# What power converter is needed for laptop in Kenya?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-power-converter-is-needed-for-laptop-in-kenya/263563>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 7, 2004, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-power-converter-is-needed-for-laptop-in-kenya/263563 "2004-09-07T23:54:10Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![carolynnjulie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@carolynnjulie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carolynnjulie)\
**Post date:** [September 7, 2004, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-power-converter-is-needed-for-laptop-in-kenya/263563/1 "2004-09-07T23:54:10Z")

</div>

What kind of power converter do I need to feed/charge a United States laptop computer when I take it to Kenya? I think the power over there is 220. Can any old power converter work on a laptop? I have an old power converter that is 25 years ago, before people used computers, will that still work, or do computers, laptop computers need a special, or modern day power converter?

What about running a laptop computer from a car battery over there?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Padeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)\
**Post date:** [September 8, 2004, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-power-converter-is-needed-for-laptop-in-kenya/263563/2 "2004-09-08T00:40:04Z")

</div>

Take a look at your laptop power supply’s specification tag. Most likely it’s a switching type and can accomodate a wide voltage range. The one for my Dell works with 100-240V and 50-60Hz. The older, heavier transformer supplies won’t work with all voltages. I don’t suggest using one of the voltage converters as most warn against using them with electronics and only to use with heating type devices like irons, etc.