Find solution
Where can I buy a step up/down converter?

Why doesn't my step-down converter work with my US appliance?

  • For my birthday last year I got a pair of Wahl clippers. They worked fine in the US, but I now live in Sweden. The first time I used them here I plugged them into this tiny little adapter, which apparently wasn't good for them. They made an incredibly loud sound which I couldn't fix by turning the power screw. When I next visited the US, they worked fine. It was suggested that I buy a step down converter, but the only one I could find doesn't solve my problem. The buzzing is still so loud that it hurts my ears and I'm afraid to use them. Turning the power screw only helps with the noise if I turn it so far that the blades are unable to move. Here is the power information for both my clippers and the step down converter: WAHL CLIPPER Mod: MC3 120V ~ 60Hz 9W 50 WATT AC/AC STEP DOWN CONVERTER MODEL: VC-50W-EU PRI.: 220-240V ~ 50Hz 50W SEC.: 115V ~ 50Hz 435mA I don't understand this stuff, so I would appreciate any help or explanations. I was also wondering if it's normal for the step down converter to make a quiet buzzing noise. It kinda freaks me and my husband out, haha.

  • Answer:

    The reason for the loud buzzing is that the clippers are designed to be used on 60Hz power, whereas all power in Europe is 50Hz. The adjustment is provided so that the vibrating motor can be tuned to 60Hz. It does not have sufficient range to accommodate 50Hz. You could buy a frequency converter, but it would cost several hundred dollars. That's considerably more than the price of a clipper designed for 220-240V/50Hz, which is the solution I recommend.

Diane at Yahoo! Answers Visit the source

Was this solution helpful to you?

Other answers

I would suggest instead of a step down converter, Since the 120vac wattage is low, use light bulbs as dropping resistors. By my math 18 volt/amps(watts) worth of lights in series with the clippers should do it. The lights will not appear at full brightness but will reduce the overall voltage to aproximately 120 vac voltage------^v^v^v^--------^v^v^v^-----… voltage lights }{ clippers

Randy

Related Q & A:

Just Added Q & A:

Find solution

For every problem there is a solution! Proved by Solucija.

  • Got an issue and looking for advice?

  • Ask Solucija to search every corner of the Web for help.

  • Get workable solutions and helpful tips in a moment.

Just ask Solucija about an issue you face and immediately get a list of ready solutions, answers and tips from other Internet users. We always provide the most suitable and complete answer to your question at the top, along with a few good alternatives below.