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Voltage converters
- Thread starter speakerman1
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Hi Larry,
Voltage converters come in two types. The Good types and the bad types.
The good ones are heavy and cost more while the bad types are cheap and will do well for light bulbs but for electronics, they are best left alone.
Why is this? The cheap ones cut voltage down using the averaging of the waveform in the use of a Triac like in a light dimmer. Average wise the voltage is the same but when you look at the peak voltage being fed into the power supply it exceeds the transformers ratings as well as has very sharp edges which will be noisy. The Better kind corrects the voltage through a step down or in the case of 120AC to 220AC a step up transformer which is more safe and correct. The transformer will have a VA= Voltage Ampere rating that closely resembles watts but is not exactly the same. Go with a VA rating that is higher than what you will need and you will be fine. I did not want to cause an argument but just to educate you on what is out there.
Voltage converters come in two types. The Good types and the bad types.
The good ones are heavy and cost more while the bad types are cheap and will do well for light bulbs but for electronics, they are best left alone.
Why is this? The cheap ones cut voltage down using the averaging of the waveform in the use of a Triac like in a light dimmer. Average wise the voltage is the same but when you look at the peak voltage being fed into the power supply it exceeds the transformers ratings as well as has very sharp edges which will be noisy. The Better kind corrects the voltage through a step down or in the case of 120AC to 220AC a step up transformer which is more safe and correct. The transformer will have a VA= Voltage Ampere rating that closely resembles watts but is not exactly the same. Go with a VA rating that is higher than what you will need and you will be fine. I did not want to cause an argument but just to educate you on what is out there.
- Joined
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- OZONE ALLEY MARS (Visitor)
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- Joined
- Jun 12, 2010
- Messages
- 12,037
- Location
- OZONE ALLEY MARS (Visitor)
- Tagline
- Wasted Days and Wasted Nights
Well I hope this is a good type. This is the one I got. Would still like to convert it over to 120V using a transformer.
http://www.voltageconverters.com/itemdesc.asp?ic=VC500W
Larry
http://www.voltageconverters.com/itemdesc.asp?ic=VC500W
Larry