Power converters

You can set your mind at ease by reading the fine gray print on the adapters. (You may need a bright light and/or magnifying glass).

They will say something like: 50 or 60Hz (US, or European frequency) and 110 to 240 Volts (US and Europe Voltages).

In the old days, lack of support for the higher Voltages meant you needed a step-down transformer for US devices in Europe, and lack of support for lower Voltages meant a step-up transformer for European devices in the US.

Power adapter that comes with iOS devices is universal. 100~240 Volts.

A power converter is not needed.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202105

You don't need to buy a adapter kit either.

You need a simple plugin adapter. You can buy it from any electronics store.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202114

Grant Bennet-Alder wrote:

In the old days, lack of support for the higher Voltages meant you needed a step-down transformer for US devices in Europe, and lack of support for lower Voltages meant a step-up transformer for European devices in the US.

How long ago was that you suppose? I do remember the days of “dual voltage” with a manual switch.

Apple has been using 100-240V power adapters for at least 25 years judging by this label from a PowerBook adapter:

https://surplusway.com/images/apple_m7783_1.jpg

The link doesn’t work directly. Have to open in a new window or tab.

You are splitting hairs, and it is not necessary or helpful to attack me to get your point across.

I stand by what I wrote.

I did NOT say this was the case only for "Mac notebook computers", I said for DEVICES. That includes things like electric drills and hair dryers. It used to be an extremely vexing problem for Travelers everywhere. Step-down transformers are Heavy.

Older high-power PowerMac Tower computers already had a power transformer inside, so a switch on the power supply was used to double or halve the incoming power.

The invention of solid state power circuits, and "switching" power supplies -- in about the 25-year time-frame you cite, changed all that. They could directly accept High Voltages and produce enough power to run a Powerbook or MacBook. That has meant that fairly recent devices (with a switching power supply) have not required an external transformer at all.

How was I attacking you? It was just a question. My response wasn’t meant to correct or criticize your answer. I just wasn’t sure how far back you were going.

I remember my family’s first universal power adapter from a Norelco razor from the late 80s. That was 100-250V AC (or even DC) using a switching power supply. But even then many power supplies were still using coil transformers that could only accept a narrow AC input or maybe two ranges using a manual switch. Many were fried by forgetting to set the switch.