Voltage Converters ?

so my flight agent just told me i will need a voltage converter when i move to australia. i was wondering what peoples opinons of them are.

i was thinking about buying a laptop but after hearing horror stories of these voltage converters blowing up/ruining other electronics/hair straighteners, i'm scared to buy one, go to use my laptop and have it fry my laptop.

i'm so clueless about these things and need any help/feedback/reccomendations etc.

A laptop should be fine (says my bf and he is an IT guy )As for hair dryer,straightner, hot rollers etc.I just bought those when I got here.
Good luck with your move.

Laptops will be fine, you'll only need a plug adapter.

For any electronic device you own, if it uses an AC/DC converter (a "brick"), just check to ensure that output is labeled 100-240 V DC. If it does, it will work in Australia with a plug adapter.

I don't trust voltage converters either, they do eventually burn things out. If it's something inexpensive like a hair dryer, just buy a new one.

Yep, laptops and most personal electronics have built-in world voltage so all you're need is an adapter plug. If you're in Vancouver, call up Wanderlust on West 4th by Burrard. Easier to find the Canada to Australia plugs (not voltage converter) in Canada than Australia.

thank you for the tips on laptops.

now what about a digital camera? would it short if i were to plug it in with a plug attached to the charger?

We bought a new laptop & digital camera right before we left Canada. Both work perfectly fine in Australia and we only needed a small plug adaptor (about $5). We just made sure that the voltages were 100-240V so that we didn't need a converter. I would never bring/buy anything that would need a converter.

I just got here (Sydney), and gave up trying to find a converter for my hair straightener and other things. I found ONE at a store, but it didn't work with my stuff. Apparently hair things like straighteners need too much wattage or something. I just bought a new cheapy $20 straightener and it works awesome surprisingly!

Laptop, camera charger etc seem to work fine. You just need to check the label on the item to see if it can handle up to about 240.

For the laptop, mobile, etc. you can get new plugs here. Any kitchen items, etc. that are 110, leave them behind. I have a transformer and its a bit of a pain.

My laptop worked perfectly here, as did the chargers for my camera, mobile phone and Ipod.

However, my hairdryer and hair straightener blew up when I tried to use them here, even with a voltage converter (must have been a cheapo crappy one) so I had to buy new ones. I didn't attempt to bring any kitchen appliances but I imagine the same thing would have happened with them. I think electronics like TVs and stuff would technically work with an adapter for the plug, but may not work properly with the tv signals etc. I'd just buy most electronics new when you get here.