Hooking a 110v imacg5 to a 220v socket...

Question

I bought an ibook g4 and an imac g5 in mexico, where i live, but now im studying in Argentina, and these guys have 220v, and we have 110 in mexico and usa. i know i can hook my ibook with no problems, and i bought my imac a transformer but the thing heats like **** itself. i was just thinking on hooking my imac right with no transformer but i thought i should ask first here :P I think the answer is obvious but who knows, im just tired of having to use my imac for like 2 hours and then wait other 2 hours so the transformer cools off.

Answer 1

Actually, Ewen, this doesn't really have anything much to do with the speed of electricity. Rather it depends on the speed at which particular components fail due to the application of excessive power / heat. If component A connects through to component B and both are susceptible to overload, but component A fails before component B does, then component B will probably escape damage. If, however, Component B is less able to sustain the overload briefly than Component A, then both will probably die in a situation like this.
This principle is employed extensively in a device called a "fuse". Fortunately quite often overload on a power supply will result in its own failure, before devastation occurs further down the line. In some cases, of course, protection of this kind may be deliberately built in to the device or circuitry, or its own design may be such that an output overload is simply not possible,."
It tends to be "as fast as lightning" Rod, as with the case with Barry as soon as you plug it in you hear a bang/ pop and a damaged computer, but as I said in my Post he should investigate the extent of the damage, to see if any internal components have been damaged, and this is the work usually best left to a professional. However, if Barry has some experience with this type of thing, and can isolate the problem to the iMac Power Supply ( a little more complicated than a mere fuse I fear, Rod), then it is possible for them to replace it themselves, see .pdf below:
http://manuals.info.apple.com/en/imacg520inch_PowerSupply.pdf