FAQs: Voltage Converters | Plug Adapters | Voltage Regulators

1) How can we choose the right converter to suit our appliances?

Your first task would be to check the label of your electrical appliances which indicates the Wattage (W) and Amperage (A) of the electrical appliance. After this, when you pick up a converter that converts the local voltage to the one that your appliances require, check the Wattage of the converter. The value of the Wattage of the converter must be a little above that of your electrical appliance.

2) How can this Wattage be calculated if not indicated on the electrical appliance?

Wattage is nothing but the product of Voltage (V) at which your electrical appliance operates and the current (I) that is required to operate it.

Hence, W = V * I

3) How much higher than the Wattage of the converter be than that of the appliance?

Some electrical appliances require more power at the time of starting. This phenomenon is called the surge. Hence, the Wattage of the converter should be at least 20% more than that of the appliance.

4) What if the plug point of my appliance does not suit the outlet of the converter?

Choose the model of plug adapters that can connect your appliance plug with the converter outlet.

5) How many appliances can one operate on a single converter?

You can operate any number of appliances as long as the combined Wattage of all these appliances is less than the Wattage of the converter.

6) Do voltage converters convert frequency of the power supplied also?

The frequency of the power supplied is uniform and it is distributed at a certain frequency from the power station. Hence, it is not possible to modify frequency at domestic levels. However, the variation throughout the world being a maximum of 10 Hz (i.e. 50-60 Hz), most appliances function without any problem.

7) How does a voltage regulator differ from a voltage converter?

A voltage converter only brings the voltage to the value required by the appliances. On the other hand, a voltage regulator first acts as a voltage converter by bringing the voltage to the required value and then acts as a stabilizer by preventing it from fluctuating too much.

For instance, voltages between 75-130 V are maintained at 110V and voltages between 180-260 V are maintained at 220V.

8) How are Servo Type and Relay Type voltage converters different?

The Servo type converters adjust the transformer to the required output level voltage where as the Relay type adjust the voltage output electronically.