Frequently Asked Questions

By Ken Reindel of KCC Scientific

What are the power requirements for your electronic device?

Somewhere on your device, there is probably a tag that indicates the required power for the device. It’s not always in an obvious place. It might be in small font, and perhaps less than legible. If you cannot find it, do a quick Google search on the device’s model number and look for the specifications. A quick glance at the tag or the specifications, and you are sure to find the ratings, in a format similar to this example:

Power Requirement: 115V AC, 60Hz, 25W

What does the above rating mean? This is the voltage, frequency, and power your device needs to operate properly.

What is voltage?

The first item listed on a rating label is the voltage. An example is 115V AC. The issue most of us are familiar with is Voltage, often abbreviated Volts, or simply “V.”
Every plug-in device will be AC (alternating current) rated. Voltage is the potential difference present at the power plug terminals, which is what causes power to be delivered to your prized device. Some devices will indicate 90-250V AC, which means that your device is “Universal” and can work on any voltage standard across the globe. But, many will not be universal. If the voltage is too low your device will not activate. If the voltage is too much your device will very likely be damaged.
In general, the way the world is divided with respect to voltage is as follows:

North America: 115V AC
Rest of the World: 230V AC

Some exceptions do exist. For example, Taiwan is 115V AC, as is Venezuela, Ecuador, and Colombia. So, it is best to check!

What is Frequency?

The second item listed on a rating label is the intended Frequency for the device. Frequency is the number of times that the electric current switches polarity per second, expressed in a standard called Hertz, or abbreviated Hz. On electronics with motors that turn or vibrate, the frequency will determine the speed at which they operate. Some devices will indicate 50/60Hz, which means it can operate at either 50Hz or 60Hz and perform well. However, many devices are designed for only 50Hz or only 60Hz, but not both.

North America: 60Hz
Rest of the World: 50Hz

Again, some exceptions exist. Taiwan is 60Hz, as is Venezuela, Ecuador, and Colombia. The western half of Japan is 60Hz and the eastern half is 50Hz. So it is always prudent to check!

What is Power?

The last term listed on a rating label is the power the device requires to do its job, expressed in Watts. When you go to select a power converter, you will need to know this since the power converter must be able to deliver this much power or more. If the converter does not have a rating greater than this number, then it will not reliably operate your prized device. For instance, if your hair clippers require 30 watts of power. You will need a power converter that provides at least 30 watts; perhaps 40 watts or more.

What are Power Converters?

Power converters make it possible for electronic devices to operate on power grids anywhere in the world, no matter what power grid they were constructed for originally. We are all global citizens today, as nearly everything — from the economy to satellite TV — has gone global. But the exception to this globalization is the electrical power grid.

If you move from North America to another region or vice versa, you could be faced with mains power line differences effecting your devices. In the new country, the voltage and frequency power standards may be very different from what you are using today. For example, in North America, the standard mains power is 115V AC at 60Hz. Outside of North America, the standard power is generally 230V AC at 50Hz.

A quality power converter that addresses both frequency and voltage can resolve this issue.