A Silly Question

[needsmorecowbel]

When you have an appliance with an EU plug that is 220 V Is an adapter to 240 V adequate or do you require a transformer? I would have thought a EU to AU adapter that you see at any decent travel store would do but just checking...

Stu

[jeffhigh]

We are now nominally 230v, yes a plug adaptor will do, or fit a new plug

[kiwigeo]

The voltage difference shouldn't worry most devices. Difference in frequency of supply can be an issue with a few devices (eg electric clocks).

[needsmorecowbel]

Thanks Guys!

[Paul B]

220V to 240V will be fine and your frequency should be good if its 50 - 60 HZ.

They generally build to those specs so they can sell the device in any area without having to have power supplies to suit each area, and then have different assembly lines to make the power supplies, and additional assembly lines to assemble the finished appliance for each area. Easier and cheaper to build one unit that can handle a range of electricity supplies, then they just have to change the cable/plug they supply for each area.

[kiwigeo]

In Japan they f***d up and half the country is on 50Hz while the other is 60Hz. Not a huge problem for most appliances but for the Shinkansen trains its a big problem and they need to operate frequency conversion equipment with the catenary power supplies where the frequency changes.