Posts Tagged Kensington adapter

This travel adapter is not the flashiest piece of gear in my travel bag, but certainly one of the most practical.  And, after all, this website is practicaltravelgear.com, right?

Kensington’s Wall/Auto/Air Ultra Portable Notebook Power Adapter (K33197US) is like a quick-change artist, capable of powering and charging a notebook computer, iPod and cell phone on airplanes, in cars or at the hotel.

With changeable tips for different devices, it can replace several power supplies if you’re carrying multiple gadgets on the road, lightening the load and taking up less space.

And it’s lighter than the brick-like power adapter that came with my Dell notebook.  When you’re schlepping gear around an airport, every ounce and pound you can leave behind makes a difference.

The Kensington power  kit comes with plugs and adapters to use the power ports on planes.  This airplane power feature will become even more essential for business travelers as more airlines add in-flight wi-fi access.

One note here—I do just about all of my flying on American Airlines, which is generous with power ports but they are limited to 75 watts.  The Kensington adapter will handle up to 120 watts, but your notebook may not work in the air if it draws more than 70 or 75 watts because of the limitations of the plane’s power system.  Check the power supply that came with your notebook to see the rated power.  Smaller notebooks are the ones most likely to work—some of the larger ones are very power hungry and may not work with airplane ports.

This adapter will also power gear from a 12-volt power supply in a car or from AC plugs—either 120 or 240 volts, an added bonus for international travel.

Kensington makes a wide variety of tips to power different devices, so check for compatibility with your gear.

The Kensington power adapter comes with several built-in safety features, including protection from drawing too much current, short circuits and overheating.  In my experience, Kensington is a quality manufacturer and I’ve heard many reports from other users about how strongly they stand behind their products.

The list price for the adapter is $149.99, but refurbished models (Kensington 33197RR) can be found for  $25-$30.   The new models have a two-year warranty, while the refurbs are covered for one year.

I’ve carried a refurbished model around for way over 100,000 miles and never had a problem.  Wait, there was the time the dog chewed up one of the cables, but I can’t blame that on Kensington.

This adapter has been a reliable, solid piece of equipment that meets the most important test of all.  It just works.

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