The Power Converter - Sometimes it's Just Not Enough! Written by Tara Pearce
Just because you have packed your handy power converter don’t get too confident that all your electrical problems are solved. Electronic appliances (CD players, stereos, VCRs) require a transformer instead of a voltage converter. Single Volt products with electronic circuitry need a specific sine wave to operate. An AC transformer will maintain quality of sine wave where as an AC power converter won’t, and therefore damage electronic circuitry. Fortunately many dual voltage converters include a built in transformer. Another thing that you will want to factor in is difference in Hertz (50 and 60Hz). Even with a travel converter, AC motors brought from North America (60Hz) to Europe (50Hz) will run slower. In some cases, like a hair dryer or electric razor, difference won’t be noticeable and as long as you used correct AC voltage converter you should be ok. However, other devices, like tape and CD players or electric clocks, even with use of your travel voltage converter, will not operate correctly. These devices, operating at 5/6 normal speed will be noticeably slower (i.e. Music will be played slower and clocks will lose time). When purchasing your voltage converters you I suggest purchasing a battery operated travel clock.
| | Voltage Converters - Don't Fry Your Appliances! Written by Tara Pearce
Most of North and South America, Caribbean and Japan use 110 volts at 60Hz while most European counties use 220 volts at 50Hz. This means you may need to use voltage converters to use many of your electrical appliances. Plugging a 110 volt electrical product into a 220 volt socket without a voltage converter will damage or destroy appliance. To know if you need a power converter you should check any electrical appliance as you pack them for your trip. Each appliance will have a small rating plate which will tell you if product is single volt or dual volt (i.e. Use 110 or 220 or both). If rating plate says it is a dual volt appliance you will not need a voltage converter, however, any single volt appliance will need a travel converter.
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