Standard Electrical Formulas Fuel Consumption Rates
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many cases a country will have more than one wall outlet
configuration. Plug Adapters are available as either grounded (3
pin) or ungrounded (3 pin). Which one you need depends on the plug
of the appliance or equipment you intend to use overseas. A plug
with 2 pins or blades is an ungrounded plug and one with 3 pins or
blades is a grounded plug. Usually you can use an ungrounded plug in
a grounded plug adapter but definitely not a grounded plug in an
ungrounded plug adapter. One very important warning!! Plug
adapters do not change voltages! If you were looking for a worldwide standard, forget it! There are at least 13 different configurations that we know of, each requiring its own adapter. And if that wasn't complicated enough, some countries use 2, 3, 4, and even 5 different configurations in different areas within their borders. ADAPTERS are a simple solution (once you have found the right one[s]) to the configuration problem and we have attempted to provide you with the best source for finding the correct adapters. Adapters are available as either grounded or ungrounded. Which one you need depends on the plug of the appliance or equipment you intend to use overseas. A plug with 2 pins or blades is ungrounded and one with 3 pins or blades is grounded. Usually you can use an ungrounded plug in a grounded adapter but not vice versa. One very important warning!! Adapters do not change voltagesWe use the most reliable sources we can find, including the U.S. Department of Commerce. We simply want to create a reliable source for what is obviously a complicated issue and to make this information available to all the viewers of our website. We've done a lot of research in order ensure the accuracy of the information you find here (there are many countries listed here), but we can only guarantee that it isn't infallible and there will be some mistakes and/or omissions. In cases where we found sources that recommended different or additional adapters for the same country we included them all (we hope that "it is better to have and not need than to need and not have" applies here). |
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AC frequency refers to the number of cycles that electrical voltage
or current (maximum positive values then maximum negative values)
goes through each second. It would never be important in your life
if you never left the North America. But if you do leave the U.S.,
in addition to having to deal with those "pesky" higher voltages in
other countries, you may also have to contend with the lower
frequencies (50 hertz) in most foreign countries. Appliances and equipment that simply contain heating elements with no electronic timers, microchips, or other electronic circuitry are unaffected by frequency. Many appliances convert the incoming AC into DC which has no frequency, others have electronic circuitry that automatically senses and then compensates for the frequency and voltage differences, and still others can be manually switched from one voltage/frequency to another. |
WATTAGE CALCULATION (volt X amp = watts)
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Wattage refers to the amount of power (electricity) consumed by your
appliances and equipment. Sounds simple, doesn't it? Actually it is
very simple and it is important to know a little about it because
you need to know wattage in order to choose a Converter or a
Transformer. The wattage of most appliances and equipment is found
on decals or labels of some sort on the appliance or equipment or in
the owner's manual. In addition, the decals or labels also usually
give the voltage and/or amperage of the appliance. If the wattage isn't given you can still figure it out if you know the voltage and amperage. If you multiply the voltage times the amperage, the result equals the wattage of the appliance. For example, the decal on the appliance you want to take overseas doesn't list the wattage but gives the voltage as 120 volts and the amperage is 1.1. To find the wattage of that particular appliance, multiply the voltage 120 times the amperage 1.1, 120X1.1=132 watts. |