110V and 220V

It depends on the appliance. Some are more sensitive to the difference and some absolutely require frequency conversion. OTOH, many are indifferent to it.

Expensive to do and, unless the appliance is expensive and not easily replaceable, not usually done.

Kal

Most low power items won't know the difference between 60 Hz and 50 Hz. Those that have a transformer in the power supply may run a little hot. Small motorized devices that are synced to the power line (such clocks) will run slower (about 80% of their 60Hz speed).

Higher power devices will experience more heating because they were designed with just enough iron in the core (transformer, motor) for 60 Hz but 50 Hz requires more material in the core. Electric motors (other than AC-DC types) will run slower on 50Hz than 60Hz because they are controlled by the power frequency. This may also contribute to overheating, as any built-in fans will also be running slower and moving less air.

Switching power supplies (PCs, laptops, some other devices) rectify the AC to DC before the DC-DC conversion stage, so they will generally work OK. There may be a little AC ripple in the input to the DC-DC converter because the capacitors were chosen to work with 60Hz power and they may not provide adequate filtering with 50Hz power.

Check the rating plate on each device to see if it is rated for 60Hz or 50-60Hz. If rated for both, your only concern is getting the proper voltage.

More about me:

VB3 source code: VB6 source code: VB6 - MySQL how to: My newest language - NSBasic for the Palm PDA: Drivers for Pablo graphics tablet and JamCam cameras: johnecarter atat mindspring dotdot com. Fix the obvious to reply by email.

It varies for different kinds of appliances. It even varies for different appliances of the same kind. There is no general answer. Some appliances will not care at all. Some will melt down (figuratively or literally.) And most lie somewhere between those extremes.

You may be able to get specific answers for specific items by posting details (Brand, model, nameplate ratings, etc.)

Yes, but it is far more expensive than to just convert the voltage. So much so that it is rarely done except where absolutely necessary (and cost-effective).

DC

be

50-60Hz.

thanks for all your responses.

I am plann> > I am planning to take some electronic items from

On Tue, 9 Sep 2003 19:18:55 -0700, "Richard Crowley" Gave us:

THIS appliance is a rice cooker. I have NO doubt that it is a purely resistive heating element, and that the power consumed by the controls is so minimal that 50 or 60 hz will not affect it, and the voltage can swing a bit as well, but cooking times will vary at that point. For optimal operation, the voltage is all you need to match, in

*this* case, with the greatest confidence. SO, a transformer would be all one needs. The right transformer. Most industrial liquidators have them ,and a 1kVA would be around $40 IIRC. For Brand new and exciting, try The 1kVA is 5.5 x 6 x 5.25 inches. It takes numerous Voltages in, and converts to 115, so it can be reversed to get those voltages out with 115 in. It has multiple taps. That is the style you are looking for. There are many brands. With the size and layout info you find on the page, you can go shopping at the surplus stores.

On Tue, 09 Sep 2003 23:53:45 -0400, w_tom Gave us:

Most even work with DC pumped in (the switched front end jobs).

The first thing in a lot of our AC fed switchers is a full wave bridge so applying DC voltage at the AC taps yields the exact same performance in the product.

Electronics does follow the math sometimes, eh? :]

On Tue, 9 Sep 2003 21:23:35 -0700, "MC" Gave us:

The CD player uses DC the dongle is the AC device.

Look at the dongle. Likely, it will show 50-60Hz, 90-some other voltage.

Learn how not to top post and why it sucks and makes you look retarded.

It might depend on what you mean by "old". Newer equipment tends to be less sensitive to power frequency. I would tend to assume that it will work until proven otherwise.

On Wed, 10 Sep 2003 08:03:56 -0700, "Richard Crowley" Gave us:

That would be "practically anything that has a switcher in the front end, instead of a transformer".

If the boom-box is also batery powered, then you can rest assured that a 220 to 110 volt transformer will provide the correct input voltage and you won't have to worry about frequency. This is because the boom-box works on DC and the AC input is freduced to a lower voltage and rectified before powering the circuitry.

I converted my wife's US (110V) boom-box to 220V operation in Europe by removing the internal mains transformer and connecting the output of a "Plug in the wall" transformer to the points where the secondary of the original transformer had connected. It worked perfectly, although I had to make a hole in the case to get the 12 volt line from the plug in transformer to the power supply of the boom-box. If you have any technician type skills you might try that also.

My personal experience is that for any equipment which does not run internally off DC and is low powered, taking it with you is just not worth it. The cost of shipment, transformers and the loss of your guarantees far outweigh the cost of replacements. Add to that the fact that you can't even be sure that the equipment will work, for reasons well described earlier in this thread, and the whole thing is an expensive and rather pointless gamble.

Also, the value of a 110V appliance in a 220V area is approximately zero. Probably less, because it will cost you to dump it!

John