You should be able to use your unit anywhere in your travels abroad, all you need is the right converter. Knowing which converter or transformer you’ll need to allow you to access power from your plug-in source is simple. The unit was designed to run on the North American standard of 120 volts AC electrical power at 50 – 60HZ. In virtually every industrialized country you’ll be able to find suppliers who provide inexpensive step-up and step-down transformers to accommodate travelers.

Theses devices are also known as auto-transformers because they will operate properly in either voltage direction to provide you the power that you need where you need it. You could also use what is called a voltage converter. Theses units are somewhat smaller and tend to be a bit more expensive because they utilize active circuits versus a passive transformer. Active circuits simply mean that the device uses electronically controlled switches to achieve the same function of the autotransformer. The real trade off is size, weight and cost.

For example: If you are traveling in Europe, you would need an auto-transformer that steps-down the line voltage from 230 VAC at 50 HZ to 115VAC (still 50HZ). The auto-transformer will automatically assess the input voltage depending on the country you’re in and provide you with the output voltage necessary to power the unit. These are very simple to use but be sure to follow the manufacturer’s directions carefully when using these devices.

Another aspect to be aware of when choosing an auto-transformer is the power rating. This term is sometimes used interchangeably with wattage by the manufacturers in an effort to simplify things for the buyer. All you need to know is that your unit requires 450 volt-amps of power. That means you should select an auto-transformer or converter that is rated at 500 volt-amps (or 500V-A).

Note that if the manufacturer rates their auto-transformer or converter using the term “500 watt maximum power handling capability” you should be just fine. The distinction between volt-amps and DC watts is beyond the scope of this article and of most consumers.

Filed under: Travel by drmilner
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