Recoton ADF1650 50/1600W Dual Wattage Travel Converter

List Price: $29.99 Discount Price: $11.00

Features:

• Dual voltage converter for use with 50 watt and 1600 watt devices
• Converts foreign voltage (220-240V AC) to USA voltage (110-120V AC)
• For use with hair dryers, irons, coffee makers, clothes steamers, hair stylers, radios, CD players, camcorder chargers, etc.

Accessories:

Jensen Lightweight Headphones

Customer Reviews:

The travel converter is not responsible for operator error [Posted on 2007-12-22]
The dual wattage converter worked well until I blew it. I forgot to change to the high wattage before plugging in a coffee pot and the converter blew in a puff of smoke. At least the coffee pot was saved from the operator error. I recommend two converters, one for battery and other low wattage needs and one for high wattage needs like blow dryers and coffee pots.

Not bad... [Posted on 2008-02-10]
You get what you pay for. I've used it with US electronics in Ireland without any problems. I've used DVD players, Recharged batteries but not used it for anything heavy duty. Seems the same product is sold under many different names.

works well even for high watt requirements in India [Posted on 2008-02-12]
worked well for range of devices including those requiring high watts requirements, like hair dryer, in India. Remember to flip the switch between low and high watt requiring devices.

Learn the truth about "Dual Wattage" converter and don't get burned [Posted on 2008-03-25]
This item offered here (Recoton ADF1650 50/1600W Dual Wattage Travel Converter) is actually two different converters built into one package. At LOW setting (up to 50W), 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 appliance.

To handle higher power, however, 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 another method is used by this converter...

At HIGH setting (50-1600W), this convert simply uses a solid-state switch inside to chop off part of the 220V sinusoidal waveform. The resulted waveform, as seen by the appliance, is highly distorted and is far from an 110V sinusoidal AC voltage.

For a purely resistive appliance (such as travel iron or water heater) it works just fine irregardless of different voltage waveform. But if you ever try to power an electronic appliance (such as TV, computer or battery charger) with this distorted 220V waveform, it will probably be fried in an instant!

The product manual did warn against using the HIGH setting for any electronic appliance exceeding 50W. So legally the company is covered. My advise is to stay away from this potentially destructive product - unless you are really, REALLY careful about what to plug in. Chances are, sooner or later somebody will forget about this warning and plug a Xbox into this "converter" - only to get a big BOOM!

If you must bring electronic appliances with your oversea trips, make sure they are rated for universal voltage of 100-240V AC. That way, you can safely use them in other countries without the need for a volatge converter. Power supplies for most portable electronics (laptop, camcorder, cell-phone, electric shavers, etc.) are already designed for universal voltage, although some of them may require you to physically flip a switch.

But don't forget, even if you don't need a voltage converter, you still must bring a set of plug adapters for foreign countries.

Do not buy - dangerous! [Posted on 2008-04-09]
Bought this Recoton travel wattage converter last summer 2007 for my dive trip to Indonesia to charge my rechargeable batt. for my digital cameras and AAA batteries. Used this converter 4 times in 3 days on average about 8 hours per use, then on my 5th time of using this converter and about 7 minutes in using, suddently saw sparked and smoke came of the converter and that's the end of it...

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