Are you thinking of relocating or traveling to Australia? If you answered yes, you've probably done quite a bit of research on the subject. You might be relocating for business, or simply taking an extended vacation to experience the "Land of Oz". While Australia offers quite an amazing experience, there's a rather important factor you may be overlooking - traveling with electronics.
If you plan to relocate, stay for an extended period of time or even take a short vacation, chances are that you'll be traveling with some sort of electronic devices. From an electric razor or hair dryer to a laptop or digital camera, it's nearly impossible to leave home and travel with out bringing along items that require electricity. Herein lies the problem.
In Australia, the standard electrical voltage is different from North America. In Australia, electricity is delivered at 220 volts, meaning 220 volts is what comes out of a wall socket or outlet. In North America, electricity is delivered at 110 volts. This causes complications and unexpected inconveniences for travelers who bring electronics along and are not prepared for this change.
When you purchase electronics, voltage is never a concern. This is because electronics are manufactured to operate at the voltage of the country or region on which they are sold. For example, electronics sold in North America are designed to run on a 110 volt electrical standard, while electronics sold in Australia are designed to run on a 220 volt standard. The devices are only intended to function with that specific voltage. In other words, you cannot just take your US purchased laptop to Australia and plug it into an outlet to charge - the result could be anything from an immediately ruined laptop to electrical shock or fire.
If this is all news to you, don't worry there's no need for alarm. Thankfully, there are solutions to using electronics overseas, with one of the most convenient being voltage converters. Using a voltage converter for Australia will let you to travel with any and all the electronics you need to be comfortable and productive on your trip.
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voltage converter is a device that plugs into an electrical outlet and alters the voltage, allowing you power your electronics the same way you would at home. They are safe, relatively inexpensive and very easy to use. The converter itself plugs right into the wall like any other electronic. The required voltage converters for Australia are called a "step-down" converter. By design, it steps the voltage down from 220 volts to 110 volts. On the front of the converter there are outlets for your devices to plug into, which (thanks to the voltage converter) have an output of 110 volts - the same output required to use your electronics properly, safely and without the risk of damage. It's a very simple and convenient way to use your foreign electronics overseas.
However, there is another factor to using voltage converters and it depends what you're traveling with - wattage. All electrical devices and equipment draw electricity, which is measured in watts. A cell phone charger, clock radio or an electric razor all use a rather low wattage of less than 100 watts. On the other hand, a hair dryer, curling iron or electric blanket draw a much higher wattage - some up to 1,200 watts. If you fail to purchase a converter with a sufficient wattage, you revisit the risk of fire, electrical shock or damage to your devices. To prevent that scenario, it's important to identify the number of watts you'll be using.
Anything that's electric will have a tag on the cord or a label on itself that states the wattage. For example, a hair dryer purchased in North America may have a label reading 110V, 720 watts. The label is telling you that the product was manufactured to operate at 110 volts, and draws 720 watts. Since you'll be using a converter, the 110V mentioned is not important. The fact that is uses 720 watts is quite important however, because with anything less it will not operate.
When purchasing a voltage converter for Australia, it's also very important to use the general rule that the wattage of your converter should be 2 to 3 times higher than whatever you'll be using. Certain electronics require a surge of power to start up, or might use a higher wattage if they're on a higher setting. Because of this, it's important that you have a higher voltage than recommended on the label to ensure there is absolutely zero chance of damage or failure of your electronics. Additionally, the extra voltage allows some flexibility should you need to use a secondary device at the same time.
Ideally, you're going to want to check the electronics you plan to travel with and make a quick, short list of their wattage. If you're bringing a 1,100 watt hair dryer, a 80 watt electric razor, a 190 watt laptop and 650 watt curling iron, you have a total of 2,220 watts. If you planned to use them all in unison you'd need (at least) a 2,500 watt voltage converter - and although it's unlikely you'd use them all at the same time, 2,500 watts is just over double the number of watts used by the hair dryer alone. It's always better to be safe than sorry when determining the wattage of the converter you're going to purchase.
Please keep in mind that while the voltage is different in other countries, often times so are the outlets themselves. There's a whole slough of different types of electrical sockets around the world. If your voltage converter doesn't come with foreign plug adapters than you'll need to purchase one of those as well, which can be picked up relatively cheap; usually less than $5.
Now that you've learned about traveling to foreign countries with electronics all you need to do is figure out your wattage and buy a voltage converter for Australia. At 220-electronics, we sell a wide range of voltage converters for use in all foreign countries. We are specialists in international relocation and have over 30 years of experience. Visit our website at
www.220-Electronics.com to browse and buy from our complete inventory of voltage converters.
Oppo, a Chinese company renowned for its high-quality Blu-ray players which emphasized audio/visual fidelity over all other features, was hailed as the market's king in years past. Following a massive boom in their smartphone sales, Oppo ultimately stepped out of the Blu-ray player market and redoubled their efforts on the former. This left a gaping hole in the industry, as they were the leaders when it came to the development of high quality, top-of-the-line Blu-ray players for audiophiles in particular. UDP-LX500
Now, Pioneer has stepped up to produce a Blu-ray player in the same vein as Oppo's. The Pioneer Elite UDP-LX500 is a fantastic Blu-ray player for those who seek only the best in audio and video content. Whereas most companies in the industry continue to push streaming and other auxiliary services, Oppo (and now Pioneer) are bringing forward devices which offer only the best in audiovisual interfaces.
All electronics are not created equal. In fact, around the world - even if you purchase the same brand and model - there are various differences in both construction and performance. Not always visible to the naked eye, these differences can make or break your ability to utilize your electronics in other parts of the world.
One of the biggOne of the most common horror stories we hear about from international travelers, new expats and vacationers has to do with hair dryers.
"I plugged it in, turned it on, and was drying my hair when suddenly I smelled something. I looked over and the cord was melting and the outlet was on fire!"
It's a common mistake. Many a traveler has ruined their hair-dryer by using it in a country where the voltage is too high. The same is often true with curling irons, which are prone to starting fires in this circumstance because people often leave them unattended while they're heating up.
The problem is this: Most North American hair dryers (and curling irons) are designed to be used only where they're sold - in North America. The manufacturer's specifically produce these products for use with 120 volt electricity as it's the standard voltage used in North America. When you take a product designed for 120 volts and attempt to use it with 220 or 240 volts in a place like Europe, the extra voltage is too much too handle and results in the damage and/or failure of the product. Products with heating elements (like hair dryers and curling irons) are even more susceptible to the hazard of fire because they're designed to get very hot. The additional electricity can cause them to get so hot they will explode, melt, or start on fire. This type of improper use can cause burn, electrical shock, or even death!
The difference in electrical voltage throughout the different regions of the world seems like such a simple thing to be aware of, but if you've never traveled or heard someone else's horror story you could easily be unaware of the hazard. The good news is that if you've read this far, you're now informed. Even better, is that you can learn about the simple solution to this dilemma.
So you're traveling, moving or relocating to an Asia and you're pretty sure you have everything figured out. But what about electronics and appliances? If you're traveling, this question is usually not as important as if you're moving there - but nonetheless it can still be very important.
Asian countries all run on 220/240 volt electricity. This means that if you're coming from the Americas or another 110/120 volt country, your appliances and electronics are not compatible with the voltage used in Asia. The electronics and appliances you own are designed to function only at the local voltage where they are sold, and therefore are basically useless to you overseas. While laptop computers generally use power adapters suited for any voltage, other electronics and appliances purchased in the Americas such as TVs, stereos & radios, and even blowdryers and electric razors are made to work with 120 volts. Attempting to use these items with the higher voltage of 220 or 240 volts is enough to ruin or melt your electronics, start a fire, or even cause electrocution - none of which you really want to deal with.
Many times, people think that all they need is an adapter that allows their power cord to be compatible with the foreign electrical outlet, but that isn't always the case. Unless you're using a device that's specifically designed for worldwide use, you're going to need a voltage converter. The voltage converter will plug into the outlet and safely reduce the voltage for you so that your electronics can be used without hazard or worry. There are different types and sizes of converters available depending on your needs. These range from simple travel converters for small personal electronics to converters capable of working with large appliances that draw much more electricity, such as washers & dryers.
Now, if you're just going to be taking a vacation, chances are that you're probably not traveling with your microwave or a refrigerator and a simple travel converter will be sufficient. On the other hand, if you're moving overseas with appliances from the US or another 110/120 volts country, you're definitely going to need voltage converters. The size or number of them will depend on what you're bringing along, and you can learn more about how to determine your needs with 
With an ever-increasing number of people leaving North America to live abroad, the business of international electronics is constantly expanding. Some of these people are ex-pats seeking a better life in a more enjoyable climate, others are relocating to foreign countries for promising career opportunities, and others are simply traveling the globe while working remotely from home thanks to the age of the internet. Whatever the case may be, the growing number of globetrotters has created an increased demand for convenience, compatibility and simplicity in the personal and home electronics industries.
Voltage converters are simple yet often overlooked products that can made a world of difference for those traveling abroad or relocating overseas. Using foreign electronics can go one of two ways - it can be easy or it can be a serious headache. The path you take is entirely up to you, but we're going to recommend that you take the easy route.
If you've moved overseas, are a frequent traveler or live and work abroad, chances are that you've ran into issues with electronics. Mainly, compatibility - as different regions of the world utilize various systems of voltage, electrical outlets, and even video systems.
If you're planning to visit the beautiful Philippine islands for a short vacation or an extended stay, your going to have plenty of things to do and new places to see. Embarking on a foreign adventure among a different culture is always enjoyable and exciting, but it's best to make sure that you research your destination and arrive prepared to avoid any unnecessary complications. Before packing your bags and catching your flight to the Philippines, please be sure to consider what you're going to do about using your electronics. 
