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Charger

pschlute
Posted 06/07/2009 - 11:07 Link
I am going to the USA for a driving holiday later this year. I saw this on ebay http://tinyurl.com/otr6v9 and wonder if anyone has any experience/thoughts on them ?

It seems to have a US pin, plus the ability to use the car to charge it will be handy too.

I use the K10
bforbes
Posted 06/07/2009 - 11:15 Link
Don't forget the USA is a 120 volt mains supply. I was there earlier this year and it seemed to take a long time to charge anything - laptop, mobile phone, batteries. The car option might be an idea if your in for any length of time
Gwyn
Posted 06/07/2009 - 11:49 Link
I just used the Pentax charger with a socket adapter. It worked just fine.

I also have a Hahnel charger which I can use in the car, but the Pentax charger is smaller so that is what I took with me. Plugged it in in the evening and unplugged it in the morning.
johnriley
Posted 06/07/2009 - 11:58 Link
The permissable input voltage is marked on the back of your Pentax charger and will say something like 100V - 240V. An adapter is all you need.
Best regards, John
polchraine
Posted 06/07/2009 - 14:06 Link
The Pentax charger is rated at 100-240V and 50-60Hz

If you are staying in hotels in the US you may find problem using UK to US adapters as the power outlets tend to be in the bases of lamps!

If the leads unplug from you battery charger and laptop &c then the first stop in the US is Tandy and buy a set of appropriate mains leads for the chargers or equipment - they are as cheap as adapters.

I have a full set and always rely on those when travelling.

One post mentions that charging takes longer - I would dispute that as the modern chargers have a switchmode supply which caters for massive voltage fluctuations and in reality (but not necessarily safely as component may not be full rated) will work from 50v through to around 600v and from 40 Hz to 400Hz.
.
K20D, *istD, MZ-S, Super-A, ME Super, MX
DA* 16-50, DA* 50-135, DA* 300,
DA 50-200, FA 24-90, FA 20-35,
M 400-600, A 50 f1.4, A 28 f2.8, A 70-210, M 35-80, M 50 f1.7
A x2S teleconverter and a few others ...
Gwyn
Posted 06/07/2009 - 14:52 Link
We never used the sockets in lamps but always managed to find a free socket or two in the room for charging, and for the laptop. If necessary we unplugged a lamp, but usually there were sockets enough.
We have small flatish adapters that work for UK and European plugs. The only thing is you have to remember to take them with you when you unplug things. We lost a couple this last trip by not removing them. Luckily they are cheap and we have lots.
I didn't notice things taking longer to charge either - we had several things which needed charging with us (iPod, GPS tracker, camera, phone etc) and they all took much the same time as at home.
Adapters are so cheap it seems daft to spend extra on a new charger. The Pentax charger is small and lightweight and does the job in the US just as well as in Europe.
polchraine
Posted 06/07/2009 - 15:11 Link
Gwyn,

Don't forget that in Holland you have fairly small plugs compared to those in the UK and using a UK plug and adapter can obstruct the second socket.
.
K20D, *istD, MZ-S, Super-A, ME Super, MX
DA* 16-50, DA* 50-135, DA* 300,
DA 50-200, FA 24-90, FA 20-35,
M 400-600, A 50 f1.4, A 28 f2.8, A 70-210, M 35-80, M 50 f1.7
A x2S teleconverter and a few others ...

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