![]() What Are Foreign Adapters and Why Do You Need One?įoreign adapters or traveling adapters allow you to connect your appliances to a foreign power outlet. They allow your 100- to 127-volt appliances to operate in countries that use 220 to 240 volts. ![]() The same rules also apply to a quality step-up converter. Most voltage converters come with considerable range, whether they’re step up or step down converters.Ī step-up converter, for example, will allow 100- to 127-volt devices to operate in countries that use 220, 230, or 240 volts. What Voltage Should You Choose for a Power Converter? However, modern devices are not affected by the difference in cycles. The difference in Hertz can cause differences in timing circuits in older devices like the Analog clock. The 220-240V AC used in European countries cycle at 50Hz (or 50 cycles per second). The 110-120 volts AC used in America and North America cycles 60 times per second. Hertz (or Hz) refers to 1 cycle per second, and it’s the measure of frequency. What Do Hertz Have to Do With Voltage Converters? On their box or specification sheet, you’ll find specifics like thermal regulation, short circuit protection, and maximum voltage. Voltage stabilizers provide protection from these, and while they are often sold as a separate appliance, a few of the best power converters in 2023 come in with built-in surge protectors or voltage stabilizers. This results in brownouts and power surges and they can damage your appliances, especially if the rebalance happens without warning. In some countries with unstable power supply, the voltage can sometimes fluctuate, sometimes dipping below or rising above the recommended voltages for your appliances. What Are Voltage Stabilizers and Should Your Converter Have One? Multiply the Volts(V) x Amps(A) you find on the sticker, and you’ll get the watt value. In the rare case that they do not write out the wattage, you can determine the value with some quick calculation. You might see something like “900W” on your food steamer, for example. Most appliances manufacturers list the wattage at the bottom of the appliance or on the side with a sticker or metal plate. How Do You Find the Wattage of Your Appliances? The extra wattage buffer serves as a buffer against the initial power surge when you turn on the appliance too. If you’re aiming to travel with your laptop and some other devices, you might want to buy a converter with 1500W. We recommend buying a voltage converter with two to three times the wattage rating for your highest appliance.įor example, power tools, desktop computers, printers, and TVs use up to 500W. The higher the wattage, the more power it can safely covert. ![]() The size of a voltage converter is mostly defined by its wattage. What Size of Voltage Converter Should You Buy? Most step-up converters serve the secondary function of step-down converters and are commonly referred to as step-up/step-down converters or 2-way converters. Step-up converters do the exact opposite and raise the voltage to match more power-hungry appliances. ![]() Step-down voltage converters bring down the electricity in countries that use 220-240 volts down to 110 volts. Step-up and step-down voltage converters function exactly as you’d expect they would they alter the volts flowing from the outlet to match your device’s needs. What Are the Types of Voltage Converters? In this section, we’ll be going over everything you need to know before you buy the best power converter in 2023. Other times, it takes a bit of number-crunching and a ton of patience. When you’re traveling to a new locale carrying an appliance, electrical tool, or device that is not built for the voltage available, a power converter can help you step up or step down to the right power level.įiguring out the best power converter for you can sometimes be as simple as looking up the corresponding values. Most countries use one of the two major voltages, with some slight differences– 110-120V AC and 220-240V AC. Power converters, or voltage transformers, are portable power conversion devices that change the voltage output from the outlets in different countries worldwide.
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