hook up to
phr. v..phr. v.. to connect a machine or a piece of equipment to a power supply or another system.
phr. v.. to establish a physical or electronic connection between a device and a larger network, power source, or secondary apparatus.
I need to hook up the printer to my laptop.
The technician will hook up the new monitor to the central server tomorrow morning.
Once the engineers hook up the backup generators to the hospital's main grid, the facility will be fully protected against power outages.
usually followed by a direct object (the device) and the preposition 'to' (the source).
distinguish this technical sense from the informal 'hook up with' (to meet or have a romantic encounter) to avoid social embarrassment.
hook up the TV at the wallhook up the TV to the wallthe preposition 'to' is required to show the point of connection.