This buying guide was carefully developed to assist you through the process of buying a voltage converter. All of the information you may need to make an informed decision about the voltage converter or product that will better suit your individual needs.
Question: How do I select the correct voltage converter?
Please try our Find the Right Voltage Converter
Need more information? We’ve got you covered!
Please follow these 3 convenient steps:
1.) First we need to determine the voltage! It will either be 110 or 220 volts.
So where in the world are you planning on plugging in your product?
If in North America, then 110 volts is your voltage.
If in most of Europe, Asia, South America, or Africa then 220 volts is your voltage.
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2.) Okay, now that we know the volts, we need to know the watts.Somewhere on your product should be a label and/or within the product’s manual there should be information explaining how many watts your product needs. (For your convenience, take a look below help you read that label.)
Find the Volts & WATTS/AMPS on the back of the item
**CAN NOT FIND WATTS?** If you can not find information on the watts, then see if you can find
the amount of amps it uses, either on a label and/or in the manual. (Once again, here is that link
to assist you in reading the label.)
If you do you find the amps, then you just need to do a simple equation to convert amps to watts.
The equation is amps x volts = watts. (Ex. 10 amps X 110 Volts = 1,100 Watts).
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3.) Great! Now we know the watts and the volts. **NOTE** With any item, we highly recommended
you buy a converter with a certain percentage higher wattage capability.
Motorized equipment such as kitchen appliances: We recommend you double the wattage.
(Ex. If your product says 1,100 Watts,
then should purchase a converter made for at least 2,200 watts.)
All other electronics: We recommend a converter with a 30% higher wattage capability.
(Ex. If your product says 1,100 Watts,
then should purchase a converter made for at least 1,430 watts.)
This is important because in doing so, you greatly minimize your chances of overloading the
converter, all the while making sure you get your moneys worth because this will help to
extend the life of your voltage converter, transformer, or regulator.
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Now that we know which voltage converter, transformer, or regulator you need,
here are your choices:
Step Down Voltage Converters : Made for electronic items that use 110 volts to operate.
Converts a 220 volts power source down to 110 volts.
(Ex. If you are trying to use an electronic item made to be used in North American
and want it work in most of Europe, Asia,South America)
Step up Voltage Converters : Made for electronic items that use 220 volts to operate.
Converts a 110 volts power source up to 220 volts to operate.
(Ex. If you are trying to use an electronic item made to be used in most of Europe, Asia,
South America, or Africa but want it to work in North America, .)
Deluxe Voltage Converters : Does it all. Made for 110 or 220 voltage electronic items.
Can both Step Down or Step Up and also will work as a Voltage Regulator simultaneously.
Deluxe Voltage Converters have a surge protector and a safety fuse or circuit breaker,
and they have the input voltage (the electricity entering into your electronic item) visible
on the display for ease of use.