View Full Version : Shooting and Charging Batteries in Kenya


Chuck Spaulding
May 7th, 2012, 01:35 PM
I'm off to shoot in Kenya in four weeks and need to charge lots of DSLR camera batteries and plug in a laptop with two external hard drives [the drives are powered by the USB on the MacBook Pro]. All of the chargers state that they have AC100-240V 50/60Hz, so those should work with just a plug adapter.

But I'm not sure about the Laptop.

Would it be necessary to use a 300-500W 110/220 voltage regulator? Also, if I did could I plug a power strip into it to charge two to three batteries at a time?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Simon Wood
May 7th, 2012, 02:35 PM
Kenya uses 220 - 240v, and UK style 3 pin sockets. Modern electronic equipment like laptops and battery chargers work fine in both the US and the rest of the world. I have a Macbook pro, it runs fine, you just need a 3 pin adapter for the socket.

Les Wilson
May 7th, 2012, 09:33 PM
I was in the Nairobi area last summer. All I needed was as Simon said: Physical adapter for Edison to UK plug. The Mac Pro charger works just fine. Be warned, it takes longer to charge than what you are used to.

Chuck Spaulding
May 7th, 2012, 10:51 PM
Thanks guys.

Les do you have a sense on about how much longer?

Les Wilson
May 8th, 2012, 05:21 AM
About 50% longer. Maybe more.

Allan Black
May 14th, 2012, 07:01 PM
In Nairobi, before you plug in any power strips check on your acommodation power supply.
Some of the hotels were built long ago and you don't want to cause them any trouble in that area.

We stayed at the Norfolk Hotel, wonderful history with the White Mischief crowd in the 1930s.

NORFOLK HOTEL, NAIROBI, KENYA - YouTube

Africa is great, you'll love it.

Cheers.