Ten years ago, voltage converters were a curiosity... it was fantastic to know that we had mastered our universe to the degree that mains electricity could be converted to our requirements, but overall, converters weren't part of the daily lives of many. Nowadays, with the democratization of consumer electronics thanks to the Internet as well as increasing international travel, voltage converters are a common and necessary fact of life for many. Today we check out answers to 8 of the most common questions that people have about converters.
1. How do I know which converter to buy?
This will depend on the country that your appliance was manufactured in, the country in which you are using it, and its wattage or amperage. If you live in a country with 110V mains power and are buying from a country with 220V or 240V mains power, you'll need a step down converter. If you live in a country with 220V or 240V power and are buying from a 110V country, you'll need a step-up converter.
2. How do I know the wattage of my appliance?
You'll also need to know the wattage of your appliance to buy the correct converter, which you can usually discover by finding the little sticker or engraved information on it. Choose a voltage converter that is rated for slightly higher wattage than your appliance to ensure good performance.
3. Are there different requirements for TVs?
Yes. If you want to use a converter with your TV, you'll need a deluxe automatic voltage regulator rated for around 20% higher wattage than your set, because they create a power surge when they are turned on.
4. My American dryer is 220V, do I need a voltage converter to use it in Europe?
American dryers are usually 2-phase 100V power, compared to the single-phase 200V power in Europe.
5. Can I plug a powerboard into a voltage converter?
You can, but your voltage converter will need to be rated high enough to handle all of the appliances that will be plugged into the power board.
6. Do I need a voltage converter or a voltage regulator?
That depends on your appliance; a voltage regulator does the same job as a converter, but also stabilizes the current to plus or minus 4% of the voltage standard. In real life, while countries are said to run on 110V or 220V power, it can actually vary between 75V and 130V for 110V countries, and 180V to 260V in 200v countries.
7. I want to use the converter in a country with different plug pin shapes, what should I do?
Easy! Just put a plug adapter on top of your converter.
8. Do I need to convert the cycle (Hz)?
American power runs at around 60Hz, many foreign countries run at 50Hz. This will affect any appliances with motors (which will run more slowly), as well as clocks, which won't keep correct time.
Voltage converters are simple devices that are essential in our complex world!
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