Feb 02 2008
Screwed by a Busted Power Cord
I’ve just finished swimming with whale sharks so I’m in a good mood but I’m sure writing this post and thinking of the hassle I’ll have to endure will kill the buzz. The whale shark thing was pretty damn cool, by the way.
Ok, on to the buzz kill. I think my power cord has shat itself. It might be my UK/Philippines adaptor but I can’t check it because I left my big bag with all of my other electronics back in Manila. I’ll be able to test that tomorrow so fingers crossed, that’s all it is. Although, that said, I’m not sure how I’ll get a UK to anywhere adaptor outside of the UK so it could be just as annoying a problem.
If it is my power cord then I’m not really sure what to do. I’ve seen some on eBay but I’m due to leave Manila in less than 10 days and I don’t think I’ll be able to get it here in time. I’ll be cruising the local computer shops tomorrow but I have my doubts. Plus I don’t even know if I can use a Philippines/US cord on a UK computer. Anyone know?
The main reason this is immensely annoying besides the obvious hassle is because I had decided to spend the next week before I leave in Manila with my sweet, precious, free wifi to work on my sites before heading to Bangladesh. That would have given me lots of time to get things sorted out and my new site finished.
I think I have enough juice left in my other battery to transfer everything over to my hard drive but I’m not totally sure of that. If I don’t then I’m in trouble.
Anyone have any suggestions?
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I've been travelling since January 2008 living off earnings from the web. Follow me as I bum around Asia and beyond, getting up to mischief and working online as I go. 
A power cable bought in the Phillipines should be fine - I guess they use the US standard plug? Almost all power cables for laptops can handle 110v and 220 v - check anyone that you are going to buy - just read the very fine print on it to see 110/220/240 or similar. You will then just need to buy a US to UK adaptor when you take it home - no big deal. Also I don’t see why you wouldnt be able to buy a converter for UK/ whatever plug in the Phillipines - or Dhaka for that matter
According to this page: http://users.pandora.be/worldstandards/electricity.htm
Indonesia uses same type of electricity as the U.K. 230 v / 50 hz, in the Philippines they use 220 v / 60 hz. So it is very likely that power adapters between these neighbors electric goods are common.
Forgot to mention, if you scroll down a little on that page you can see that in Malaysia they use the same type of plugs and sockets as in the U.K. and also the same type of electricity, so if all else fails (i.e. Manila computer shops) they should have what you need in stock, assuming people travel between the two countries with labtops.
Thanks for the replies, guys. Well I couldn’t find a UK to Canada adaptor in Canada so I kind of assumed I’d have the same problems here. I didn’t look very hard, though.
So you would say to hit some computer shops and hope for the best? I guess I’m doubtful about whether they’ll sell only power cords and if they do, if they’d have the one I’ll need out of all the laptops out there. Or are they a pretty standard type thing?
Off to Manila tonight to start the hunt tomorrow. Annoying because I really had my mind set on working my ass off for the next week and now I’ll have to traipse around Manila instead. Joys.
Lissie is right. When I’m in the Philippines, I use the same power cord that I use in the U.S. without any transformer.
If you’re in Manila, there are SM malls in strategic places. They should carry power cords.
Good news, the power cord lives!!! It’s the adaptor that’s dead but the hostel has one I can use for now so it looks like lots of work will get done this week. In theory. The hostel is full of lots of nice, fun people so I can see myself being led astray…