this never changes, only the second part of the power cord that is removable.
 
Joined
Apr 25, 2003
Messages
1,301
Reaction score
62
Points
48
Location
The home of the free and the land that did for Bra
Your Mac's Specs
24"iMac, 15"MB-Pro, MacBook, G4 iMac, PM G5 2x2Ghz, G4 iBook & Some PCs
Murlyn said:
They just change the plug on the second part of the power cord. Much cheaper for them to do this. The transformer part on one end has the transformer while the other end plugs into your pb/ib etc so this never changes, only the second part of the power cord that is removable.

Actually they go one better than that, my iMac came with a US lead and a UK lead! I reckon once they are boxed up in Taiwan they go straight to the shops.

Amen-Moses
 

Shop Amazon


Shop for your Apple, Mac, iPhone and other computer products on Amazon.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
Top