charge an american device in Europe
andreas...@gmail.com
I live in Europe where the electricity is 240V and 50HZ
I just bought a (WAHL) hair trimmer from the USA. The battery charger
for the hair trimmer is made for USA (input 120VAC, 60HZ, 5W) and has
output 2.0V DC and 1100mA.
Obviously I cannot use this charger here. I think that there are two
ways to charge my trimmer:
a) Buy a variable transformer and replace it (Local shops sell
variable transformers with output 1.5 or 3V and 1000mA ). I called a
shop and they said that with less mA it will just take longer to charge
and it does not matter if the voltage is 1.5 or 3 .He said that the
trimmer's original transformer output shouldn't be exactly 2V anyway.
b) Buy a transformer for the transformer! (transform 240V AC to 120V
AC) . The issue here is bulk, overheating and different frequencies.
The questions are:
1) Is it possible I damage the trimmer's battery or circuitry or motor
by feeding it with 1.5 or 3V instead of 2V?
2) Would I damage anything by feeding with 1000mA instead of 1100mA?
3) Would I damage anything by feeding with 50HZ instead of 60Hz?
4) For option b, the one transformer will sit on top of the other. Are
there any overheating issues here? If I am to use option b, should the
2 transformers be separated by cable so they do not touch each other?
5) Which option would you recommend, a or b ?
Thanx
James Sweet
<andreas...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1105782097.4...@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
> Hi,
> I live in Europe where the electricity is 240V and 50HZ
>
> I just bought a (WAHL) hair trimmer from the USA. The battery charger
> for the hair trimmer is made for USA (input 120VAC, 60HZ, 5W) and has
> output 2.0V DC and 1100mA.
>
> Obviously I cannot use this charger here. I think that there are two
> ways to charge my trimmer:
>
> a) Buy a variable transformer and replace it (Local shops sell
> variable transformers with output 1.5 or 3V and 1000mA ). I called a
> shop and they said that with less mA it will just take longer to charge
> and it does not matter if the voltage is 1.5 or 3 .He said that the
> trimmer's original transformer output shouldn't be exactly 2V anyway.
>
Or buy a transformer with the correct output from Wahl or find a similar
unit with the same ratings? It's a battery charger, shouldn't be too
critical, find something with close to the same current and voltage ratings.
> b) Buy a transformer for the transformer! (transform 240V AC to 120V
> AC) . The issue here is bulk, overheating and different frequencies.
>
That shouldn't really be an issue, you're talking a few watts, the smallest
240v-120v transformer you can find should work nicely.
Spehro Pefhany
wrote:
I have a 500W box that does b)-- it was not expensive. It also
converts the plugs. I'm going the other way, but it's the same thing.
It's an autotransformer. Not approved, but it's in a metal box and
seems unlikely to burst into flames.
A lot of chargers/adapters are universal these days (100-240VAC
input)-- especially for high-end or high power consumption equipment
such as digital cameras. But not all.
Best regards,
Spehro Pefhany
--
"it's the network..." "The Journey is the reward"
sp...@interlog.com Info for manufacturers: http://www.trexon.com
Embedded software/hardware/analog Info for designers: http://www.speff.com
CWatters
> I live in Europe where the electricity is 240V and 50HZ
>
> I just bought a (WAHL) hair trimmer from the USA. The battery charger
> for the hair trimmer is made for USA (input 120VAC, 60HZ, 5W) and has
> output 2.0V DC and 1100mA.
> b) Buy a transformer for the transformer! (transform 240V AC to 120V
> AC) . The issue here is bulk, overheating and different frequencies
No you can get quite small transformers that will do this.
Approx 50W model for £14 from...
"Designed to operate American type equipment ( 110/120v AC ) in the U.K."
Mac
> Hi,
> I live in Europe where the electricity is 240V and 50HZ
>
> I just bought a (WAHL) hair trimmer from the USA. The battery charger
> for the hair trimmer is made for USA (input 120VAC, 60HZ, 5W) and has
> output 2.0V DC and 1100mA.
>
> Obviously I cannot use this charger here. I think that there are two
> ways to charge my trimmer:
>
> a) Buy a variable transformer and replace it (Local shops sell
> variable transformers with output 1.5 or 3V and 1000mA ). I called a
> shop and they said that with less mA it will just take longer to charge
> and it does not matter if the voltage is 1.5 or 3 .He said that the
> trimmer's original transformer output shouldn't be exactly 2V anyway.
You are playing fast and loose with terminology here. The battery charger
is not a transformer. The output is DC.
>
> b) Buy a transformer for the transformer! (transform 240V AC to 120V
> AC) . The issue here is bulk, overheating and different frequencies.
>
I think b is the better option. It is what I would try to do.
>
> The questions are:
> 1) Is it possible I damage the trimmer's battery or circuitry or motor
> by feeding it with 1.5 or 3V instead of 2V?
Maybe.
> 2) Would I damage anything by feeding with 1000mA instead of 1100mA?
This question doesn't really make sense. If the thing needs up to 1100 mA
at 2V, then that's what you should try to provide. But it's more
complicated than that. Some power supplies are actually battery chargers
which monitor both voltage and current. In general, I would not swap power
supplies without more detailed knowledge of what was going on.
However, if it is a fully-regulated, voltage-output power supply, you can
definitely swap it with another fully-regulated voltage-output power
supply of the same Voltage and the same or higher capacity (amperage). For
our purposes, I would think 1000mA is close enough to 1100mA to be called
the same, but I wouldn't feel comfortable about the difference between 2
and 3 Volts.
> 3) Would I damage anything by feeding with 50HZ instead of 60Hz?
Very unlikely. There might be slightly more ripple on the internal
circuitry, but it will probably not be fatal.
> 4) For option b, the one transformer will sit on top of the other. Are
> there any overheating issues here? If I am to use option b, should the
> 2 transformers be separated by cable so they do not touch each other?
I would use the "try it and see" approach. Most likely they will not
overheat, but if they seem to be getting too hot, you could just separate
them with small metal spacers of some sort.
> 5) Which option would you recommend, a or b ?
>
For me, b.
> Thanx
--Mac
NSM
| I live in Europe where the electricity is 240V and 50HZ
|
| I just bought a (WAHL) hair trimmer from the USA. The battery charger
| for the hair trimmer is made for USA (input 120VAC, 60HZ, 5W) and has
| b) Buy a transformer for the transformer! (transform 240V AC to 120V
| AC) . The issue here is bulk, overheating and different frequencies.
120 VAC will smoke the charger. You need a 240 V to 100 V transformer to
allow for the lower frequency. Trust me, I've lost more than my share.
N
James Sweet
"Mac" <f...@bar.net> wrote in message
news:pan.2005.01.15....@bar.net...
> On Sat, 15 Jan 2005 01:41:37 -0800, andreas.manoli wrote:
>
> > Hi,
> > I live in Europe where the electricity is 240V and 50HZ
> >
> > I just bought a (WAHL) hair trimmer from the USA. The battery charger
> > for the hair trimmer is made for USA (input 120VAC, 60HZ, 5W) and has
> > output 2.0V DC and 1100mA.
> >
> > Obviously I cannot use this charger here. I think that there are two
> > ways to charge my trimmer:
> >
> > a) Buy a variable transformer and replace it (Local shops sell
> > variable transformers with output 1.5 or 3V and 1000mA ). I called a
> > shop and they said that with less mA it will just take longer to charge
> > and it does not matter if the voltage is 1.5 or 3 .He said that the
> > trimmer's original transformer output shouldn't be exactly 2V anyway.
>
> You are playing fast and loose with terminology here. The battery charger
> is not a transformer. The output is DC.
>
>
While technically it's not a transformer, the major component in it *is* a
transformer so calling the whole unit a transformer is not uncommon or
entirely incorrect.
klasspappa[remove]
take one with 2 primary.
connect the two in series for 240vac.
and feed your equipment from ONE of the primary.
isolate the secondary (that can be at any voltage)
NOTE this transformer while NOT isolate you from main.
Mr Nisse
Mac
True.
> so calling the whole unit a transformer is not uncommon or
> entirely incorrect.
Maybe. But then the OP should have called it a "transformer" in the first
paragraph, too.
Because it was called a "charger" in the first paragraph and a
"transformer" subsequently, I was genuinely confused and had to
re-read the whole post.
--Mac
NSM
| Maybe. But then the OP should have called it a "transformer" in the first
| paragraph, too.
|
| Because it was called a "charger" in the first paragraph and a
| "transformer" subsequently, I was genuinely confused and had to
| re-read the whole post.
It seemed clear it was a wall-wart. But if he runs it on 50 Hz at 120 VAC
it'll be toast.
N
Reg Edwards
NSM
<andreas...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1105866744.1...@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
| From your postings I see that I should use a transformer of 240V->120V
| (and if the charger burns out in the future for whatever reason, then I
| will buy a variable transformer)
The problem is that the US transformer products have JUST enough iron for
120 VAC at 60 Hz. If you run them at 100 VAC on 50 Hz they will survive
(100/120 == 50/60). Used to do that in New Zealand and everything still ran
OK.
N
Mark Jones
> We've had quite enough of USA devices in Europe, particularly in Yugoslavia.
>
I've had quite enough "double standards" regardless of country.
Some drive kilometers/hour, some pay in pesos, some drink fluid
ounces. Why is there a MMF but no milli-farad? How many yen is 10
euros? Why is spacecraft velocity measured in terrestral units/sec
instead of relative to C? A megohm is how many Mmho? How much does a
drop of liquid _____ weigh? A Siemen is what? How much does a 10-penny
nail cost? Will a euro device work in Pakistan? How tall is a horse?
How far is it to Alpha Centauri? How many cars still use a positive
chassis? How much energy does a hydrogen atom contain?
Oh dear, what was my name again?
It's not so much that it is too difficult to learn all these units
and standards, but the question is *why* all the units and standards?
Why must we devote so much cognitive effort to what amounts to
unneccesary and completely unproductive complexity? Is that going to
make us smarter? I'd wager that millions of hours of cognitive time is
wasted every day just in the confusion and adaptation of units and
measures. Why must we defend all these standards? Why must they
endure? Why not simplify the entire mess nad get everyone on the same
page? Why not *remove* some standards for a change, instead of
creating more new ones? At what point must something give? At what
point will the design break down? When is enough?
If the UK can systematically convert its entire economy over to a new
currency without so much as a hiccup, what does that say about our
capabilities?
I know, I know. Regarding scientists, the discoverers do deserve
credit for their discoveries. In elementary school we are taught
presidents and world history - but never who Ohm or Volta or Maxwell
is. This should be changed - it is important to know all the major
discoverers. So instead, we use their names in units of measurement.
Ohms and Volts and Maxwell's Equations. How flattering it must be, to
have your name used in daily conversation forever... and also how
egotistical. An airoplane isn't called a "DaVinci Flyer," even though
in many aspects he might have been the biggest initial conduit to
conceptualization. What's more, we're so accustomed to calling them
"planes" that "DaVinci Flyer" sounds downright absurd. Well most units
and measures sound like this literally. An ohm could be known as a
"hwernyoe" and as long as we learned it that way, that would sound
correct to us. Does "22 hwernyoe @ 12 yequilads = 0.545454 popuzingas"
make sense to you?
How about 12E / 22R = 0.545454I?
Defend it, if you must.
But if everyone used X EMF at X Frequency with X style plug, then
there'd be no bitching. Whose fault is that? Surely you don't say it's
all the US's fault. Is the logic "if all else fails, blame the US?" I
can't blame any country (even the US) for wanting to "retain their
individuality" but come on. Anyone who creates a double standard has
to live with the consequences. Nobody is forcing anyone to buy foreign
goods. I have to convert mL into quarts and pints all the time. But
wouldn't it be nice to have one set of standards?
Things would be very different, if I had a say in it. I suppose
you're glad I don't. Well at least we've got the free-speech thing
down, for the most part. Two billion more advancements to go.
-- "It's the new millennium. Do you know where your kids are?"
(Sponserd bt the fookt-on-honiks skool for newage edjumication) MCJ
20050116
CJT
Well said!
--
The e-mail address in our reply-to line is reversed in an attempt to
minimize spam. Our true address is of the form che...@prodigy.net.
Ken Weitzel
Mark Jones wrote:
Reminds me of a very, very old joke.
A Mother, watching a large troop of marching soldiers,
proudly exclaims to the woman standing beside her:
"Look, that's my son! And of all those soldiers, he's
the only one in step"
I leave it to you to decide the nationality of that
Mother.
Ken
NSM
"Mark Jones" <ab...@127.0.0.1> wrote in message
news:PIidnd2Ol9J...@buckeye-express.com...
| Things would be very different, if I had a say in it. I suppose
| you're glad I don't. Well at least we've got the free-speech thing
| down, for the most part. Two billion more advancements to go.
"People demand freedom of speech to make up for the freedom of thought which
they avoid".
Freedom of Speech - Kierkegaard, Soren - 1813-1855 Danish Philosopher Writer
jakdedert
Why 100v? He specifically stated that it was a 120v appliance from America.
To the OP, as many have stated, yes, you need a 240v-120v transformer.
Possibly you can find a 240v to [whatever voltage device it is] to eliminate
this step. I think I'd look for a comparable device which operates from the
local power, myself. I have carried a lot of US devices through Europe, and
used transformers to power them; but I was bringing them back.... Where I
could, I bought replacement wall warts for the ones I used most regularly.
If you're actually living there, that would be an option.
jak
John Fields
<jde...@bellsouth.net> wrote:
>NSM wrote:
>> <andreas...@gmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:1105782097.4...@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
>>> Hi,
>>> I live in Europe where the electricity is 240V and 50HZ
>>>
>>> I just bought a (WAHL) hair trimmer from the USA. The battery charger
>>> for the hair trimmer is made for USA (input 120VAC, 60HZ, 5W) and
>>> has ... b) Buy a transformer for the transformer! (transform 240V AC
>>> to 120V AC) . The issue here is bulk, overheating and different
>>> frequencies.
>>
>> 120 VAC will smoke the charger. You need a 240 V to 100 V transformer
>> to allow for the lower frequency. Trust me, I've lost more than my
>> share.
>>
>> N
>
>Why 100v? He specifically stated that it was a 120v appliance from America.
---
Depending on the inductance designed to be seen looking into the
primary at 60 Hz, a 50 Hz signal could allow enough current to flow
into the primary to saturate the core. In order to keep the flux
density in the core the same at both frequencies, the voltage into the
primary must change in proportion to the change in frequency:
flo 50Hz
Eplo = Ephi ----- = 120V ------ = 100V
fhi 60Hz
Now, of course, the charger may not work since it'll only have 100V on
its input, but that's another story!-)
---
--
John Fields
NSM
"jakdedert" <jde...@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:c8DGd.19686$BP1...@bignews4.bellsouth.net...
| Why 100v? He specifically stated that it was a 120v appliance from
America.
Devices made for the US market have barely enough iron at 60 Hz. At 50 Hz
they almost inevitably die. It's a fundamental law of electricity.
N
keith
> Reg Edwards wrote:
>> We've had quite enough of USA devices in Europe, particularly in Yugoslavia.
>>
>
>
> I've had quite enough "double standards" regardless of country.
Bullshit! That's the wonderful thing about standards... There are *SO*
many to choose from! ;-)
--
Keith
Rich Grise
> NSM wrote:
>> <andreas...@gmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:1105782097.4...@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
>>> Hi,
>>> I live in Europe where the electricity is 240V and 50HZ
>>>
>>> I just bought a (WAHL) hair trimmer from the USA. The battery charger
>>> for the hair trimmer is made for USA (input 120VAC, 60HZ, 5W) and
>>> has ... b) Buy a transformer for the transformer! (transform 240V AC
>>> to 120V AC) . The issue here is bulk, overheating and different
>>> frequencies.
>>
>> 120 VAC will smoke the charger. You need a 240 V to 100 V transformer
>> to allow for the lower frequency. Trust me, I've lost more than my
>> share.
>>
>> N
>
> Why 100v? He specifically stated that it was a 120v appliance from America.
50/60 inductive reactance issue.
> To the OP, as many have stated, yes, you need a 240v-120v transformer.
> Possibly you can find a 240v to [whatever voltage device it is] to eliminate
> this step. I think I'd look for a comparable device which operates from the
> local power, myself.
To the OP - have you ever clarified if your "charger" is merely a wall
wart, or a stand with a cord and plug, or just exactly what? It makes a
significant difference, you know. If you have a stand with a wall wart
jack, just get a 240V wall wart with the same output. If it's a base with
just a cord and plug, you need either a step-down transformer or a new
base that accepts 240V.
I seriously doubt if running a 120V/60Hz charger at 120/50 will burn the
house down - just check it periodically for a few minutes, and if it gets
too hot, then go to plan B.
Good Luck!
Rich
Paul Hovnanian P.E.
manufacturers are shipping equipment with region-specific power supplies
lately. It seems that want to prevent folks in Europe (and other places)
from taking advantage of the cheap US dollar and buying here instead of
at home.
They pointed out that although it is cheaper to build one version of a
product with a multi-voltage power supply (particularly if its an SMPS),
that lets too many people buy products on the gray market.
There was a sad example of a guy in Fiji who plugged in a brand new iMac
G5, only to discover that Apple no longer provided multi-voltage power
input.
--
Paul Hovnanian mailto:Pa...@Hovnanian.com
------------------------------------------------------------------
Sacred cows make the best hamburger. -- Mark Twain
Ken Taylor
news:41EC5570...@Hovnanian.com...
> Interesting article in todays Wall Street Journal. It seems that
> manufacturers are shipping equipment with region-specific power supplies
> lately. It seems that want to prevent folks in Europe (and other places)
> from taking advantage of the cheap US dollar and buying here instead of
> at home.
>
> They pointed out that although it is cheaper to build one version of a
> product with a multi-voltage power supply (particularly if its an SMPS),
> that lets too many people buy products on the gray market.
>
> There was a sad example of a guy in Fiji who plugged in a brand new iMac
> G5, only to discover that Apple no longer provided multi-voltage power
> input.
>
> --
> Paul Hovnanian mailto:Pa...@Hovnanian.com
I wouldn't have thought that would be fatal - they use 240V mains there.
Ken
Joel Kolstad
news:41EC5570...@Hovnanian.com...
> product with a multi-voltage power supply (particularly if its an SMPS),
> that lets too many people buy products on the gray market.
I figured that, while the quantities are higher if you're just building a
universal input switcher, the US/Japanese market alone is big enough that
the savings you get on saving a few pennies by needing lower voltage rated
transformers and other components still made it cheaper to build 110-125V
only versions of power supplies...
> There was a sad example of a guy in Fiji who plugged in a brand new iMac
> G5, only to discover that Apple no longer provided multi-voltage power
> input.
It'd be surprising if he blew more than just the power supply.
Disappointing, yes, but not _too_ spendy to fix.
If the manufacturers really are trying to use this tactic to reduce gray
market sales, while it probably will be somewhat effective, hard core users
will just buy inexpensive voltage conversion transformers. Additionally,
manufacturers will to some degree be shooting themselves in the foot, since
it's primarily the 'first tier' manufacturers who have such sophisticated
marketing plans in place anyway, and many consumers will start looking at
'second tier' alternatives that will then have universal input power
supplies anyway. (I.e., sure, Apple could be successful at this since
they're the only company making Macs, but not PC companies...)
It would be really evil if the electronics started sensing the line
frequency and refused to operate on, e.g., 50Hz if the product were destined
for a 60Hz country.
---Joel Kolstad
Rich Grise
It's fatal for a 120V-only power supply. =:-O
Cheers!
Rich
jakdedert
smoke from 60 vs. 50 Hz, but I would guess they are in the distinct
minority.
Do you have some direct experience which supports you contention?
jak
> N
Jerry G.
experience. This is if you take an American device using a power
transformer, and use it on 50 Hz, when it was designed for 60 Hz only. At 50
Hz the unit will run hotter. If the transformer is working at near to its
capacity at 60 Hz, when working at 50 Hz, it will run very hot. The lower
the mains frequency, the hotter it will run.
If you have a transformer that is designed to work at 50 Hz, and it is run
on 60 Hz, it will not heat up as much. In fact, it may run more efficiently
at a higher mains frequency. I will certainly run a bit cooler, and may have
a longer life span.
Some types of switching power supplies are also critical to the mains
frequency. These are the ones that are using an input voltage multiplier
circuit in them. If the mains frequency is lowered, its efficiency will be
effected.
--
Jerry G.
=====
"jakdedert" <jde...@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:2VBHd.46367$Zv5....@bignews1.bellsouth.net...
NSM
| From experience...you're just wrong. There may be some devices which will
| smoke from 60 vs. 50 Hz, but I would guess they are in the distinct
| minority.
|
| Do you have some direct experience which supports you contention?
I can mail you some if you will pay for S&H. I first became aware of this
when we started importing Radio Shack Model I's into NZ which has nominally
230 VAC 50 Hz. Their little power supplies all died, which we tracked down
to running them at 115 VAC 50 Hz. Running them on 100 VAC led to a long life
and no tedious rewinding.
Unless it says 50/60 don't try it. You will regret it.
N
jakdedert
> I myself have had this experience. I have also had clients have the
> same experience. This is if you take an American device using a power
> transformer, and use it on 50 Hz, when it was designed for 60 Hz
> only. At 50 Hz the unit will run hotter. If the transformer is
> working at near to its capacity at 60 Hz, when working at 50 Hz, it
> will run very hot. The lower the mains frequency, the hotter it will
> run.
>
to see one melt down...and it's nowhere near as inevitable as NSM seems to
intimate.
> If you have a transformer that is designed to work at 50 Hz, and it
> is run on 60 Hz, it will not heat up as much. In fact, it may run
> more efficiently at a higher mains frequency. I will certainly run a
> bit cooler, and may have a longer life span.
It may have at that. But to state emphatically that it absolutely *will*
melt down and burn if run on 50 Hz, simply because it was sold for the U.S.
market is just wrong. I've had too many devices run for too many hours in
exactly that situation to believe that. *None of them* melted down, or even
got uncomfortably hot.
>
> Some types of switching power supplies are also critical to the mains
> frequency. These are the ones that are using an input voltage
> multiplier circuit in them. If the mains frequency is lowered, its
> efficiency will be effected.
>
Most of my European experience was in the 80's when most wall warts were
simply transformers with rectifiers....
jak
NSM
| Not IME. Sure they run a little hotter, that's just physics, but I've yet
| to see one melt down...and it's nowhere near as inevitable as NSM seems to
| intimate.
...
| It may have at that. But to state emphatically that it absolutely *will*
| melt down and burn if run on 50 Hz, simply because it was sold for the
U.S.
| market is just wrong. I've had too many devices run for too many hours in
| exactly that situation to believe that. *None of them* melted down, or
even
| got uncomfortably hot.
...
What is your line voltage? BTW, as far as "absolutely *will*", remember
Murphy?
N
jakdedert
I understand Murphy...he's a permanent resident here. My line voltage
varies from 101v (my house) to just under 125v (my shop/office). That's
immaterial. The issue is the line voltage where I've run these
devices...sometimes up to 240v in England--on a cheap transformer--not a
single meltdown. The stepup transformer, OTOH got a little warm.....
jak
James Sweet
Yikes, I'd be worried about such a large variation, I'd be calling the power
company if my line voltage was under 110 or over 125, but in practice it's
always been within a volt or two of 120v.
NSM
| I understand Murphy...he's a permanent resident here. My line voltage
| varies from 101v (my house) to just under 125v (my shop/office). That's
| immaterial. The issue is the line voltage where I've run these
| devices...sometimes up to 240v in England--on a cheap transformer--not a
| single meltdown. The stepup transformer, OTOH got a little warm.....
If you get away with it, great, but I have seen way too many of the little
buggers go tits up. Of course if you wanted them to burn out they never
would.
N
John Woodgate
wrote (in <2VBHd.46367$Zv5....@bignews1.bellsouth.net>) about 'DANGER:
Charge an american device in Europe', on Wed, 19 Jan 2005:
>From experience...you're just wrong. There may be some devices which
>will smoke from 60 vs. 50 Hz, but I would guess they are in the distinct
>minority.
>
>Do you have some direct experience which supports you contention?
US transformers are presumably designed to accommodate some over-voltage
at 60 Hz, e.g. 130 V. If you run such a transformer on half of European
230 V, which may actually be either 110 V or 120 V, depending on
country, you are not hitting it very hard. 130 x 50/60 = 108 V.
--
Regards, John Woodgate, OOO - Own Opinions Only.
The good news is that nothing is compulsory.
The bad news is that everything is prohibited.
http://www.jmwa.demon.co.uk Also see http://www.isce.org.uk
gwhite
>
> Hi,
> I live in Europe where the electricity is 240V and 50HZ
>
> I just bought a (WAHL) hair trimmer from the USA. The battery charger
> for the hair trimmer is made for USA (input 120VAC, 60HZ, 5W) and has
>
> Obviously I cannot use this charger here. I think that there are two
> ways to charge my trimmer:
>
> a) Buy a variable transformer and replace it (Local shops sell
> variable transformers with output 1.5 or 3V and 1000mA ). I called a
> shop and they said that with less mA it will just take longer to charge
> and it does not matter if the voltage is 1.5 or 3 .He said that the
> trimmer's original transformer output shouldn't be exactly 2V anyway.
>
> b) Buy a transformer for the transformer! (transform 240V AC to 120V
> AC) . The issue here is bulk, overheating and different frequencies.
>
> 1) Is it possible I damage the trimmer's battery or circuitry or motor
> by feeding it with 1.5 or 3V instead of 2V?
> 2) Would I damage anything by feeding with 1000mA instead of 1100mA?
> 3) Would I damage anything by feeding with 50HZ instead of 60Hz?
> 4) For option b, the one transformer will sit on top of the other. Are
> there any overheating issues here? If I am to use option b, should the
> 2 transformers be separated by cable so they do not touch each other?
> 5) Which option would you recommend, a or b ?
Often the transformer works for either 120 or 240; it is simply a matter of how
the wires/terminals are connected. (Then the manufacturer only has to stock one
type of transformer for both the US and Europe.) So you might want to look at
it. You may be able to simply rewire and replace the plug. I've done the
reverse--taken euro stuff and rewire the transformer for the US and re-plugged
it. No problems.
What is your time worth?
Peter van Merkerk
> Hi,
> I live in Europe where the electricity is 240V and 50HZ
>
> I just bought a (WAHL) hair trimmer from the USA. The battery charger
> for the hair trimmer is made for USA (input 120VAC, 60HZ, 5W) and has
> output 2.0V DC and 1100mA.
>
> Obviously I cannot use this charger here. I think that there are two
> ways to charge my trimmer:
>
> a) Buy a variable transformer and replace it (Local shops sell
> variable transformers with output 1.5 or 3V and 1000mA ). I called a
> shop and they said that with less mA it will just take longer to charge
> and it does not matter if the voltage is 1.5 or 3 .He said that the
> trimmer's original transformer output shouldn't be exactly 2V anyway.
>
> b) Buy a transformer for the transformer! (transform 240V AC to 120V
> AC) . The issue here is bulk, overheating and different frequencies.
>
> The questions are:
> 1) Is it possible I damage the trimmer's battery or circuitry or motor
> by feeding it with 1.5 or 3V instead of 2V?
Feeding it with 3V may harm the trimmer. Feeding it with 1.5V might not
work. Many of those dirt cheap variable adapters are unregulated; when
set to 1.5V the output voltage may be much higher than that, depending
on the load. The is no way of telling how well it will work with out
knowing technical constuction details of the trimmer and the adapter. In
other words: your milleage may vary.
> 2) Would I damage anything by feeding with 1000mA instead of 1100mA?
You are not feeding it 1000mA. The trimmer draws 1100mA which is more
than the adapter can provide (1000mA). This in turn may overheat and/or
damage the adapter.
> 3) Would I damage anything by feeding with 50HZ instead of 60Hz?
If you go for option a the line frequency does not matter since the
adapter will rectify the current before it gets to the trimmer.
If you go for option b the original transformer could get saturated due
to the lower frequency, though probably it will work.
> 4) For option b, the one transformer will sit on top of the other. Are
> there any overheating issues here? If I am to use option b, should the
> 2 transformers be separated by cable so they do not touch each other?
> 5) Which option would you recommend, a or b ?
Buy a trimmer in Europe, it is probably the cheapest and best solution.
--
Peter van Merkerk
peter.van.merkerk(at)dse.nl