Sunday, January 16, 2011

Voltage Converters and Safe Use of Electrical Equipment when Traveling Overseas

People often wonder if there is a difference between voltage converters and voltage regulators.  A regulator acts as both a converter and a voltage stabilizer.  A converter ensures that the power supply delivered to an electrical item is the correct voltage and a stabilizer provides protection against a fluctuating power supply
Importance of Choosing the Correct Converter
People often wonder if their electrical items will work overseas, and in most cases, choosing the correct transformer or converter (depending on the electrical item involved) will enable most devices to work correctly.  The USA and a number of countries in South America and the Caribbean use a power supply that is 110 volts and 60 Hz.  The rest of the world use a supply that 220 volts and 50 Hz.    Voltage converters cause power to step up (110 to 220 volts) or step down (220 to 110V) 
Power Plugs and Converters
People who travel overseas usually need to take a converter and often an international adaptor plug that enables the device to be plugged into a power outlet, regardless of shape and angle of the plug.   It is important to remember that a plug is not a converter or a transformer and you will need to purchase them separately from the adaptor plug.  
Safe Use of Converters
As a guide, you must know the watts your device requires to work correctly.  You can find this information either on the device itself or in the owner’s instruction manual.   It is useful to buy a converter that is at least 50% higher than your appliance needs.    Operating a device on a converter that is higher than your device requires it should not damage the device; however operating a device with a converter that is less than required may cause your device not to work.  Most modern equipment won’t be affected by the difference in electricity generation at 50v or 60v.
Many online stores carry a great amount of stock and can assist you in choosing good quality voltage converters that will ensure that your appliances function wherever you travel.  For less expensive appliances, it may be worth buying a cheap device in the country you are visiting, but remember that purchasing and taking a converter will provide you with peace of mind that equipment you need to take with you will continue to function correctly. 

Monday, January 10, 2011

Region and Code Free DVD Players Explained

Have you ever popped a new DVD into you player and gotten nothing but a message over the TV that read “Region Error?”  Believe it or not there is a simple explanation and no it isn’t you nor is anything wrong with the disk. Actually, a TV from one country and a DVD player from yet another will not always communicate due to pre-set regional codes. Whether you just moved countries, travel constantly for business or an avid traveler, region code free DVD players can make watching any disc from anywhere possible.
Regional Code
Regional codes were created in the USA to control the release of movies all over the world through a locking and number system. The DVD region locking system is what decides which DVDs can be played on which regional DVD players. The regions are:
·         Region one: United States and Canada
·         Region Two: Europe, Japan, Egypt, Greenland, South Africa and the Middle East
·         Region Three: Korea, Hong Kong, Philippines, Taiwan, and Indonesia.
·         Region Four: Australia, New Zealand, Central and South America, Mexico, Pacific Islands, and the Caribbean.
·         Zone Five: Eastern Europe, India, North Korea, Major part of Africa, Mongolia, and Russia
·         Zone six: China.
Regional Differences

Different regions in the world use different standards for both DVD players and TVs. North American countries usually use NTSC, while European and Asian countries prefer the standards of PAL while France uses the older SECAM standards. All this put together can become quite complicated for the viewer, since the right compatibility of local standards with a different instrument is required in each region.
Region-Free DVD Player
A region free DVD player is able to read and play any DVD regardless of the region code standards pre-set by the DVD disc by manufactures. A region free DVD player makes it possible to have any combination of standards work together. If you can’t find a code free player that is made in your country, purchase whichever one you can and then buy foreign plug adapters to fit your home.
Going to the movie theater can be expensive if you go often. If you’re a movie lover, there’s probably nothing that you love more than watching movies in the comfort of your own home. Don’t risk getting the popcorn made just to get an error message when you could just buy a region code free DVD player and never have to worry.