Do I need a voltage converter for my US laptop when traveling to Europe?

[LarisaG]

Hello,  I have HP laptop "HP Laptop Computer Amd E2-7110 Quadcore " that I bought in the USA in Dec 2016, and I'm going to Russia (Europe) soon. In Europe they have 220V electrical voltage and in the US only 110V, so the laptop can burn out there without a voltage converter, right?

My question is: Do I need a voltage converter for this laptop? I don't have a voltage selector switch. But also I know that some PCs come with power supplies that switch automatically and do not have a voltage selector switch. Is my laptop one of them? Thank you so much!

[WAWood · Accepted solution]

@LarisaG 

If this were mine, I wouldn't risk it automatically converting the voltage -- as that will fry the machine to a crisp instantly!

You need not only a voltage converter but also a plug converter because the outlets are probably very different.

You can find all this stuff online.

[LarisaG]

Thank you. Another user just helped me with the correct reply. I had to look if my HP adapter is original (has HP label) and it is, so I don't need a voltage convertor. The adopter does this job. Thanks anyway.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi, @LarisaG 

HP notebooks made in at least the last 10 years have 110v - 240v power supplies that automatically switch voltage.

All of mine do.

Take a look at the specs on your notebook's power 'brick,' and you will see the voltage range listed on it.

I would be shocked (pun intended) if the power supply was only rated at 110v - 120v.

But since you would need a different plug that goes from the wall unit to the power brick, and you will probably need a converter for other electrical appliances you are taking with you, you will need a voltage converter anyway.

Happy Independence Day to you too!

[LarisaG]

Thank you very much! Where can I find those specs on my notebook's power 'brick"? I have plugs converter already, and only needed the voltage converter for my laptop.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

There should be a label on one side of the power brick with a ton of small writing on it.

You may need a magnifying glass to read the info on there, but it will list the voltage input.

Where you will find it depends on the exact model of your notebook and the power supply it uses.

Here is mine, for example.  It is from a 2013 model HP 350 G1 notebook.

On the bottom left corner you will see the voltage range of 100 - 240V.

Click on the picture for better detail.

[LarisaG]

Thank you so much! I have the original HP adopter and all of them made in the past few years convert the voltage. Yay!

[Paul_Tikkanen]

That is correct.

Glad to have been of assistance.