how to measure electricity voltage transforming & surge protectors
August 15, 2015 7:51 PM Subscribe
I am using 100 volt 50/60 amp electrical devices in a 220 volt country. I have a few 100 watt transformers (100 volt to 220 volt) which are used for individual items. This is working well. I have additional questions regarding voltage transforming and surge protectors. Please join me inside:
I plan to power a number of additional 100 volt devices (my stereo equipment) on a power strip with a larger transformer. Do I just add up the wattage of all of the items I plan to power and purchase a transformer with wattage larger than what I plan to power? Should I plan on a buffer- if so how much?
Related question: if I want to plan for a surge protector, should that be closest to the source of the electricity or closest to the device I'd like to protect? Is there a difference?
I plan to power a number of additional 100 volt devices (my stereo equipment) on a power strip with a larger transformer. Do I just add up the wattage of all of the items I plan to power and purchase a transformer with wattage larger than what I plan to power? Should I plan on a buffer- if so how much?
Related question: if I want to plan for a surge protector, should that be closest to the source of the electricity or closest to the device I'd like to protect? Is there a difference?
Response by poster: > (you mean 50/60 Hz).
Indeed you are correct.
Thank you for confirming my assumptions regarding adding up the wattages.
How can I properly evaluate surge protectors? I know many of the cheap ones are crap. Is there a brand that is trust worthy?
I check carefully regarding what adapters- I agree many modern items are indeed 100-240v compatible these days, which is great. However some of the electronics I purchased in Japan are designed for only domestic use and therefore are only 100 volt 50/60 Hz (Japan has a unfortunate legacy electrical system where half of the country is 60 Hz and the other half is 50 Hz.)
posted by gen at 8:15 PM on August 15, 2015
Indeed you are correct.
Thank you for confirming my assumptions regarding adding up the wattages.
How can I properly evaluate surge protectors? I know many of the cheap ones are crap. Is there a brand that is trust worthy?
I check carefully regarding what adapters- I agree many modern items are indeed 100-240v compatible these days, which is great. However some of the electronics I purchased in Japan are designed for only domestic use and therefore are only 100 volt 50/60 Hz (Japan has a unfortunate legacy electrical system where half of the country is 60 Hz and the other half is 50 Hz.)
posted by gen at 8:15 PM on August 15, 2015
How can I properly evaluate surge protectors?
A double conversion UPS makes a nice surge suppressor, for when it really matters. Might cost more than the equipment you're connecting though. (I am not recommending you buy one.)
Does your location have overhead or buried power lines? Is the electric grid known to be shit? Are you in a residential area or a light/heavy industry zone? Basically, do you have a known need for robust surge protection, or is this mostly for peace of mind?
posted by ryanrs at 8:54 PM on August 15, 2015
A double conversion UPS makes a nice surge suppressor, for when it really matters. Might cost more than the equipment you're connecting though. (I am not recommending you buy one.)
Does your location have overhead or buried power lines? Is the electric grid known to be shit? Are you in a residential area or a light/heavy industry zone? Basically, do you have a known need for robust surge protection, or is this mostly for peace of mind?
posted by ryanrs at 8:54 PM on August 15, 2015
Best answer: You can add the wattages up. I would put the surge protector at the wall, I assume you are in a 220V area, and what you will be able to get in that area will most likely be 220V based.
You could add in perhaps 5% overage of the sum of your electronics, but I imagine you will have to round up more than that to find an appropriate transformer.
posted by nickggully at 9:00 PM on August 15, 2015
You could add in perhaps 5% overage of the sum of your electronics, but I imagine you will have to round up more than that to find an appropriate transformer.
posted by nickggully at 9:00 PM on August 15, 2015
Response by poster: > Basically, do you have a known need for robust surge protection, or is this mostly for peace of mind?
Mostly peace of mind. We've moved to a new country, and while our building is a new building, and in a relatively new district, in a tier 1 city, I do not know how reliable or stable the electrical system is.
> You can add the wattages up. I would put the surge protector at the wall
Great- thank you for this.
posted by gen at 9:13 PM on August 15, 2015
Mostly peace of mind. We've moved to a new country, and while our building is a new building, and in a relatively new district, in a tier 1 city, I do not know how reliable or stable the electrical system is.
> You can add the wattages up. I would put the surge protector at the wall
Great- thank you for this.
posted by gen at 9:13 PM on August 15, 2015
I guess for a specific recommendation I'd say that APC and Tripp Lite have decent reputations for actually-does-something surge protectors. But that's not from personal experience. By their nature it's not immediate obvious how well these things work.
As a vague rule of thumb, I'd say spending under $20 or over $100 is probably a bad idea.
On preview: for peace of mind, check whether the surge protector company will insure/replace connected devices if they are damaged and then scour the web for stories of people actually getting their claim honored.
posted by ryanrs at 9:18 PM on August 15, 2015
As a vague rule of thumb, I'd say spending under $20 or over $100 is probably a bad idea.
On preview: for peace of mind, check whether the surge protector company will insure/replace connected devices if they are damaged and then scour the web for stories of people actually getting their claim honored.
posted by ryanrs at 9:18 PM on August 15, 2015
Response by poster: ryanrs: thank you- great advice. Will update if I find something I like.
posted by gen at 5:51 AM on August 16, 2015
posted by gen at 5:51 AM on August 16, 2015
Best answer: I'd also ask any co-workers or neighbours in the area whether they've ever had the need for surge protectors. In my experience, I've had more trouble than help from them - they're extra complexity and another bit to go wrong - and the couple of electrical faults I've experienced that did cause damage to my electronics were of sufficient magnitude and speed that surge protectors wouldn't had much effect (a local substation fault putting 440v onto the line; a lightning strike nearby).
Don't use US surge protectors in Europe alongside a 220-110v step down transformer - only use European ones, and only between the transformer and the wall socket. It can be dangerous to put 110v protectors on the 110v side.
And if the supply is unreliable enough to merit surge protectors - as others have said, you'll probably want a full UPS for sensitive or important equipment. UPSs need regular maintenance, so factor that in.
But the people who'll know what, if anything, is merited are the locals who've lived with that electricity for a while!
posted by Devonian at 9:12 AM on August 16, 2015
Don't use US surge protectors in Europe alongside a 220-110v step down transformer - only use European ones, and only between the transformer and the wall socket. It can be dangerous to put 110v protectors on the 110v side.
And if the supply is unreliable enough to merit surge protectors - as others have said, you'll probably want a full UPS for sensitive or important equipment. UPSs need regular maintenance, so factor that in.
But the people who'll know what, if anything, is merited are the locals who've lived with that electricity for a while!
posted by Devonian at 9:12 AM on August 16, 2015
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As to your question, add up the wattages, and put the surge protector between the wall and the transformer.
(tbh cheap surge protectors are of dubious value so it doesn't make that much difference.)
Also check to see if any of your electronics can be plugged directly into 220V with just a plug change and no transformer. Many modern power supplies can run on anything from 100-240V because it's cheaper to design it that way instead of making a bunch of different models. Computers and laptop chargers especially are likely to be voltage-compatible.
posted by ryanrs at 7:58 PM on August 15, 2015