What You Should Know About Traveling Overseas
With Electrical Appliances
Outlet Types
Outlets
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| Country |
Plug |
Outlet |
Volts |
Freq./hz |
| India |
B, E |
2,10 |
220 |
50 |
Electrical wall outlets around the world differ in shape, number,
and arrangement of plug holes. Voltage Valet adaptor plugs allow voltage
converters, heavy duty transformers, and dual voltage appliances to
fit most of the electrical outlets found worldwide.
Ungrounded Adaptor Plugs
If your North American appliance plug has two flat blades only,
then your appliance is ungrounded. Five different ungrounded adaptor
plugs are available for use with ungrounded voltage converters,
transformers and dual voltage appliances:
A-North America / B-Continental Europe / C-Australia/New Zealand/China
/ D-United Kingdom/Hong Kong / E-South Africa/India.
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Electrical appliances built for use in North America are designed
to operate on 110-120 volts AC (Alternating Current). Most of the
world, however, operates on 220-240 volts AC. To use your favorite
110-120 volt appliance while traveling overseas you need to convert
foreign 220-240 volt electricity to match your 110-120 volt appliance's
voltage requirement. Failure to do so could severely damage or destroy
your appliance.
Voltage Converters -
The device made for this purpose is called a voltage converter.
How To Find Voltage And Wattage Ratings On Your Appliance
To determine the correct model voltage converter or heavy duty transformer
you need, you must know the voltage and wattage requirements of
your appliance. You can find this information listed on the appliance
manufacturer's label located on the back or bottom of the appliance
or in the specifications section of the appliance owner's manual.
The label or manual will show the input voltage (100, 120, 220,
240 written as: 120 volts, 120V, 120 volts AC, or 120VAC), the wattage
(100 watts or 100W), or the amperage (0.5 Amps or 0.5A or 500mA).
IMPORTANT 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 or 120V x 0.5 A = 60W
Cycles - 50 Hz vs. 60 Hz
North American 110-120 volt electricity is generated at 60 Hz. (Cycles)
Alternating Current. Most foreign 220-240 volt electricity is generated
at 50 Hz. (Cycles) Alternating Current. This difference in cycles
may cause the motor in your 60 Hz. North American appliance to operate
slightly slower when used on 50 Hz. foreign electricity. This cycle
difference will also cause analog clocks and timing circuits that
use Alternating Current as a timing base to keep incorrect time.
Most modern electronic equipment including battery chargers, computers,
printers, stereos, tape and CD players, VCR/DVD players, etc. will
not be affected by the difference in cycles. IMPORTANT: Voltage
converters and heavy duty transformers do not convert cycles.
Converters and Transformers
Two Types Of Voltage Converters -- Transformer Or Solid State. Which
Type Do You Need?
Transformer type voltage converters can be used with any electrical
appliance that meets the transformer wattage rating requirement.
Transformers can either increase (step up) or decrease (step down)
voltage. To use a 110-120 volt North American appliance in a 220-240
volt country you need a step down transformer.
Solid State type voltage converters can ONLY be used with non- electronic
heating appliances. They will damage motorized or electronic appliances.
Solid State converters will only decrease (step down) voltage.
European Shaver Sockets
CAUTION: The 220-240 volt AC electrical outlets found in many foreign
bathrooms are only for use with low wattage appliances rated at
5 to 10 watts maximum: i.e. electric shavers, oral hygiene devices,
contact lens disinfectors etc. Using your hair dryer or other high
wattage appliance on this outlet, even with a voltage converter,
can blow the main fuse or circuit breaker and may damage your converter
and appliance.
Surge Protectors, UPS Systems
WARNING: Do not use North American 110-120 volt surge protectors
or UPS Systems (Uninterruptable Power Supplies) with overseas 220-240
volt AC electrical systems, even with a step down voltage transformer.
North American electrical systems are not wired the same way as
overseas electrical systems and damage could result when using these
devices.
A Few Reminders
Voltage converters and North American appliances will not operate
on Direct Current voltage (volts DC).
In a foreign country, always check the type of electrical current
(AC or DC) and voltage (100, 120, 220, 230 or 240 volts AC) before
using your converter or dual voltage appliance.
Read all instructions and always check the appliance you plan to
use with a converter for voltage requirement, wattage rating, and
type (motorized, electronic, heating, etc.), and be sure that the
appliance is operating properly before you leave.
Please Note: Above are some guidelines and it is suggested to consult
appliance manual or and nearest electric store and Mediescapes India
is not responsible in any way if use of above guidelines results
in appliance failure/ damage / any harm etc..
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