Step Down Transformer Issues.

[RadX]

I read over at the Amazon thread and thought this should be for discussion here. This is in view of the things we are buying from US via Amazon that uses 110V Voltage. The Wattage is also the key consideration here, on how many WATT step down transformers to use.

 

REad as a guide that one should get 3x the rated power on the device. That is, if the device is 250W, get at least 750W for buffer. I am wondering if this rule of thumb is valid. REason I ask is I just shipped a laser printer and the Wattage is 250W, thus, this is my concern.

 

Any other related issues, please post here for the general public

[Watwheels]

I think just have to look for a power adaptor with the same output(power & current) but voltage at 220~240V and with the same connectors.

 

Go to sim lim square 2nd floor got one shop I go to before when my media player adaptor failed(replacement cost me only $15). He apparently has a lot of different power adaptors for different devices. But it won't be the brand you are looking for but the output is the same. I have no issues using it so far coz the power adaptor is made in Japan and not MIC or M'sia.

 

Sorry. I forgot the shop name but it's directly facing you when you come out of the lift (not the bubble lift). There's only one lift for each of the two wings anyway. You can tell the shop was handed down by his father or something. The fellow is a little skinny and geeky and the shop is in a mess. Some electrical shop which looks like it has been there after the building was built.

 

Dun bother with the cumbersome step down transformer. It can cost a bomb too. Just bring that power adaptor of yours with you and the shop owner will know what to give you.

Edited December 19, 2013 by Watwheels

[Nicholas]

I bought my novelty toaster from Amazon US.

 

The toaster flame grilled my bread in 3 seconds on lowest setting. Can really see fire on bread like Burger king commercial where they grill their meat.

 

The toaster voltage is 700w. At first I went to mustafa to source for a step down transformer and they are really pricey and huge.

 

In the end, I found this simple and cheap step down transformer on ebay:

http://www.ebay.com.sg/itm/NEW-1600W-STEP-DOWN-FOREIGN-TRAVEL-VOLTAGE-CONVERTER-KIT-220V-TO-110V-ROUND-PIN-/331076818287?pt=Travel_Adapters_Converters&hash=item4d15b7556f&_uhb=1

 

However, I believe this is only suitable for simple products like toaster, hair dryer, and etc. Hope this information helps someone.

[Watwheels]

If built-in one then not so simple lor .. many printers (and other computer devices) nowadays have external power adapters.

 

 

 

Built-in? Maybe for electrical appliances? I dun think printers have built-in power adaptors.

 

I dun like using step-up or step down transformers. It gives out a lot of heat meaning some energy is lost. Some ppl calls it inefficient.

 

If there are power adaptors with the same output and with the connectors plus 3pin plug you could use, why not?

[Jtb]

I read over at the Amazon thread and thought this should be for discussion here. This is in view of the things we are buying from US via Amazon that uses 110V Voltage. The Wattage is also the key consideration here, on how many WATT step down transformers to use.

 

REad as a guide that one should get 3x the rated power on the device. That is, if the device is 250W, get at least 750W for buffer. I am wondering if this rule of thumb is valid. REason I ask is I just shipped a laser printer and the Wattage is 250W, thus, this is my concern.

 

Any other related issues, please post here for the general public

Usually using step down transformer is not an issue if your device is not consuming high power and only using it on a short period of time just like printing document and the device is off later.it will be safe to have higher power than the device.been using 110v devices bought from US and 24hrs on it as the xformers are large enough to drive.

[Kb27]

I wasn't sure but I did some reading up.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voltage_converter

Transformers do not change the frequency of electricity; in many regions with 100–120 V, electricity is supplied at 60 Hz, and 210–240 V regions tend to use 50 Hz. This may affect operation of devices which depend on mains frequency (some audio turntables and mains-only electric clocks, etc., although modern equipment is less likely to depend upon mains frequency). Equipment with high-powered motors or internal transformers designed to operate at 60 Hz may overheat at 50 Hz even if the voltage supplied is correct.

If a motor is designed to run at 115V/60Hz (USA) and you use a step-down transformer, you get 115V/50Hz. Transformer does not alter frequency but merely step-down voltage.

 

This motor at 60Hz is built much smaller due to the slightly higher frequency, something related to hysteresis loss. Running it at 50Hz is likely to overheat the motor and also the transformer, by pulling excessive current.

 

So you don't really want to buy a 1kW hairdryer from Amazon and use it here with a step-down transformer, unless you can get a solid-state voltage converter which also converts both voltage and frequency.