Bonaire power situation

[TravisD]

Don't overlook other options for charging as well -- some devices, such as cell phones and PDA's, will charge nicely off of a laptop USB port. As long as the laptop is happy on the local voltage, anything attached won't know the difference. That said, it's unlikely that you'll find a suitable charger for higher capacity devices like batteries, given the nominal 500mA current limit from a USB port. Still, for devices that will do this, it's one way to leave a power brick at home and not lug it around on vacation.

Also, check the current limit on the voltage adaptors --- some aren't beefy enough to handle current draws for larger devices. I'd be worried about plugging into a large scooter battery charger to a device that's engineered to handle your electric shaver!

 

[Tennessee Slim]

Curacao does that silly 50Hz thing, too. Within a month of moving here, three fairly expensive pieces of electronic hardware suddenly and mysteriously died on me. All three were brand-new, bought specifically to bring here, and all were rated "50-60Hz". I also had three locally-bought alarm clocks die in the same period.

Within six weeks of arriving, the charging system on my Sony Vaio laptop went kaput. The laptop still runs but it no longer charges its battery (and I have two batteries so I'm sure it was the charger). It gets hotter than blazes running on "household current" (yeah, I thought the "conversion" took place in that big black thing on the power cord, too) so I suspect it's "cooked" something in the charging circuitry.

Coincidence? Could be. But I think they have half-arsed power regulation here (why should electricity be any different?) and the droops below 50 Hz are death on sensitive electronics.

I've bought two dual conversion UPSs and don't run anything I value on unconditioned household current.

 

[spb1102]

The power is 110 check out the Bellafonte we have a place there with a reef in front of the condo.Mike and Cindy

 

[BHB ScubaTroll]

I stayed at Buddy Dive for 6 days and had no problem with my laptop or with my rechargeable camera batteries. I originally thought the outlets needed a conversion, but they actually accept our "American" plugs as well as specialty plugs...

 

[dvrliz1]

We usually don't have anyone one have a problem regarding charging and the difference in voltage. We have not had a guest, that I am aware of have anything "fried". We do however have a complete system "surge protector".

I suspect, as it is on Bonaire, that Curacao may have a not so stable system, especially since Bonaire is going through a whole conversion to wind and bio diesel fuel systems, as well as a complete plant move. I think the problem is the "surge" after a brown out or black out on Bonaire. There is not a lot that can be done to prevent these brown and black outs. The best thing to protect your items are surge protectors. Ed has incorporated surge protectors into the whole inn, and we are now looking at transformers (as Bellafonte has) to bring everything down to 110v from 127v, but will remain 50 cycles.

Liz

 

[b1gcountry]

Sorry TT, if you want to get it really right it's 127/50...

This explains the power and transformer options:
Info Bonaire - Technology - Yes, even Bonaire has technology

EH--Electricity ain't an exact science, it could be 127, or it could be 125. Depends on a lot of things. Could even be 120 on a longer run...

Tom
BS-EE 2000

 

[Gary Knapp]

I was there power is fine for charging your batteries ect, if you have never been there before heck out the videos