USA 110V Appliances To Be Used In Africa 220V

When you want to use it on 220 you need to bring the voltage down (lower)= step down transformer.

But the frequency is probably 50 Hz (cycles per second), what means that all the appliances with motors, will run slower, that the clock in the microwave may count slower ( your hours can become 72 minutes) and besides that: your motors might not be built for 50 cycles, will run hot and burn out, unless you bring the voltage down (with your step down transformer) to about 100 Volts.

A big lose, lose situation: 20% less performance because everything runs slower and then another blow for the lower voltage, resulting again in less performance.

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You could run everything on a new line, fed from a frequency converter to get your frequency right - some types deal with the voltage too, without the use of a transformer. This device runs on electronics. Check for: Stephan electro, Siemens and other VFR controllers.

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You could try http://www.dragonmart.ae/StoreDetails.html?shopId=766

Are you operating a small restaurant? If so, your electrical load could be high as more than one appliance would be in operation at the same time; freezer, refrigerator, halogen lamps, grill, A/C. I would go with a rotary converter instead of a transformer(s).

You need step down transformer. Alternatively you can put large capacitor in series with your appliance that will have 184 V voltage drop. To calculate the necessary capacitor you need to know power, P = U*I, of your appliance to calculate the current I. For instance if your microwave P = 800 W it requires the current I = P/U = 800/120 = 6.67 A. The voltage drop at the capacitor Uc = sqrt(220^2 - 120^2) = 184.4 V. Since Uc = I/wC, where w = 2*pi*f = 100*pi (for f = 50 Hz), it follows C = I/(100*pi*Uc) = 6.67/(100*pi*184.4) = 115 mkF. This is huge capacitor, however, is still cheaper than 800 W transformer.

Sell your 110V appliances and replace them with 220V appliances. Some electronics have switches for different voltages.

hONESTLY NOT WORTH IT. The voltage can be stepped down, but more importantly, the frequency has to be increased to 60 Hz. Sell all the US equipment and buy the same in Dubai which operate on 220 V and 50 Hz. You should get the same equipment and appliances quite cheap in Dubai and have them shipped over to the African country by the seller for the usual transport charge.

If you have all the appliances there or in transit already, the main damage is done to the best option (1. buy locally, and sell when leaving). But also, you mentioned the wheel chair. Maybe you decided to take these appliances because are better suited to your accessibility requirements and can be difficult to find in your final location.

To use them at your destination, you must consider the safe feasibility and costs it will involve. This will depend greatly on the lodging type (house or apartment) and the time you expect to live there.

Prior to all, check specifications of all apparatus to see how many do really need some transformer and if frequency is an issue with them. Many have a simple switch to change voltage, but frequency must be checked as noted in other comments.

Once clarified the list, you can either set the required converter at the main junction box to have 110v in all the home, or set a parallel installation to the points where you will need them depending of your requirements. If so, make unmistakeable the different voltage at every point. To use different plugs is a good idea to make them dumb-proof (I do it in my small workshop).

If you will live in a house this will be easy, but in an apartment, can be difficult to implement. Check with local electrician the details of the installation (power requirements, voltage converter, protection devices and wiring).

In this link you can find some examples of home voltage converters. Have good trip!!

Yes,

You need a step down transformer from 220-120V with required current rating which can be calculated by adding the maximum current drawn by all appliances. Also add some safety margins to avoid overloading. It is better to multiply the total required current by 1.2 for a minimum safety margin. 220-120V stepdown auto transformer is best and economic solution for it. For a domestic purpose, we can use 5KVA (air cooled) step down transformer or if required more, then can opt 7.5KVA (oil cooled).

Ashwanie Manglik

India

You do not say where in Africa you are going. You could use a large step-down transformer or similar but you do need to check the Frequency (Hz) of your appliances as most supplies in Africa are 50Hz not 60Hz as in the USA. 60 hz appliances do not run well at 50Hz.

You can purchase an inverter that accepts 220 VAC 50Hz input and produces 120 VAC 60Hz output. You must specify the 120 VAC current load when choosing the inverter.

They are VERY expensive! Try somebody like Xantrex