The product description of this item (Franzus TSM-1875CK International Converter/Adapter Set) is highly misleading. It says: "Converts 220V foreign electricity to 110V for use overseas on most U.S. appliances rated 0-1875 watts". But the fact is, it can only convert 220V to 110V at LOW setting, which works up to merely 25 Watts.
This product is actually two different converters built into one package. At LOW setting, it uses a small AC transformer to convert 220V sinusoidal waveform into a 110V sinusoidal waveform. This is the preferred approach which works well for any low-power electronic appliance.
To handle higher power, the AC transformer must be made bulkier and heavier (around 20 pounds just for 1000W). This makes it impractical as a travel voltage converter for large-wattage appliance. Therefore at HIGH setting (26-1875W), this converter simply uses a solid-state switch inside to chop off part of the input 220V sinusoidal waveform. This is exactly how an incandescent lamp dimmer works. However, its output waveform is highly distorted and is far from an 110V sinusoidal AC voltage.
A purely resistive appliance (such as travel iron or water heater) will work just fine regardless of different voltage waveform. But if you ever try to power an electronic appliance (such as TV, computer or battery charger) with this chopped-up 220V waveform, it will probably be fried in an instant! My advice is to stay away from this potentially destructive product - unless you are really, REALLY careful about what to plug in.
If you have to bring electronic appliances with your oversea trips, make sure they are rated for universal voltage of 100-240V AC. Power supplies for most portable electronics (laptop, camcorder, cell-phone, electric shavers, etc.) are already designed to accept universal voltage, although some of them may require you to physically flip a voltage selection switch - check the user manual or the AC input plug of your appliance to make sure. If that is the case, all you need is a set of plug adapters (such as the Lenmar AC5), which can be purchased for much less. Franzus TSM-1875CK International 1875 Watt Converter/Adapter Set
I went to Rome, Sorrento/amalfi coast and sicily and this thing worked with flying colors as far as charging my cell phone, Video Camera, and camera. I used southern Europe plug on the Low setting. I did not try to use it for a hair dryer or anything powerful though so i don't know about the high setting. It also did not get hot or anything like that (and neither did my devices)
Drawbacks are that while it fit in the European outlet, the heavy transformer fits in sideways, which gravity ALMOST pulls it out of the wall. What i had to do a few times was to use the hotel garbage can and rest it against it to make sure that it didn't fall out fo the wall socket and just to make it more stable. Otherwise the thing did exactly what i wanted.
I used this converter frequently while traveling for 2 weeks in the UK with an infant (6-12 times during each day and it was used every night, all night). The "LO" setting worked for recharging all of our portable electronics (video camera, digital camera, pda) and worked for our baby monitor in the evening as well (I brought along an indoor extension cord so I could plug in the baby monitor's base station and the recharger for the portable monitor). The "HI" setting worked for the baby's bottle warmer. Considering the low price (I picked it up at Walmart for $29.99) I couldn't ask for more (and I didn't have to pack 2 converters like I usually do!).
A couple of things to note (and hopefully I can save someone else from panicking): the converter gave off an electronic smell for a few hours during the initial use but did go away after that. Also the unit did feel warm to the touch after being on all night so I would be careful not to use it where the device would be touching materials like curtains or bedding. In the evening we would use an outlet that had about 6 inches or more space around it.
I just received today and already know it will not work. I bought this specifically to use with my hair dryer. Well..the instructions state this cannot be used with an ALCI GFI (you know the reset/test button plugs). What?!!! Every hair dryer sold in America today has these plugs, they're a safety regulation aren't they? What good is this converter? Unless you happen to have a dryer made before 1992 that still works! Nice if they would have told you this in the technical data! I will be packing up and returning. Now what do I use though? I leave in 6 days!!
We bought this converter/adapter for a trip to South Africa, as it was "International" and included a converter that was labeled "Africa". Unfortunately, there was nothing to indicate that South Africa has a unique electrical system, so, upon arrival, we weren't able to use the converter or adapter at all! I would imagine that had we been traveling to Europe or Asia, we might have had more success with this product, but if you are going to South Africa, do not purchase this product.
I bought this product from a store locally (not through Amazon), but I felt compelled to write this review so others don't make the same mistake I did. I'm in China right now and I just used this product for the first time and it fried my hair straightener. I followed the instructions (set the switch to "HI" before I plugged in the straightener) but I don't think it actually converted the voltage. My hair straightener was making a buzzing sound- the first indicator that it wasn't working right, and then it started smelling like something was burning and I unplugged it. I tried using the straightener with the backup voltage converter that I brought with me but its fried.
The other voltage converter that I bought through Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Delectronics&field-keywords=B000E5W6ZI) works very well. Its a little bulkier but it gets the job done. I wish I used that one instead. - Voltage Converter - Power Converter'
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