what is a transformer?

[htran804]

Does anyone know what a "transformer" does? I've seen ads for them in the classifieds but I don't know if I need one. Can someone explain?

[DoctorP]

A transformer steps voltage up or down. In your case, it would step the normal Japanese voltage of 100VAC up to standard US voltage of 115-120VAC. (assuming you live off base) If you live on base, you absolutely do not need one.

Do you really need one off base? Depending upon what you want to use it for. I use one for my US TV, Stereo equipment and microwave. You will also want one if you have an American refridgerator. Typically running US appliances on 100V is not going to hurt anything...your clocks may run a little slow, but for the most part it is not a problem.

[Mad Hatter]

I don't really know... but I think that it's more than meets the eye!!:D

[Mad Hatter]

It what you plus other things into so you won't damage them over time. Sure they might not blow right off the bat, but the current out in town in Jap houses is about 100 - 120. If you have a place that has 100... sure your gaming systems, tvs and computer will work in them, but over time it makes the devices push harder... the harder the devices pushes over time the more wear and tear you put on it... soon or later (more on the later) they'll just stop working

[DoctorP]

It what you plus other things into so you won't damage them over time. Sure they might not blow right off the bat, but the current out in town in Jap houses is about 100 - 120. If you have a place that has 100... sure your gaming systems, tvs and computer will work in them, but over time it makes the devices push harder... the harder the devices pushes over time the more wear and tear you put on it... soon or later (more on the later) they'll just stop working

I think you meant voltage?

When dealing with circuit cards it is not such a big deal...motors is another thing all together...which is why a refridgerator definitely needs one, VCR's, DVD players too. TV's and radios, not so much, game systems? meh...not a big deal. But if you feel safer using one, then go ahead. I've only used them for the bigger items, and I've had no problems. My Nintendo 64, gamecube, PSONE, stereo, have all been running for years without one.

But, like I said, TV's, fridge, microwave, really need them. Most newer electronics are auto switching now...much like the PC's have been for years.

[DocTurtle]

A trasformer is anything that goes "reee-errr-reee-errr" and destroys or is friends with other things that do the same :D

All jokes aside I think DocP pretty much covered it for you. If you live on base you definately wont need one unless you are bring things from outside the US, eg the UK or Australia. My wife brought her stero and microwave from Aus and the stero didn't work at all and the microwave worked at about 5%.

[Muku]

If you live on base you definately wont need one unless you are bring things from outside the US, eg the UK or Australia. My wife brought her stero and microwave from Aus and the stero didn't work at all and the microwave worked at about 5%.
I take it it is the same for any Japanese equipment brought on base as well right?




but the current out in town in Jap houses is about 100 - 120.
MadHatter, PLEASE either write Japanese or JP, writing Jap is racist. Thank you:)

[DoctorP]

I take it it is the same for any Japanese equipment brought on base as well right?


If we are talking newer items, then you really won't need anything. Once again though, if you are talking about plugging in something that runs on a motor or timer then you would want a step down transformer. Most Japanese items will work just fine on 115-120 VAC.

[silviasichigo]

jap jew same thing................... I am by no means saying it is not a bad thing to say just bringing it to light....

[DocTurtle]

jap jew same thing................... I am by no means saying it is not a bad thing to say just bringing it to light....

I'm sure that it wasn't meant in a racial way, but it has the possiblity of being perceived that way so just for that sake if nothing else. Maybe we should consider not using that abbr of the word just so that things don't have the possibility of turning out sour.

I would hardly think that madhatter is racist or even thought of that abbr of being seen in that light. It was probably just easier than typing out the full word.

[silviasichigo]

no doubt it is not something I say with any cruel intent but what can you do I hear the term Jew all the time with out any remorse or restraint but not one outcry......

Any way sorry to go off topic transformers are a waste of money on anything but an American Microwave, eleectric dryer, electric stove (or gas with eletric starter) all other appliances (TV's, DVD palyers, game systems etc) are made to operate in a range of 100-120v unless you are in Gremany, australia or anywhere else they love more than 200v to run stuff.

[htran804]

Well we have a washer, dryer, and a fridge coming in from the Kadena Housing Office. I also just picked up a small microwave from the BX. Is there something I need to look/ask for when shopping for a transformer?

[P_chan]

if you move off base the base housing agency will give you a transformer if you request one. I got one, but I didn't use it. The only thing that could possibly need it is my fridge, which isn't mine, so I don't care. Also, most new appliances and electronics have a switch on the back the lets you select 110V or 200V. Some even have a third setting for 100V!

Most appliances are made to handle a voltage range becasue the voltage can jump up or down 10 volts due to small surges in the line. If you've got a multimeter you can actually see the surges in the line! But i wouldn't suggest sticking anything metal into the electrical outlet:D

Well, I guess if you got shocked by a wall outlet it would be better then getting shocked by....oh lets say anything with DC current running through it. Since the wall outlet is AC (+ wave then - wave, +-+-+- kinda like that) if you get shocked, it will shock you for a second, and then you can pull away. That's because the + half of the AC wave form shocks you and contracts your muscles, holding you onto the circuit. While there isn't any current during the - half and you can pull out. While DC is a continuious + current that caues your muscles to contract and holds you onto the circuit, until your nice and crispy. You can pull someone off of DC current, but do it with a wooden cane, not your hand or something metal. Otherwise, you would become part of the circuit too!

LOL sorry, I was bored so I felt like sharing.

[silviasichigo]

Wattage plays into the number of devices you have hooked up I would say buy a 1000W for the Fridge/Microwave (use it for both) and depending on how your house is set up as far as the washer and dryer go most of the houses I have lived in have had the aproppriate power for the Dryer (usually 120-210V depending on the dryer style) the washer can run on the 100V with little to no problems but you could get a 200W transformer to cover the washer.

[Tempestuous]

Well, I guess if you got shocked by a wall outlet it would be better then getting shocked by....oh lets say anything with DC current running through it. Since the wall outlet is AC (+ wave then - wave, +-+-+- kinda like that) if you get shocked, it will shock you for a second, and then you can pull away. That's because the + half of the AC wave form shocks you and contracts your muscles, holding you onto the circuit. While there isn't any current during the - half and you can pull out. While DC is a continuious + current that caues your muscles to contract and holds you onto the circuit, until your nice and crispy. You can pull someone off of DC current, but do it with a wooden cane, not your hand or something metal. Otherwise, you would become part of the circuit too!
LOL sorry, I was bored so I felt like sharing.

Well hey, it was somewhat interesting at least. :)

[P_chan]

Oh and if you ever think about opening up your electronics and tinkering with them yourself you might want to take a look at these pictures.

Warning, they're not pretty.

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2002-123/images/E-burn.jpg

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2002-123/images/burn-ARM%20copy.jpg

http://bms.brown.edu/pedisurg/images/ImageBank/Trauma/oralburn.jpg

Also a good idea to watch your kids and pets around electricity.

[silviasichigo]

What are you talking about??? Electricity is your friend it would never do anything to hurt you (except for lightning) I take my electricity for walks and bicycle rides and if it did not keep interfereing with my car eletronics I would take it for car rides.

[Tempestuous]

We were driving in Cali this summer and we drove this area where several large power towers/transformers were along both sides of the road and power lines ran across the road....it made our cells wig out, caused the gages in the car to wig out, causes our hand-held 2 way radios to spaz.
It was crazy. Just driving under them.

Can you imagine what it would do to a body if you touched them or spent any significant amt of time near them.....Scary!!!

[Fonze]

P chan those first 2 pics i wonder if the einsteins tinkered while the electronics were still plugged in? I wonder what happened to the baby cause it seemed to small to even crawl.

[Tempestuous]

P chan those first 2 pics i wonder if the einsteins tinkered while the electronics were still plugged in? I wonder what happened to the baby cause it seemed to small to even crawl.

I thought the second pic actually looked like a toddlers arm....could easily be wrong though.

They can scootch themselves around from about 4mths old....if parents put them down in relatively close distance to something they didn't realize something was plugged into the wall but not actually connected to the equipment it belonged to (laptop cord or the like) and the baby put it in its mouth??

Accidents happen.
I know of at least three cases where small fries have managed to get a hold of hot irons, and one would think that would be a pretty obvious danger like electricity to keep them away from- and that is just in a small group of people I know, not even lookin at statistics.

[atb35]

I dont know what all of you are talking about, a transformer is a robot that can transform into a vehicle or animal and they are from Cybertron!! like duh, they just made a movie about the history of them....geeze...

[Skiman1969]

You really do not need a transformer for a 10-15volt (v) difference. Here in Europe electricity is 230v set by the European Union. Before the standard mandate the UK had 240v and Germany was 220v. You could work German electronics in the UK and vise versa with usually no problems.

The problem is when use a 60 Hertz (Hz) US clock in Japan or Germany which is 50hz and it will run slow (usually 10 seconds slow every 10mins). Alternating Current (AC) on an Oscilloscope has a wave length, the distance between waves is called Hertz and that affects your timing. Direct Current (DC) does not have hertz. Microwaves have a built in transformer-rectifiers (they convert AC to DC power), and the DC is what powers the internal motors. That's why your clock on the microwave runs ok.

There are multi-voltage clocks that will work in either country as long as they have a 50-60 Hz switch. I have a Panasonic and a Sony clock that will switch Volts and Hertz with no problems. Vacuums and fridge motors will run a little slow nothing major. I have had the same US Hoover vacuum here in Germany for the past 12 years and no problems.

You can run a step up transformer if you like but it is a waste of money if you leave it on continuously. If you have a 1000watt transformer running, it uses 1000w regardless if you have a 50w or 750w appliance plugged into it. I know I went on too much, but it is my two cents. :D

[htran804's slave]

You really do not need a transformer for a 10-15volt (v) difference. Here in Europe electricity is 230v set by the European Union. Before the standard mandate the UK had 240v and Germany was 220v. You could work German electronics in the UK and vise versa with usually no problems.

The problem is when use a 60 Hertz (Hz) US clock in Japan or Germany which is 50hz and it will run slow (usually 10 seconds slow every 10mins). Alternating Current (AC) on an Oscilloscope has a wave length, the distance between waves is called Hertz and that affects your timing. Direct Current (DC) does not have hertz. Microwaves have a built in transformer-rectifiers (they convert AC to DC power), and the DC is what powers the internal motors. That's why your clock on the microwave runs ok.

There are multi-voltage clocks that will work in either country as long as they have a 50-60 Hz switch. I have a Panasonic and a Sony clock that will switch Volts and Hertz with no problems. Vacuums and fridge motors will run a little slow nothing major. I have had the same US Hoover vacuum here in Germany for the past 12 years and no problems.

You can run a step up transformer if you like but it is a waste of money if you leave it on continuously. If you have a 1000watt transformer running, it uses 1000w regardless if you have a 50w or 750w appliance plugged into it. I know I went on too much, but it is my two cents. :D

What is your AFSC? The stuff you just posted is VERY similar to the stuff I am studying in my CDC's.

[Skiman1969]

What is your AFSC? The stuff you just posted is VERY similar to the stuff I am studying in my CDC's.


2A571 APG (Heavy Crew Chief)

[P_chan]

You really do not need a transformer for a 10-15volt (v) difference. Here in Europe electricity is 230v set by the European Union. Before the standard mandate the UK had 240v and Germany was 220v. You could work German electronics in the UK and vise versa with usually no problems.

The problem is when use a 60 Hertz (Hz) US clock in Japan or Germany which is 50hz and it will run slow (usually 10 seconds slow every 10mins). Alternating Current (AC) on an Oscilloscope has a wave length, the distance between waves is called Hertz and that affects your timing. Direct Current (DC) does not have hertz. Microwaves have a built in transformer-rectifiers (they convert AC to DC power), and the DC is what powers the internal motors. That's why your clock on the microwave runs ok.

There are multi-voltage clocks that will work in either country as long as they have a 50-60 Hz switch. I have a Panasonic and a Sony clock that will switch Volts and Hertz with no problems. Vacuums and fridge motors will run a little slow nothing major. I have had the same US Hoover vacuum here in Germany for the past 12 years and no problems.

You can run a step up transformer if you like but it is a waste of money if you leave it on continuously. If you have a 1000watt transformer running, it uses 1000w regardless if you have a 50w or 750w appliance plugged into it. I know I went on too much, but it is my two cents. :D

Also very similar to my CDCs once I did them:D

I experienced the clock speed change once I first got here and tried to use my american clock.

I made sure to buy a duel voltage and hertz plasma once I got mine!

[Mad Hatter]

All I'm saying is.. Go ahead and plug a gaming system in 220v and see what happens...been there done that... wont do it again