Xref: utzoo rec.travel:18624 rec.radio.amateur.misc:1052 sci.electronics:18872 Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!swrinde!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!news.larc.nasa.gov!grissom.larc.nasa.gov!kludge From: kludge@grissom.larc.nasa.gov ( Scott Dorsey) Newsgroups: rec.travel,rec.radio.amateur.misc,sci.electronics Subject: Re: large 110->220 transformers Message-ID: <1991Mar28.205804.6917@news.larc.nasa.gov> Date: 28 Mar 91 20:58:04 GMT References: Sender: news@news.larc.nasa.gov (USENET Network News) Reply-To: kludge@grissom.larc.nasa.gov ( Scott Dorsey) Organization: NASA Langley Research Center Lines: 32 In article dh1s+@andrew.cmu.edu (Donn Hoffman) writes: >Power in Spain is 220v/50hz. The appliances are all 110v. Some are >labeled 60hz, some are labeled 50/60hz. > >1. I am reluctant to trust my fax and mac to the cheap travel >transformers sold at Akbar & Jeff's Luggage Hut. Is there some sort >of larger, reliable transformer I can get to plug all (or several) of >my appliances into? Most of those devices are not transformers, but either diodes or dropping resistors. This is not good. Your best bet for reliability is to get some of the Sola Electric 110-220 units, which any good industrial electronics place will carry. Or get a large 220 transformer with a center tap and use it as an autotransformer, ignoring the secondary. C&H surplus is a good place to look for such things, but because of the weight you are probably better off purchasing them locally. >2. Can someone recommend a store in New York City (or mailorder) >where I can buy such a transformer (for best price)? I can't offhand, But I am sure that looking in the yellow pages under electrical supplies is a good start. Can I say yellow pages on the net? >3. Is 60Hz going to screw up my 50Hz clock radio? If so, can anything >be done about this? It probably will screw it up, unless it's crystal controlled. And it is possible to replace gears to increase the speed to a normal rate, but first of all you'll notice a problem with the motor generating additional heat, and second of all it will cost you a whole lot more money than buying a new clock radio. --scott