Tagged with 'voltage converter'

Being an electronics business based in North America, we understand that many people travel to Europe for business and vacation. Alternatively, many people permanently relocate to Europe. Regardless of the reason, anyone who's traveling or moving with electronics should understand that Europe's electricity operates at a standard voltage of 220 volts. Alternatively, the North American system operates at a standard 110 volts. This means that you won't be able bring and operate your electronic devices overseas by simply plugging them in. You're going to either need to buy new electronics when you arrive overseas, or purchase a voltage converter.

 

Since the voltage difference is such a common problem with those who travel or relocate, we've decided created an article about voltage converters for Europe. It's a cheaper and easier option than purchasing new electronics for overseas use. The following information will teach you everything you need to know about visiting or relocating to Europe with your electronics.

 

To begin with, it's common practice that electronics are manufactured to operate only at the voltage of the country in which they are sold. Since Europe uses a standard electrical delivery of 220 volts, people traveling from North America will find that their locally purchased electronics are not suited for use with the European electrical system overseas. The 220 volts encountered in Europe is too high, and can ruin your expensive electronics the second you plug them in. Sometimes this can even result in personal injury or a fire.

 

Fortunately, voltage converters offer an effective and economical solution to using electronics overseas. There are many different types of voltage converters but for the purpose of this article we're going to focus on voltage converters for Europe. These are called Step-down converters. A Step-down converter is used to lower (hence the term 'step-down') the electrical voltage from 220 volts to 110 volts. Step-down converters work by plugging directly into the foreign outlet/socket. The voltage converter's internal parts step the electricity down to 110 volts and then deliver it to the electrical outlets/sockets that are on the converter. All you have to do is simply plug your 110 volt electronics into the converter and you can safely and efficiently power your 110 volt electronic devices. It's truly that simple. However, there's another factor you'll need to consider before actually purchasing a voltage converter; Wattage.

 

Voltage converters are available in a variety off wattages, from 100 watts up to 5, 10 and even 15 thousand watts. In order to choose which voltage converter you should purchase, you're going to need to know how many watts your electronics use. The wattage can easily be found on the manufacturers label that's affixed to the device. Surprisingly, some electronics use next to nothing in wattage when overs use easily over 1,000 watts at normal operating power. This makes it extremely important to have a good idea of what kind of wattage you'll be using. If you still need help in choosing the right converter, view our voltage converter buying guide for more in depth detail.

 

Once the wattage you'll be using is determined, you're going to need to round that wattage up by 2 to 3 times. This is a precautionary measure that prevents accidental failure or malfunction should the voltage converter not be able to deliver the draw that your electronics are using. Generally speaking, if you need to use around 1,000 watts of power then you should purchase a 2,500 to 3,000 watt voltage converter for Europe. This will ensure that you can have multiple devices plugged in and operating without running the risk of failure, fire, or electrical shock.

 

Now that you have a better understanding of traveling with electronics, you'll need to find a reputable retailer where you can purchase a converter. 220-Electronics carries a complete inventory of voltage converters for Europe. We are specialists in overseas electronics with over 30 years of experience and carry high quality products offered to you at low, discount prices. Visit us now at www.220-Electronics.com to find exactly what you need to enjoy your trip and your electronics.

 

When traveling or relocating internationally, there's a good chance you're going to bring some electronics along with you. Since certain countries and/or regions of the world use different voltage standards for the delivery of electricity (either 110 volt or 220 volt), it's important to be aware of the standards at your destination. If your devices are designed and manufactured in a 110 volt environment and you're traveling to a 220 volt environment, you won't be able to simply plug them in as you normally do. The difference in voltage means that you'll need a voltage converter (also known as a voltage transformer) to properly operate your electronics. Attempting to use a 220 volt electronic device in a 110 volt outlet would result in the device not operating properly, or at all, due to insufficient power. The opposite would likely result in your device being destroyed along with the risk of possible electrical shock or worse.

 

While a voltage converter can simplify the transitions between 110 volt and 220 volt environments, you're going to need to understand that choosing a converter with the proper wattage capability is also critical. Someone who is relocating overseas an planning to take a great deal of electronics along is generally going to need a much more powerful voltage converter than a traveler or someone who doesn't have a great deal of electronics to bring along.

 

However, please realize that although you won't be bringing a washing machine with you on vacation doesn't mean you'll be okay by purchasing the smallest voltage converter available - your needs depend on exactly what you plan to take with. For example, don't assume that if you're only going to bring a laptop, cell phone, electric razor, and a hair dryer that you'll be fine with a low wattage converter - the hair dryer alone uses 5 times more wattage than the first three items combined.

 

To help you understand the variations in wattage used by different devices and appliances, we will show some examples below. Please keep in mind that these are only estimates and in no way do they represent numbers that are applicable to the specific electronics you own. There are many factors that can change the wattage of a device. This includes brand, model, size, and whether or not it is designed to be energy efficient. In order to identify exactly what size voltage converter you'll need you're going to have to check the watts of the actual products that you own.

 

First, we'll start with some items that operate on relatively low wattage. The items in the table below would require a voltage transformer with a relatively low wattage to be operational.

 

Appliance	Watts
Cell Phone Charger	5
Clock Radio	8
Electric Shaver	15
Portable Fan (Small)	15-25
Cable Box	20
Blu-Ray DVD Player	35
Sewing Machine	75
Curling Iron	90
Can Opener	150
Electric Blanket	150
Laptop Computer	150
Xbox 360	165
20" Box Fan	180

 

Next, let's look at some items that require a slightly higher wattage to operate. These items would generally be used by someone who was relocating as compared to someone who is traveling, but there are a few exceptions. A flat iron uses more than 3 times the watts needed for a 42" television.

 

Appliance	Watts
42" LCD	210
42" Plasma TV	270
Drill (1/4")	300
Clothes Dryer (gas heated)	350
Dehumidifier	380
Hedge Trimmer	450
Blender	560
Vacuum Cleaner	600
Drill (1/2")	640
Humidifier	680
Slow Cooker	700
Range Burner	800
Coffee Maker	825
Food Processer	900
Flat Iron	950

 

This last table shows some items that require a voltage converter capable of delivering well over 1,000 watts. Notice that the hair dryer falls into this category.

 

Appliance	Watts
Window Air Conditioner (medium size)	1000
Toaster	1000
Microwave	1150
9" Disc Sander	1200
Hair Dryer	1200
Space Heater (high setting)	1440
Broiler	1500
Dishwasher	1600
Oven	3000
Clothes Dryer (electric)	3400

 

Additionally, and as a preventative measure, it's recommended to purchase a voltage converter that exceeds the wattage of your electronics by about 50%. If your hair dryer is rated at 1180 watts, a 1200 watt transformer may not be sufficient. A much better choice would be to purchase a 2000 watt voltage converter to avoid any issues.

 

For more detailed information on purchasing the proper converter for your specific needs, view our voltage converter buying guide. The guide will help you understand the difference between step up converters and step down converters, voltage stabilizers, the different types of voltage converters and the difference in Hz (cycles).

 

To view a complete line of high quality voltage converters and related equipment including outlet adapters, please visit our voltage converters page. We have over 30 years of experience in international electronics relocation and our specialists are available to assist you with any questions you may have.