If you're traveling overseas and planning to bring your personal electrical appliances or consumer electronics with you, most travel agents recommend that you take a voltage converter or voltage transformer with you. The technical language used to describe the various types of converters can be confusing if you're not an electronics expert. These answers to frequently asked questions about converters can help you make the right choice of voltage transformer or converter for your needs.
How Do I Choose the Right Voltage Converter?
Check the back of your appliance for a label that describes the power requirements of the device. You should see a number on the label followed by a W (watts) or an A (amps), or both. Make a note of the wattage. When shopping for converters, look for one that can handle a higher amount of wattage than that number. If you're planning to plug in a mechanical device that uses a heater or a motor, choose a converter that is rated for at least 20 percent above the wattage listed on your device's label.
What If It Only Lists the Amps?
If your appliance only lists the amps, you'll have to do a little calculation to figure out what voltage converters you should buy. You'll need the number of amps and the voltage required for your appliance. If you're deciding which voltage converter or voltage transformer you need for an electrical appliance that operates at 3 amps of 110V current, multiply the amps by the current - that is, 3 x 110 - to get the wattage you need for the voltage converter. In this case, you'll need a voltage converter that's rated for at least 496 watts. That's 330 watts plus 20 percent.
What Kind of Voltage Converter Do I Need for a Television or Monitor?
Choose a voltage transformer rather than a voltage converter. Voltage converters are best used with electrical appliances that have a motor or use a heater and that are only used for short periods of time. Voltage transformers, on the other hand, are designed for items that will be turned on and in use for hours at a time. Also, because a television or monitor create a surge of electricity when they are first turned on, you need to choose a voltage transformer that is rated for at least 50 percent more wattage than the wattage listed on the television label.
Can I Use a Voltage Transformer to Plug an American 220 Volt Appliance into a 110V Household Outlet?
In a word, no. American 220V is not the same electrical standard as European 220V current. Converters are designed to convert single phase 110v to single phase 220v or vice versa. American 220V current is actually 2 phases of 110V current, while European 220V is a single phase of 220V current. You'll need an American 220V outlet for your dryer or other 220V electrical appliance.
Can I Plug More Than One Appliance Into the Same Transformer or Converter?
Yes. Just make sure that the combined wattage needs of all the devices plugged in do not exceed the wattage rating of the voltage converter.
What's the Difference Between Step Up Converters and Step Down Voltage Converters?
Step up voltage converters convert 110V current to 220V current. Step down converters convert 220V electrical current to 110V electrical current. Step up and down voltage converter/transformers can convert the voltage in either direction. They are the most versatile choice of voltage converters and may be the best choice for people who travel frequently.
Author Resource:
Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the world's MOST popular internet marketing companies on the web.
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