Why did my iPhone and laptop chargers die?

By the way, in case it's not obvious, I was using a voltage adapter. I know better than to try to force a US plug into a UK wall socket!

The voltage adapter probably is the culprit. Just a plug adapter might have done the trick. Heat's the give away. Hopefully the puter ain't fried. Take a deep breath and run a straight shot. Anything halfway new is dual voltage.

Voltage adapter? Do you mean plug adapter - or were you using a voltage converter? Both of those devices should have chargers that are designed for world operation (110-240v). All they need to be attached to is a simple plug adapter. Was the laptop fully charged when it stopped charging? Have you tried it in another location? I charged both my netbook and smartphone without a problem.

Ed's right you didn't need to use a voltage adapter. Most all electronics these days are dual voltage so they have the "converter" already built into them. All you needed was a $1 plug adapter. Sorry for your loss:(

You probably used a "high wattage" voltage converter, one that uses transistors to "chop off" the top of the wave forms to lower the RMS voltage from 230V to 120V. The wave form produced is not a true sine wave and not good for power supplies. You are lucky the power supply died protecting the computer, not the other way around. The correct converters for computers, phones, etc is actually a small transformer. It will say it is OK for use up to 50 Watts. There was a time when all voltage converters were just transformers, good for about 1800W. They were very heavy. Then they came out with the transistor version, which works for heating apparati (curling irons, etc), and made the transformers small, just for low wattage devices.

If your laptop charger really is broken then go to your nearest Maplin shop. They stock various different replacement chargers. There are branches all over the UK.

But does Maplin stock power supplies with American cords? If so, he could also purchase a UK to American plug adapter and use the American cord, just like he should have with the original power supply. Then, when he comes back to the US, he could use it here without the adapter. Alternatively, if the power supply has a detachable UK cord, the connection between the PS and the cord set is probably the same for both the US and UK cords. He can keep the cord sets from his old power supplies to use when he gets back. BTW, the iPhone charger is just a USB power supply. In fact, as I remember, the iPhone charger has a USB Type A female socket and the connecting cord is a USB Type A male to a proprietary Apple plug. Once he gets the computer power supply, he should be able to plug the phone's cord into a USB port on the laptop. I charge my phone from my desktop computer this way all the time.

I doubt they stock them with American power cords, but they certainly have them with a detachable cord that connects from the wall socket to the power supply 'brick', which should be easy to replace back in the US. All this kind of thing is made in the same factories in Taiwan for the European and North American markets, after all. They even have a Dell power supply that might allow Daniel to use his existing American cord when he gets home: http://www.maplin.co.uk/dell-90w-laptop-power-supply-225571 Daniel, the guys in Maplin are often quite helpful and it's worth asking them. If you are in London there are lots of electronics shops on Tottenham Court Road that might also be worth a look.

Daniel, If you were in fact using a solid-state Voltage Converter, that would explain why your Chargers suddenly ceased working - they're now burned out! Both solid-state Chargers and solid-state Voltage Converters use switch-mode power supplies, and they don't "connect well" together. If you do in fact need a Voltage Converter, it's best to use a Transformer model as it produces a much cleaner sine wave and doesn't cause problems with electronics devices. It's likely that neither Charger even needed a Voltage Converter. If the spec's listed on them state "Input Voltage 100-240 VAC", then you could have just used a $3 Plug Adapter and there likely wouldn't have been any problems. You should be able to find an after market iPhone Charger at Carphone Warehouse or other large electronic retailers. It may be more challenging to find a Charger for the Laptop, so you may have to wait until you get home. I can't say for sure without looking at it, but the Charger for your older Nokia phone may in fact use a Transformer, which would explain why it's been working fine. Good luck!

Daniel, how do you know your Dell charger is dead? Not to ask a stupid question, but...have you tried to charge your laptop on different days? My chargers (phones, iPads, etc.) are always hot if my device isn't fully charged. Everytime our Dells stopped charging, it was the battery at fault. No warning, either...

I tried plugging in my laptop and iPhone with just a US/UK plug adapter, and everything worked fine. The voltage adapter didn't permanently mess up my battery chargers. I didn't need a voltage adapter at all, it turns out. Thank you for your helpful suggestions!

Yea!!! Pretty much all electronics made recently are dual voltage, and only need the $2 adaptor. Just check for the '100-240W, 50-60Hz' and if so, you're good to go! The chargers are dead! Long live the chargers...

Not to pile on but there is one other very small possibility. We learned this from practical experience. A couple of years ago, son lost charger for his apple computer. Went on Amazon and bought the cheapest charger he could find. It was NOT dual voltage but didn't discover that until we were leaving. It you are working with original equipment everything will be dual voltage but if you have an after market charge it might not be so check the plug for imput.

Daniel,

instead of hoping for something to happen, if youre up a creek at the moment, look for some computer/geek shops. if you in any town ask around. Dell isnt like hens teeth, so you maybe able to find an adapter/charger with their outlet.

also, you may want to bring along your laptop just in case something is wrong with it.

i was able to find an USB/phone adatper to my old cell phone. You just need the time to do it.

happy trails.

He's got the time, Ray.

Your answer is to a 6 month old question.

The answers are still pertinent. Don't use a voltage converter unless it is absolutely required. They could have problems.

Most modern appliances (laptops, phones) have power supplies that work fine on European voltages (230 VAC). Just have the right plug adapter.

The output from high wattage (1600W) voltage converters are damaging to low wattage (50W) electronic devices.