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 maintainrepparttar quality ofrepparttar 133868 sine wave where as an AC power converter won’t, and therefore damagerepparttar 133869 electronic circuitry. Fortunately many dual voltage converters include a built in transformer. 

Another thing that you will want to factor in isrepparttar 133870 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,repparttar 133871 difference won’t be noticeable and as long as you usedrepparttar 133872 correct AC voltage converter you should be ok. However, other devices, like tape and CD players or electric clocks, even withrepparttar 133873 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,repparttar 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 destroyrepparttar 133867 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 ifrepparttar 133868 product is single volt or dual volt (i.e. Use 110 or 220 or both). Ifrepparttar 133869 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.

Cont'd on page 2 ==>
 
ImproveHomeLife.com © 2005
Terms of Use