mickey@altos86.Altos.COM (Michael Thompson) (08/29/90)
I am sure this topic has been discussed before, and I apologize for exhuming it. I am moving to Germany soon. In the U.S., I have accumulated various and sundry electrical equipment (TV's, vcr, stereo, digital clocks, microwave oven, computer, CRT's, juicer, electric keyboard, etc.) Ignoring the TV's and vcr for a moment, if I use an adaptor to convert 220v to 110v, should I have any problem with any of the other devices? I mean, I suppose the adaptor doesn't convert 50Hz to 60Hz, so will the timer still work on my microwave oven? Will the lower frequency affect my computer or the electric keyboard? Also, for my stereo, I use a power strip to plug in all the components: receiver, cd player, two tape decks, a graphic equalizer. Is it O.K. to plug a power strip into a 220v to 110v converter? Or are these converters only designed for low wattage? Where can I get "heavy duty" converters? Military surplus? 1/2 :-) As far as the TV's go, I understand that in Germany, images are transmitted in PAL format, and we use NTSC in America. Someone posted an article about a company (Instant Replay) who offered a VCR that can convert between these formats and would allow me to watch PAL broadcasts on an NTSC t.v. I called Instant Replay and asked them about the quality of the image produced by VCR, because I remember reading that the conversion is difficult and messy electrically. They claim that the converted image quality would be as good as my NTSC T.V. could produce. Is this just sales hype? I asked them about the 50Hz v.s. 60Hz problem, and they said that some TV's are rated for 50Hz OR 60Hz, and that if mine was rated for 60Hz only, it might develop a heating problem at 50Hz and I wouldn't be able to watch it for long periods. I checked the specs for my tv and it is rated for 60Hz only. (Note: it also has a clock in it, so the frequency might be significant for that reason too). (If it matters, I have a 26 inch Sony Trinitron; it has an amazingly clear picture, so I'd rather not give it up if I don't have to. My other tv is a smaller RCA). If anyone has any experience and/or suggestions about how to do what I want to do, I'd appreciate it very much. Vielen Danke, -Michael mickey@altos.Altos.COM
myers@hpfcdj.HP.COM (Bob Myers) (08/31/90)
>Ignoring the TV's and vcr for a moment, if I use an adaptor to convert >220v to 110v, should I have any problem with any of the other devices? >I mean, I suppose the adaptor doesn't convert 50Hz to 60Hz, so will >the timer still work on my microwave oven? Will the lower frequency >affect my computer or the electric keyboard? For starters, check the back-panel labels on your equipment; you may find something like "110VAC 50/60 Hz", which would be a clear indication that the equipment may be expected to operate OK on the "foreign" frequency. (You may even find "110/220VAC 50/60Hz", along with a slide switch for input voltage selection, thus no need for the adaptor. If you're REALLY lucky, the thing might autoswitch or have a power supply with a sufficiently wide input voltage range so as to handle either voltage, no problem.) In general, "digital" equipment such as computers and the like will probably indicate that they'll be perfectly happy on 50 Hz supplies; it's not THAT hard to design a power supply for both, and even the 110/220 issue is pretty simple for the supply designer to handle. Oddly enough, you're most likely to have problems with the "simple stuff", such as electric clocks, which rely on the line frequency for their timing. (Many turntables fall into this category as well.) I'd be surprised if your microwave, to note one of your specific questions, had a problem - but good luck finding an adaptor if it won't take 220V; those things suck a TON of current. >Also, for my stereo, I use a power strip to plug in all the components: >receiver, cd player, two tape decks, a graphic equalizer. Is it >O.K. to plug a power strip into a 220v to 110v converter? Or are >these converters only designed for low wattage? Where can I get >"heavy duty" converters? Military surplus? 1/2 :-) As you suspect, it depends on the convertor, and the total load current (continuous) that it's rated for. There's nothing special about the "power strip" per se, it's still just a matter of the total load current you're trying to pull. As far as where to get "heacy duty" convertors - sorry, no clue. >I asked them about the 50Hz v.s. 60Hz problem, and they said that >some TV's are rated for 50Hz OR 60Hz, and that if mine was rated for >60Hz only, it might develop a heating problem at 50Hz and I wouldn't >be able to watch it for long periods. I checked the specs for my tv >and it is rated for 60Hz only. (Note: it also has a clock in it, so This is the big problem in the 50/60 Hz question for a lot of equipment; if they've cut corners on the power transformer, it IS likely to overheat on a 50 Hz supply (for reasons I'm sure you'd just as soon not hear right now). Again, the manufacturer's labels and manual information should be your guide. Bob Myers KC0EW HP Graphics Tech. Div.| Opinions expressed here are not Ft. Collins, Colorado | those of my employer or any other myers@fc.hp.com | sentient life-form on this planet.
greg@cheers.Bungi.COM (Greg Onufer) (09/01/90)
>... I'd be surprised if your microwave, to note >one of your specific questions, had a problem - but good luck finding an >adaptor if it won't take 220V; those things suck a TON of current. *Please* check with the manufacturer of your microwave before using it in a country with a different line frequency! The microwave we bought while living in S.H.A.P.E., Belgium, had to be modified to work there and then modified to work here when we returned stateside. Microwave ovens, it seems, are slightly more sensitive to the line frequency. Either that or the manufacturers are making lots of money off of military personnel! :-) Cheers!greg