Voltage converters

What's the voltage?

Just as water needs pressure to flow through the tap, electricity needs strength to flow from the wall socket to the device. This electrical force is called voltage, which is measured in volts (short for "V")

Dependent on where you are in the world, different voltage levels are used:

• In North America and most northern parts of South America, voltage levels vary from 110 to 120 volts. American products are usually manufactured for this lower voltage range.
• In Europe, Africa, Asia and most of South America, the average voltage range is higher - 220V to 240V. Products in these regions are usually manufactured for this higher voltage range.
• In Japan, the standard supply voltage is 100 V. Japanese products for the domestic market are usually manufactured at 100 V.

When to use voltage converters?

A lot of devices are designed to accept only one input voltage e.g. (110V or 230V). If you have equipment that determines a different input voltage than that supplied in your country, you must buy voltage converters.

How do I know if my device has single or double voltage?

The usual way for devices such as most laptops, phones and tablets to convert alternating current into direct current with their own power cord. They accept both 110 volts and 220-240 volts.

To make sure your device has a dual voltage, look for a series of numbers and letters indicating the type of voltage (V), power and (W) on the device, the information is usually found on the backside next to product information, such as where the device was created.

If "100/240V or 110~220V AC" is indicated in the description, it means that your device has a double voltage and does not require a voltage converter.

What voltage converters to buy?

To make the device work properly in the long run, you should buy a converter with a voltage at least twice the wattage. In the case of products that require energy flow after the first switch on, such as TV sets, the power of the converter should be at least three times the capacity of the device. You can operate multiple devices with one voltage converter as long as the total power of your devices does not exceed the power of your voltage converter

If your device does not determine its power, you can easily calculate it using amps and volts. Simply multiply the amps and volts (W = A x V). For example: The device is supplied with 20V AC and 4.5A (20V x 4.5A = 90W)