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here for travel guides that will help you determine what you might
need for international travel and dealing with foreign electricity with your U.S. electrical devices.
INTRODUCTION
Most
of the world outside of North America uses electricity at
approximately 220 volts/50hz. while most North American appliances
are designed for 110 volts/60hz. In addition to the voltage/frequency
problems, the wall outlets (receptacles) configurations are also
different from country to country (there are 10 different grounded
wall outlet plug adapters and 6 different ungrounded wall outlet plug
adapters). The solution to the different voltage/frequencies you will
encounter as you travel is either a VOLTAGE CONVERTER or a
TRANSFORMER depending on the type of appliances or equipment you plan
to use. The solutions to the problem of wall outlet (receptacle)
differences are Plug adapters (but remember:
plug adapters don't change the voltage).
UNGROUNDED
CONVERTERS
If
the appliances or equipment you intend to take overseas with you are
all ungrounded and you will only need to use them one at a time for
short periods of time, then you might consider an ungrounded voltage
converter as a solution to the differences in voltages as you
travel.
Ungrounded Converters can be used only for ungrounded
appliances (2 pins on the plug) and only with "electric"
(never "electronic") appliances, that is, appliances that
are used for heating purposes and / or use "universal"
motors (curling irons, hair dryers, steam inhalers, bottle warmers,
irons, etc). Converters and Transformer/Converters do not change the
frequency differences (Hz or cycles) you will encounter outside of
North America. The issue of frequency will be covered below.
You
must always read and follow all instructions about converters and all
electrical devices for your safety. U.S. visitors to foreign
countries will want to convert the 220 volts to 110 volts through the
use of one of our "step down" converters.
Solid
state voltage converters are for ungrounded (2 pins) appliances only.
Most solid state converters are not designed for "continuous
duty" and should be used for short periods of time, 45 minutes
to an hour. They must be unplugged from the wall when not in use and
never left unattended.
GROUNDED
TRANSFORMERS
Transformers
can be used with grounded plugs (3 pin) and can be used with
"electric" and "electronic" appliances alike
(unlike a ungrounded converter that can only be used for "electric
appliances"). "Electronic" refers to those devices and
appliances that contain electronic circuitry of some sort such as:
most radios, some shavers, fax machines,computers, printers, laptops,
etc. We carry transformers that just "step down" 220/240
volts to 110/120 volts (as would apply to a U.S. visitor to a foreign
country) and we carry step up / step down transformers that will,
with just the flip of a switch, "step up (110/120 to 220/240 for
the foreign visitor to the U.S.)" or "step down"
220/240 volts to 110/120 volts.
Features of all the transformers
include: off/on power switch, replaceable safety fuse, heavy duty
metal case, 5' of cord with either a European grounded "schuko"
plug (on the step down transformers) or a grounded U.S. plug (on the
step up / step down combination), and a power indicator light. The
transformers like the solid state voltage converters do not change
the frequency. That issue is covered below.
WALL
OUTLET (RECEPTACLE) PLUG ADAPTERS
If
you were looking for a worldwide standard, forget it! There are at
least 13 different configurations that we know of, each requiring its
own adapter. And if that wasn't complicated enough, some countries
use 2, 3, 4, and even 5 different configurations in different areas
within their borders. Adapters are a simple solution (once you have
found the right one[s]) to the configuration problem and we have
attempted to provide you with the best source for finding the correct
adapters with our World Electric Guide
Plug
adapters are available as either grounded or ungrounded. Which one
you need depends on the plug of the appliance or equipment you intend
to use overseas. A plug with 2 pins or blades is ungrounded and one
with 3 pins or blades is grounded. Usually you can use an ungrounded
plug in a grounded adapter but not vice versa. One very important
warning!! Remember that plug adapters do not
change voltages!
In creating the World Electricity
Guide we used the most reliable sources we could find, including the
U.S. Department of Commerce and travelers like yourself. We
appreciate your assistance in trying to create a reliable source for
what is obviously a complicated issue and to make this information
available to all travelers with no obligation to buy. We've done a
lot of research in order ensure the accuracy of the information you
find here (there are over 220 countries listed here), but we can only
guarantee that it isn't infallible and there will be some mistakes
and/or omissions. In cases where we found sources that recommended
different or additional adapters for the same country we included
them all (we hope that "it is better to have and not need than
to need and not have" applies here).
FREQUENCY,
CYCLES, HERTZ, HZ (60 HZ vs. 50HZ)
AC
frequency refers to the number of cycles that electrical voltage or
current (maximum positive values then maximum negative values) goes
through each second. In North America the frequency,expressed as
Hertz, is 60 cycles per second (60 Hz). This information about
frequencies would never be important in your life if you never left
North America. But if you do leave the U.S., in addition to having to
deal with those higher voltages in other countries, you may also have
to contend with the lower frequencies (50 Hz) in most foreign
countries . Because of the lower frequency, as an example, most AC
motors will rotate 17% slower.
Appliances
and equipment that simply contain heating elements with no electronic
timers, microchips, or other electronic circuitry are unaffected by
frequency. Many appliances have DC (direct current) motors and
convert the incoming AC into DC which is not affected by frequency.
Many appliances are "multi-voltage" and have electronic
circuitry that automatically senses and then compensates for the
frequency and voltage differences. There are also some appliance that
are "dual voltage" that can be manually switched from one
voltage to another.
WATTAGE
CALCULATION (volt X amp = watts)
Watts
refers to the amount of power (electricity) consumed by your
appliances and equipment. Sounds simple, doesn't it? Actually it is
very simple and it is important to know a little about it because you
need to know wattage in order to choose a Converter or a Transformer.
The
wattage of most appliances and equipment is found on decals or labels
of some sort on the appliance or equipment or in the owner's manual.
In addition, the decals or labels also usually give the voltage
and/or amperage of the appliance.
If
the watts aren't given you can still figure it out if you know the
voltage and amperage. If you multiply the voltage times the amperage,
the result equals the wattage of the appliance. For example, the
decal on the appliance you want to take overseas doesn't list the
wattage but gives the voltage as 120 volts and the amperage is 1.1.
To find the wattage of that particular appliance, multiply the
voltage 120 times the amperage 1.1, 120X1.1=132 watts
What
Is A Transformer?
In
its most basic form, a transformer is a laminated steel core wrapped
with insulated copper wire with at least two coils or windings. A
transformer, again in its most primitive state, has no moving parts
and is normally a trouble-free device. Transformers are designed to
step up (increase) or step down (decrease) AC voltages through the
principle of mutual inductance which causes a voltage to be induced
from one coil into another coil because of the relative motion of the
collapsing and expanding magnetic field resulting from the constantly
alternating current (60 times per second). The primary coil is the
input coil or power source and the secondary coil is the output coil
or load.
The
core is not a solid component but rather is many layers of thin steel
called laminations. This core is the "link" that
magnetically "connects" the primary winding to the
secondary winding. When AC power is applied to the Primary coil a
magnetic field is produced within the core, also known as Flux, that
induces voltage in the Secondary coil or output.
The
ratio of the number of wire turns in the primary windings versus the
secondary windings determines whether a transformer is a step up or
step down. For example, 120 turns on the primary versus 30 turns on
the secondary is a 4:1 ratio and if the input voltage was 480 volts
the secondary or output would be 120 volts. This would, obviously, be
a step down transformer.
The
type of transformer we have been describing so far is an isolation
transformer. That is, the windings or coils are physically separated
from each other. Another, very common, type of transformer is the
autotransformer which consists of a single "tapped" coil in
which the turns between the tap and one end of the primary winding
comprise one coil of the transformer and the entire primary winding
comprises the other coil. An autotransformer in the lower winding
ratios is very lightweight, physically smaller, and therefore more
economical than its isolation transformer counterpart. The
transformers we sell here and elsewhere for international voltage
converter purposes are all autotransformers.
Transformer
Calculations
Watts
refers to the amount of power (electricity) consumed by your
appliances and equipment. Sounds simple, doesn't it? Actually it is
very simple and it is important to know a little about it because you
need to know wattage in order to choose a Converter or a Transformer.
The wattage of most appliances and equipment is found on decals or
labels of some sort on the appliance or equipment or in the owner's
manual. In addition, the decals or labels also usually give the
voltage and/or amperage of the appliance.
If
the watts aren't given, you can still figure it out if you know the
voltage and amperage. If you multiply the voltage times the amperage,
the result equals the wattage of the appliance. For example, the
decal on the appliance you want to take overseas doesn't list the
wattage but gives the voltage as 120 volts and the amperage is 1.1.
To find the wattage of that particular appliance, multiply the
voltage 120 times the amperage 1.1, 120X1.1=132 watts.
TRANSFORMER
SELECTION
The
manufacturers of all transformers recommend that the connected watts
not exceed 90% of the Transformer's rated wattage. For example, don't
connect more than 450 watts to a 500 watt transformer.
Now
that you know how to figure the wattage (either look on the label or
do the simple math) you are ready to select a converter and/or a
transformer. To choose either one you first decide which appliances
you want to use, second get the wattage of each item, and third,
decide how many appliances you will use at one time. See which of the
three situations below applies to you, then look at the solutions and
examples:
1).
You will bring and use only 1 appliance.
2).
You will bring more than one appliance but use only one at a time.
3).
You will bring and use more than one appliance.
SOLUTION
1). Just find the wattage of that one appliance and choose
the converter or transformer that suits your needs.
SOLUTION
2).If you know for a fact that you will never use more
than one appliance or piece of equipment or combination thereof at
one time then you find the highest wattage of your appliances and
choose the converter or transformer that has a higher wattage than
that one appliance.
SOLUTION
3). Add all of the appliance wattage you will use at one
time and once again choose the Converter or Transformer with a
wattage rating higher than the total of all the appliances you intend
to use at one time:
EXAMPLE
of SOLUTION #1. If your ungrounded appliance has a wattage
of 550 watts you can choose between the ungrounded step down Hi-Lo
converter (use it with the wattage switch set before plugging into
the wall at the 25-1875 watts setting) or the VC-1000 step up / step
down transformer. If your appliance is grounded or you want to use it
for long periods of time, you will have to choose one of the
Transformer model because the converters aren't grounded and can't be
used for longer than 45 minutes to one hour. The advantages of
converters are: inexpensive, lightweight, and compact.
EXAMPLE
of SOLUTION #2.In this example you could choose the
ungrounded Hi-Lo converter that has two settings 0-25 watts and
25-1875 watts. WARNING! Always switch to correct wattage range before
plugging into an adapter that should already be in the wall outlet,
if an adapter is used. You could also choose the step up / step down
transformer VC-2000. The Hi-Lo converter is not intended for
continuous use and must be unplugged from adapter which also must be
removed from wall outlet as soon as you are finished with appliance
or equipment. The advantages of converters are they are: inexpensive,
lightweight, and compact.
1ST
EXAMPLE of SOLUTION #3. You are bringing 3 ungrounded
appliances that you have to use at the same time with the following
watts: 1400, 350, and 150. The total of all the watts is 1900 watts
which is too high for any of the converters but you could choose the
step up / step down transformer model VC-3000 . Remember you don't
want to load the transformer more than approximately 90% of its rated
wattage.
2ND
EXAMPLE of SOLUTION #3. You want to
bring a 300 watt grounded appliance, a 500 watt ungrounded, and a 800
watt grounded appliance and you have to use them all at the same time
for long periods of time. You would add all of the watts, 1600 watts
total, and choose the VC-2000 model transformer. You couldn't choose
a straight converter, even though it has a wattage rating above the
1875 watts of all these appliances for two very important reasons,
1). you have some grounded appliances and 2). you intend to use them
for long periods of time. Either of the previous reasons preclude the
use of a Converter, they can't be used for long periods of time and
they aren't grounded.
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