Voltage of new Mac Mini (2009) Power Adapter

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Voltage of new Mac Mini (2009) Power Adapter

I want to take my new my new Mac Mini overseas, but when I received it I was surprised to see the power adapter rated at 100v-120v only. The tech specs on Apple's website list the line voltage as 100v-240v and I assumed the power adapter would follow suit. Both my iMac and the power adapter for my macbook are dual voltage.

Can anyone confirm that the new adapter is rated only up to 120v? Apple Support seemed as miffed by the discrepancy as I was. Additionally, Apple does not seem to have a special dual-voltage power adapter for sale. I would like to be able to plug the mini into a 220v grid, but will not do so unless I can find a definitive answer to the question above.

Thanks.

Mac Mini (Early 2009), Mac OS X (10.5.6)

Posted on Mar 24, 2009 6:24 AM

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Answer 1

Tim Haigh

Level 7

24,198 points

Mar 24, 2009 10:04 AM in response to jeffrey_hay

it is an 110W adapter but you just put on the plug at the wall end that suits your country.

I am in the UK and it uses a standard 3 pin uk wallplug we use 240W supply here. So the mac mini poweradaptor steps it down.

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Answer 2

jeffrey_hay Author

Level 1

0 points

Mar 25, 2009 8:00 AM in response to Tim Haigh

Thanks for the information, but I think we are talking about slightly different things. The watts are equal to volts * amps. I believe the power brick ensures that the mini is powered by 110W, but the the brick itself has to be appropriately rated for the local voltage or else it will not function correctly.

For instance, if my mini power brick is truly rated for 100v-120v and I plug it into a 240v outlet, then I would expect to hear a pop and smell some burnt electronics. It might spare the mini, but the adapter could fry. I speak from experience--I was careless with a treadmill in the past.

I believe that you mean you use 240v power and your adapter works fine. Could you do me a favor? Could you look at the small print on your mini adapter and see if it says 100v-240v or something else? If it says 100v-120v and it still works in the UK, then mine might be ok for 240v as well.

Thanks again.

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Answer 3

Tim Haigh

Level 7

24,198 points

Mar 25, 2009 8:18 AM in response to jeffrey_hay

The powerbrick states 100V-240V.

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Answer 4

Deryckp

Level 1

14 points

Mar 25, 2009 5:34 PM in response to jeffrey_hay

You will need a transformer to step down the power to 120. There are available in lots of places. amazon ebay etc.

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Answer 5

Mar 25, 2009 7:41 PM in response to Deryckp

Just looked at the power brick and I don't see any voltage listed!

The manual, page 48, lists power as 100 - 240VAC, 50/60 Hz. I would feel a lot better if this was stamped into the power brick.

Some people might say all Mac's are multi-voltage, but I had the first generation of G5 iMac and the North American units were only 120VAC.

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Answer 6

jeffrey_hay Author

Level 1

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Mar 26, 2009 9:25 AM in response to Craig Michelson

Thanks, all. I will believe the rating indicated on the power brick of the new mac mini (100v-120v) and use a transformer (I have a few already, but they are big--more than twice the size of the mini--and ugly). With some luck, I will be able to buy a dual voltage adapter from Apple at some point in the future.

Take care-

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Answer 7

Mar 26, 2009 3:28 PM in response to jeffrey_hay

I found it right on the side of mine...Input: AC 100-240V~ 50/60Hz 2.5A

It's called the Mac mini 110W Power Adapter, but apparently it plays in the deep end too.

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Answer 8

aramburo

Level 1

0 points

Apr 2, 2009 6:21 PM in response to Jason Williams G5

I had the same question. I was planning on taking it to Spain (220). I went to the Specs page under Apple Support for Mac mini in their Spanish site and it has the same Voltage info than in the US. They also call it "110W Power Adapter". You should have support for that new Mac Mini, I would call apple....

Check this out: http://support.apple.com/kb/SP505?viewlocale=es_ES

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Answer 9

jeffrey_hay Author

Level 1

0 points

Apr 5, 2009 8:47 AM in response to Jason Williams G5

Interesting. I assume by your WI address that you bought yours in the US. I wonder why I ended up with a 100v-120v power brick and you got a 100v-240v. Hmmm. Maybe I need to give Apple another call.

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Answer 10

Apr 5, 2009 6:03 PM in response to Craig Michelson

OK, I looked at my "brick" again, and using my trifocals, read "100 - 120". This contradicts the owner's manual. If you plan to take your Mini on a trip I would contact Apple for the appropriate "brick".

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Answer 11

Apr 8, 2009 8:18 AM in response to Tim Haigh

My power brick (purchased Mini 2 days ago) definitely, clearly has "100-120 VAC" (yes, "one hundred twenty" maximum) printed on the side. This is indeed the first computer power supply I've met that can't accept up to 240 VAC (well, at least since the 1980s). Ok in my case, and I suppose Apple's market research suggested very few Mini buyers would haul their Mini overseas.

I bought mine in Madison, Wisconsin. Interesting that Jason, who posted in this thread a week ago or so, also in Madison, claims his Mini brick goes up to 240 VAC.

Message was edited by: alanngnet

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Answer 12

carride

Level 1

5 points

Apr 15, 2009 12:30 PM in response to jeffrey_hay

As a previous posting mentioned, just a simple step down converter will solve the problem.

While investigating the issue for my travels I see this native apple transformer which support up to 85 watts. Since the new mac mini is sold as environmentally green with very low wattage I figure this is sufficient.

http://www.applemacparts.co.uk/store/productinfo.php?productsid=57973

I think this means if you buy a separate step down transformer, you do not need one of those big heavy ones. Wattage testing of new mac mini:
http://reviews.cnet.com/desktops/apple-mac-mini-2/4505-3118_7-33541087-2.html

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Answer 13

Apr 15, 2009 4:40 PM in response to carride

It seems, according to this thread, that many, if not all, North American "bricks" are 100 - 120V, while the rest of the world is getting 100 - 240V units. If I were planning to travel with the Mini, I'd contact Apple for a world "brick". Yes, a step down transformer would work, but its just something more to lug around. Also, with my luck, one of my wife's cousins would move it to another outlet without moving the transformer!

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Answer 14

yinkee

Level 1

0 points

Apr 15, 2009 9:52 PM in response to jeffrey_hay

i also bought a mini with 100-120v powerbrick from amazon.com
can i return it to local apple store and get a new worldwide power brick?
is there anyone have some expierence on it? thanks

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Answer 15

MacNico

Level 1

4 points

May 4, 2009 6:30 AM in response to jeffrey_hay

I called Apple, cause I am having the same issue. I plugged my macmini power adaptor in (100-120v) to a 240v outlet, and works like a charm, no funny smells or anything, still kicking! The thing is I didn't read the fine print on the adaptor, I only read the manual that says it supports up to 240v. I am in Turkey and bought the macmini in US, this thing is small enough to travel with and every TV has a VGA input, so works like a notebook, even better! I called apple support right after I read this post in the forum, and the CS told me that that's what she sees, up to 240v and doesn't even know if they made 100-120v only adaptors. So I told her I would continue to use the adaptor in 240v then, and she said maybe would be a good idea to get a transformer just to be safe, and added that if anything happened to the mac, it would be on apple... hmmm... but then again, major fire hazard so I am going to try and test the end cable and see if the output 18.5 volt 6.0A... will keep you posted...

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