At 9:14 PM +0000 2/18/2003, Phil Beesley wrote: >On Tuesday, February 18, 2003, at 08:00 PM, Bill Brown ><[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >> From time to time on this list, those of us on the left side of the >> pond >> hear from you on the right side of the pond about your transformer >> devices >> you use to step your 220 volt mains power down to the wussy 110 volt >> power >> used over here. > >There are two "main" types. The first are about the same size as an >external modem and are designed for use with hair driers, shavers etc >and most definitely NOT suitable for use with computer equipment. The >other type provide a properly regulated 110V supply and have a more >industrial appearance, unsurprisingly as a typical application is for >use with electronics test equipment or power tools. The transformer I >use is about the size of an external SCSI case but a lot heavier >because it is oil cooled.
Wait a minute. There are the devices used with hair driers and the devices used with shavers and they are two different things. The kind sold for hair driers aren't transformers at all and are simply a diode. This provides half wave rectification and for a largely resistive load like a hair driver cuts the average or RMS voltage in half. It is no good for any kind of electronic equipment. The kind sold for shavers are transformers albeit fairly low power. They could be used for a laptop probably as they usually have a 50 VA rating. With any transformer you have to observe the ratings otherwise you'll get to know the smell of an overheated transformer. A basic transformer doesn't provide regulation, that isn't what a transformer does. The closest thing I can know of is a Sola which is known as a resonant transformer and provides some regulation. -- Clark Martin Redwood City, CA, USA Macintosh / Internet Consulting "I'm a designated driver on the Information Super Highway" -- Compact Macs is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/>. Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html> Compact Macs list info: <http://lowendmac.com/lists/compact.shtml> The FAQ: <http://macfaq.org/> --> AOL users, remove "mailto:"; Send list messages to: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For digest mode, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subscription questions: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Archive:<http://www.mail-archive.com/compact.macs%40mail.maclaunch.com/> --------------------------------------------------------------- >The Think Different Store http://www.ThinkDifferentStore.com ---------------------------------------------------------------
