i'll be going out of the country in a month or so (and then again over the summer), so i'd like to pick up a few extra li-ion batteries for my panasonic lumix dmc-fz30...the OEM battery has a rating of 7.2v and 710mAH (CGR-S006A)

there are a bunch of different batteries available on ebay, the cheapest of which are a different model (CGA-S006) with 1200mAH and 7.4v...will using one of these with a higher voltage hurt my camera? when i bought my camera off of ebay a year ago, it came with a second non-OEM battery that's 800mAH and 7.4v...aside from the fact that the battery life is slightly less (it's also a bit smaller), it works in the camera

i would think that i'd get better life out the 1200mAH batteries, and they work out to be only $9/each, but i don't want to ruin my camera by getting the wrong thing - http://tinyurl.com/3dgyd2

while we're on the topic, what is it again that i'll need in order to use my US plugs out of the US? i know there was a thread about this not too long ago, but i failed to mark it, and a simple search didn't bring it up...i'll be going to chile over spring break and then sweden in the summer...what's the most effective way for me to avoid destroying my electronics (just a laptop, a battery charger for this camera, and possibly my mp3 player charger)?

thanks!

[Edited on January 29, 2007 at 12:14 PM. Reason : the batteries on ebay with a different model number supposedly work in my camera]

1/29/2007 12:12:13 PM

The battery voltage ratings are within 10% of each other so it should work fine.

However, the wildly different mAH's might result in a higher thevenin voltage which might be dangerous, but this worry could be easily alieved with a simple voltage tester to discern that the voltage of the new batteries do not float more than 10% higher than the old batteries.

1/29/2007 12:21:18 PM

That battery on ebay will work, and have almost twice as long as the one that came with it. Li-ion 2s batts will charge up to 8.4v and run around 7.4v nominal unless they're damaged beyond repair in which case they wont work worth a flip. So as long as his original batt was indeed a li-ion or li-poly it should be ok. For the plugs you'll need an AC adapter, while I was in London I had to buy mine there for fuckin 50 bucks cause I forgot about it before I went. It ended up having about 4 or 5 different adapters for about 90% of the countries in the world. Reminded me of the old alienware computers the way it was looked. Couldnt find it here but this one is close.

http://tinyurl.com/2ap9zg

[Edited on January 29, 2007 at 12:53 PM. Reason : .]

1/29/2007 12:50:24 PM

awesome...thanks for the info, i really appreciate it

as for the link above, it says that "This unit does NOT convert voltage. Make sure that the power outlet you intend to use has the proper voltage to run your device before using the adaptor to avoid possible damages"...other countries use...220? i don't know enough about it, but what will i need to ensure that i don't fry my stuff?

1/29/2007 1:40:57 PM

You'll probably need a converter to go from 220v to 110v. That's what most countries use, but check to make doubly sure. You can get those on eBay, just make sure that it can handle high-draw things, so that you can just get one and use an American powerstrip to run multiple things. I got one for like 30 buckas and it ran everything I needed in England.

1/29/2007 1:45:21 PM

Look for a universal adapter which can plug into all your devices. Transformers to go from 220V to 110V are large, heavy, and expensive.

Your laptop does not need a transformer, just an adapter. If you check nearly every laptop made already supports either 110V or 200V.

1/29/2007 1:51:18 PM

It all depends on your devices...

when i went overseas, my cell phone and mp3 player didn't need converters because the transformers for them said they can take 220. All I needed to use was an adapter to get the plugs to fit. For my nimh battery charger though i think i had to use the converter though.

so first look at the transformers for your electronics and see if any of them CANT take 220...my guess is most of them will and maybe all you will need is an adapter (linked above).

If you do need a converter be sure to get a name brand one (esp if buying off of ebay).

1/29/2007 1:55:28 PM

^^&^ sure enough...the power brick for the laptop says INPUT: 100-240V ~ 50-60Hz (1.5A)

my panasonic battery charger says INPUT: 110V-240V ~ 50/60Hz 0.15A

and my mp3 charger says the same but 0.28A, my duracell 1-hour quick charger is the same but 25W (instead of giving amperage)

so i assume i could just plug a power strip into the power adapter Chief posted and all of these electronics would be fine?

[Edited on January 29, 2007 at 2:00 PM. Reason : .]

1/29/2007 1:58:56 PM

Given what you just said, absolutely!

If the device says it will accept 240V then by golly the thing will accept 240V, all you need is to jury-rig it into the outlet with an adapter of sorts, be it molded plastic or paper clips.

[Edited on January 29, 2007 at 2:24 PM. Reason : .,.]

1/29/2007 2:23:49 PM

Yea, sticking paper clips in the outlet seems like a great idea .

1/29/2007 2:38:53 PM