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| Voltage converter...adapter?; for blender and portable DVD player | |
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| Topic Started: Feb 4 2010, 06:52:54 PM (1,625 Views) | |
| Samantha | Feb 4 2010, 06:52:54 PM Post #1 |
True Blue Mate
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I know that this has probably been covered, so I'd like to apologise in advance. I need to bring my portable DVD player and blender with me to Australia. I really am not that quick when it comes to technical stuff so I have to ask....do I need a converter for these things or just an outlet adaptor. I am sorry I have no manufacturer information for the blender as I purchased it when I was living in Japan (they use the exact same outlet type that we do in the US) the blender is very small and not all that powerful but the portable DVD player is a Philips PET702/37 with an internal charger. Thank you 
Edited by Samantha, Feb 4 2010, 07:06:43 PM.
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| TerritorianTori | Feb 4 2010, 08:03:56 PM Post #2 |
Dance to disco
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Hi Samantha  Easiest way to find out is to look at the power supply. If it says something like "110~220V 50/60Hz", then all you'll need is a plug adapter. If not, then you'll need to use a converter. Is this your DVD player? If so, it looks like you'll have no problems, the AC/DC adapter is fully compatible. 
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 South Texas to the Northern Territory - since 2004 I'm a huge fan of... Angry Video Game Nerd | The Big Bang Theory | Doctor Who | Pet Shop Boys | Yanks Down Under ~ Americans living in Australia Avatar by Sketch Shop Boys | |
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| sheowahya | Feb 4 2010, 08:07:53 PM Post #3 |
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True Blue Mate
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you will need a converter, not just the adapter. Especially for the dvd player as without the converter you will at best, blow the speakers, at worst blow the whole unit. check out http://www.110220volts.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_code=Up-DownTransformer cheers, Marilyn |
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| surfermomkelly | Feb 4 2010, 11:13:08 PM Post #4 |
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True Blue Mate
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I'm running a few things on converters, waffle iron, toaster, etc. My coffee pot and crock pot did not work too well, the things that heat seem to have a problem. |
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| pastrycook-136 | Feb 5 2010, 12:58:07 AM Post #5 |
True Blue Mate
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Japan uses only 100 volts (not 120 volts like the US even though the plug is the same) so you will need a converter or transformer to use your blender here. From what I have read Japan uses 50 HZ in the northern half of the country and 60HZ in the rest of the country so most Japanese appliances are designed handle both frequencies. |
| "If you want to gather honey don't kick over the beehive!" | |
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| pastrycook-136 | Feb 5 2010, 01:15:46 AM Post #6 |
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True Blue Mate
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These appliances might work better with transformer. Transformers are larger, heavier, and more expensive but will provide a higher quality power for your appliances. A converter "chops" the currant waveform electronically to limit the voltage but a transformer will give you the same waveform (120 volts at 50HZ) as normal AC currant. Heating elements will work equally well on 50 or 60 HZ so your crock pot should do fine with a transformer. The heating elements in a coffeepot should work fine too but the clock (if it has one) might not keep the correct time on 50 HZ especially if it is not a digital one. Be sure to check the wattage of the appliances and buy a transformer that can handle the wattage needed. Hope this helps, Jed Edited by pastrycook-136, Feb 5 2010, 01:17:41 AM.
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| "If you want to gather honey don't kick over the beehive!" | |
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| aroth | Feb 8 2010, 09:57:45 AM Post #7 |
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Anklebiter
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I purchased a couple of these (one for my stereo, and one for a couple of appliances that the wife wants to keep), myself: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250567122140&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT#ht_1650wt_939 Note that at 800W each, they're probably overkill unless you need to power things like high-end stereo systems or large appliances. If you want to know how much power the devices you want to take with you will need, you can invest in one of these: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882715001&nm_mc=OTC-Froogle&cm_mmc=OTC-Froogle-_-Electronic+Gadgets-_-P3+International-_-82715001 Generally speaking, if using a transformer you don't want to go above about 75% of its rated capacity (so no more than 600W of load for an 800W transformer). They're good for electronic devices like computers/laptops, digital clocks, and other things with integrated logic circuits. I wouldn't recommend them so much for things with heating elements, as they generally have a very high power draw (like 1000W or more), and any transformer rated high enough to power them is going to be both very heavy, and very expensive. For things that just need to get hot, you're probably better off with a high capacity converter, such as this one: http://www.walkabouttravelgear.com/1875.htm Just don't plug anything into it that needs to do anything more complicated than just getting hot, or it may cause damage. |
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| TerritorianTori | Feb 9 2010, 11:05:20 AM Post #8 |
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Dance to disco
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Have you actually needed to use a transformer for a computer or laptop?  Just curious, because every modern PC I've owned has a power supply that can handle dual voltage/Hz; just flip a switch, change the plug, and play! 
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South Texas to the Northern Territory - since 2004 I'm a huge fan of... Angry Video Game Nerd | The Big Bang Theory | Doctor Who | Pet Shop Boys | Yanks Down Under ~ Americans living in Australia Avatar by Sketch Shop Boys | |
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| Samantha | Feb 19 2010, 02:43:04 PM Post #9 |
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True Blue Mate
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Thank you everyone for your advice! I went and purchased a voltage adaptor and convertor as part of a two for one package on Amazon. Here's to hoping they work...I'll be back in Australia as of Monday.
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| aroth | Mar 5 2010, 10:37:49 AM Post #10 |
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Anklebiter
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Yes, but only for testing purposes. However, I do have an older computer that is not dual voltage. My newer ones, and my laptop, can both run on either voltage. Provided that you remember to manually flip the switch on the power supply. But anyways, "computers and laptops" were meant more as broad examples. Similar things that are better used with transformers are things like stereos, digital clocks, cordless phones, and the like. And those things usually don't support dual voltages. |
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