File Not Found

Frequency: 50 Hz = vs. 60=20 Hz

One of the most common = questions we=20 receive here is "what will happen if I plug my 60 Hz hairdryer = (fan,=20 shaver, whatever) into a 50 Hz outlet?" The most = likely=20 answer is "it depends." If the appliance is not motorized, = there may=20 be no noticeable affect. Otherwise, the following = observations might=20 shed some light on what could happen.

From a helpful=20 correspondent:

I would like to inform you = about my=20 experience with electrical equipment and the research I did about = 50 and=20 60 Hertz (cycles).

I am an electrical engineer = and live on=20 the island of Cura=E7ao in the Caribbean in front of = Venezuela.

On our island we have an = electrical=20 mains of 127 and 220 Volt and 50 Hertz.

Because we are a small = island about=20 150.000 inhabitants and are located close to the USA, some = electrical=20 equipment sold is imported from the States, so made for a = electrical=20 mains of 110/120 volt 60 Hertz.

There is however a big = problem with this=20 and that is a lot of this equipment burns out after a while = and this=20 varies between a day or weeks or months or years.

This depends on the quality = of the=20 insulation of the electrical wiring.

What is the cause of these=20 burn-outs:

the function of a electrical = motor or=20 transformer is dependent on the Hertz or cycles of the alternating = voltage=20 or current. This means that a motor or transformer would not = function if=20 the electrical voltage was not alternating.

Basically a motor or = transformer=20 is made by a manufacturer for a specific Hertz or cycles, so = either for 50=20 or for 60 Hz.

This is mentioned on the = nameplate of=20 the equipment.

Sometimes it mentions both = Hertz 50 and=20 60, but this is only for small (low wattage) motors and small = transformers.

Larger motors or = transformers are=20 only made for a specific amount of Hertz, so either 50 or 60

What happens if you connect = a 60 Hertz=20 motor to a 50 Hertz mains:

The motor turns 17%=20 slower

The internal current = goes up by=20 17%

The power (watt) goes = down with 17=20 %

The mechanical cooling = is less,=20 because of 17% less turns

The result is a higher = current, then=20 designed by the manufacturer and the insulation of the = electrical=20 wiring deteriorate much quicker, which after sometime results = in a=20 burn-out, which could cause = a

Example's:

a hairdryer has a = heating element=20 and a fanmotor, the heating element is not a problem, but the = fanmotor=20 is made for 60 Hertz, so can burn-out

a mains adaptor = for a battery=20 charger , for a laptop, or for a cellular phone has a = transformer in=20 it and burns-out if it is only made for 60=20 Hertz

To-day's laptop adaptors are = mostly made=20 for the whole world and there is no problem as long as it=20 states on the name-plate: 110-220 volt 50/60 Hertz, if it = only states=20 110 volt 60 Hertz(cycles) it can not be used on a 50 Hertz mains, = even if=20 you connect it with a transformer let's say to use it in Europe on = a 220=20 Volt 50 Hertz mains.

Solution:

You can use a transformer to = solve part=20 ( the internal current can be lowered but the cycles cannot be = changed) of=20 the problem, by connecting the 60 cycles apparatus to a voltage = 20% lower=20 as mentioned on the nameplate:

So a 110 volt 60 Hertz = apparatus can be=20 connected to a 50 Hertz mains on a voltage 20% lower then 110 = volt=3D90=20 volt.

Example:

Connect a 110 volt 60 Hertz = apparatus=20 with a transformer to a 110 Volt or 127 Volt or 220 Volt; 50 Hertz = mains,=20 by setting the primary voltage of the transformer to either 110 or = 127 or=20 220 volt (dependent on the mains of the country) and the secondary = voltage=20 to 90 volt for the apparatus

This solution is not a = practical=20 solution for travellers, because you would have to carry a heavy=20 transformer of about 1500 Watt in order to use the hairdryer, = simpler=20 is to buy (or rent) a new hairdryer in the visiting = country.

For all other=20 traveling electrical equipment like a laptop check = first the=20 Voltage and cycles on the mains adaptor, which in most cases is = universal=20 for 110-220 volt 50/60 Hertz and if this is not the case buy a new = universal mains adaptor.

The information on your = web-site should=20 state roughly something like the following:

Electrical = equipment

Electrical equipment is made = by the=20 manufacturer for a certain amount of Current, Voltage = and Hertz=20 (Cycles) which is mentioned on the name plate. The Current is = dependent of the Voltage and the Hertz.

If the Current through the = apparatus is=20 higher then is designed for because of connecting it to a Voltage = or Hertz=20 other then stated on the nameplate, the apparatus burns out and = can=20 cause a=20 fire.

The electrical Voltage and = Hertz are=20 different in different parts of the world, roughly you can=20 distinguish:

120 and 220 Volt; 60 = Hertz =20 (USA)

230 Volt; 50 Hertz = (Europe &=20 Asia)

Because the electrical = current is=20 dependent of the Voltage and the Hertz you cannot=20 connect electrical equipment with a motor and or transformer = in it,=20 to a Voltage other then stated on the nameplate. If you = connect 60=20 Hertz equipment to a 50 Hertz mains the internal current goes up = with 17%=20 and can cause a burn-out. If you connect 120 Volt equipment to 220 = Volt=20 the current goes up with 100% and surely causes a fast=20 burn-out.

This means even if the = Voltage is the=20 same, or if you put a transformer in between to transform the = Voltage, you=20 still cannot connect a 60 Hertz motor or equipment with an = internal input=20 transformer to a 50 Hertz mains.

A lot of equipment is made = for universal=20 use all over the world like a laptop and in that case the = nameplate=20 mentions: 110-230 Volt; 50/60 Hertz

In most cases a hairdryer is = only made=20 for one Voltage and one Hertz and can only be used for this = Voltage and=20 Hertz

Universal adaptor plugs for = different=20 type of main outlet's can only be used if the Voltage and Hertz = are the=20 same for the electrical equipment and the main outlet or if the = nameplate=20 states it can be used for different Voltage and Hertz, or if you = can=20 switch the Voltage on the equipment and it can be used for both 50 = and 60=20 Hertz.

The message is:

If you are not sure do not = use your=20 electrical equipment in other countries if the Voltage and or = Hertz is not=20 the same as in your country

I hope the information is = useful to you.=20 You can also visit my web-site www.henkpasman.com, which I specifically set up for = the local=20 people to inform them about this problem.

Regards,
Henk Pasman=20

Mr. Pasman later added:=20

Please note that the = same problem=20 also exist in transformers as I explained, they also burn out = after a=20 while, also a transformer is made for either 50 or 60 Hertz. Take = for=20 instance the transformers which are used for printers to = convert them=20 to either a DC or AC voltage of somewhere around 12 volts, they = burn=20 quickly if there made cheap in China or Taiwan. The insulation of = the=20 wiring is done at minimum for 60 Hertz because of high volume and = fine for=20 60 Hertz but not for 50 Hertz. Also the transformer for a celphone = to=20 connect it to the mains and charge the battery.

The input transformer like a = computer or=20 television or radio equipment is usually not a problem because = they are=20 used by the manufacturer all over the world and they make in that = case=20 only one model which can be used for both Hertz.

http://kropla.com/frequency.htm -- Updated = 08=20 January=20 2006
Copyright =A9 2002 Steve Kropla=20

The page you have requested does not appear to be on our server. The page may = have been moved or replaced. Please try one of the links below to = locate what you're looking for. Main Travel = Page
World Electric = Guide	World Phone = Guide
International Dialing = Codes	Internet Roaming = Guide
Mobile Phone = Guide	World TV = Standards
Handy Travel = Links	Telephone/Electrical = Accessories

The page you have requested does not appear to be on our server. The page may = have been moved or replaced. Please try one of the links below to = locate what you're looking for. Main Travel = Page
World Electric = Guide	World Phone = Guide
International Dialing = Codes	Internet Roaming = Guide
Mobile Phone = Guide	World TV = Standards
Handy Travel = Links	Telephone/Electrical = Accessories

The page you have requested does not appear to be on our server. The page may = have been moved or replaced. Please try one of the links below to = locate what you're looking for. Main Travel = Page
World Electric = Guide	World Phone = Guide
International Dialing = Codes	Internet Roaming = Guide
Mobile Phone = Guide	World TV = Standards
Handy Travel = Links	Telephone/Electrical = Accessories

The page you have requested does not appear to be on our server. The page may = have been moved or replaced. Please try one of the links below to = locate what you're looking for. Main Travel = Page
World Electric = Guide	World Phone = Guide
International Dialing = Codes	Internet Roaming = Guide
Mobile Phone = Guide	World TV = Standards
Handy Travel = Links	Telephone/Electrical = Accessories

The page you have requested does not appear to be on our server. The page may = have been moved or replaced. Please try one of the links below to = locate what you're looking for. Main Travel = Page
World Electric = Guide	World Phone = Guide
International Dialing = Codes	Internet Roaming = Guide
Mobile Phone = Guide	World TV = Standards
Handy Travel = Links	Telephone/Electrical = Accessories