Bonjour, guten tag, ciao, olá, privet!, Hello and congratulations on your upcoming trip to a foreign country! Since you are traveling overseas, it’s very important to pick the right transformer.
Picking The Right Transformer
What you need to know about using various devices when traveling are that all your devices built for use in North America are designed to operate on 110-120VAC (Volts Alternating Current).
Most of the rest of the world, however, operates on 220-240VAC. When traveling overseas, it is going to be very important to convert the voltage to match your appliance’s voltage requirement. Failure to do so could severely damage your piece of equipment.
There are several options available to you… The first is a Voltage Converter.
Voltage converters simply convert electricity from 220-240 volts down to 110-120 volts when traveling overseas (they step down the voltage) or from 110-120 volts up to 220-240 volts when traveling to North America (they step up the voltage).
In addition to converting the power, you will often need to also use a plug adapter. Plug adapters are generally either built into the converter, or provided as separate parts. They are also sold separately, for use with multi-voltage devices that are designed to convert the power internally.
There are two types of voltage converters to choose from and they are called #1 a Transformer or #2 a Solid State Converter. The one you should pick will depend on the type of equipment you plan to use.
Any Electronic or Motor device must be used with a transformer-type converter. Transformers are sized by their wattage capacity and the wattage requirement of your device MUST be equal or below the transformer’s maximum wattage rating. As transformers are heavy because they are primarily made of the metals steel and copper, those designed for travel are usually limited to about 50 watts, although heavy-duty transformers are certainly available when more wattage is needed.
Some Examples:
- Battery Chargers
- Camcorders
- CD/MP3 Players
- Cell Phones
- Contact Lens Disinfectors
- Digital Cameras
- Electric Shavers
- Oral Hygiene Devices
- Radios
- Sound Machines
Heating Appliances (like my wife’s hair dryer) can also be used with transformers but their wattage demands are very high and the appropriate transformer would usually be too heavy for travel. Therefore, we recommend finding a lightweight solid state converter that can provide roughly up to 2,000 watts for your high wattage heating appliances.
Some Examples:
- Beverage Heaters
- Clothes Steamers
- Coffee Makers
- Electric Blankets
- Food/Bottle Warmers
- Hair Dryers
- Hair Roller Sets
- Heating Pads
- Hot Plates
- Incandescent Lamps
- Irons
How to Find The Voltage and Wattage Ratings on Your Appliances
To determine the correct voltage converter you need, you must know the input voltage and wattage requirements of your appliance. This information is generally on a label or embossed into the back or bottom of the device. You may also find this information in the specifications section of the appliance’s owners’ manual.
Make a note of the voltage(s), frequency or frequencies, and the wattage indicated for each device.
The label or manual will show the input voltage (110, 120, 220, 240; written as: 120 volts, 120V, 120 volts AC, or 120VAC), the wattage (written: 100 Watts or 100W) or the amperage (0.5 Amps, 0.5A or 500mA).
NOTE: If only the amperage rating is shown, multiply the input voltage by the amperage rating to find the wattage rating.
Volts x Amps = Watts,
e.g., 120V x 0.5A = 60W
e.g., 110V x 0.8A = 88W
Cautions
- The AC outlet in many foreign bathrooms is for low-wattage devices only. To avoid damage to your converter and/or attached device, check with your host or hotel before powering a high-wattage device (such as a hair dryer) from this plug.
- Do not use a voltage converter with electronic devices such as televisions, VCR’s and computers unless the device indicates that it can handle both 50 Hz and 60 Hz.
- Do not use heating appliances, such as hair dryers, irons and coffee-makers, on a transformer-based voltage converter.
- Do not use non-heating electronic devices, such as calculators, electric razors and portable audio players, on solid-state voltage converter.
- Do not use 110-120 VAC Surge protectors or Uninterruptible Power supplies on a 220-240 VAC system. Even with a step-down power converter, damage could occur as the two power systems are wired differently.
At Mitchell Electronics, we have a history of treating our clients just like family. Call Mitchell Electronics at (914) 699-3800 today! Contact us today or visit our FAQs for more information about our products.
