The 240-120 voltage problem can be remedied by using transformers but that doesn’t negate the frequency difference between grids. Australia operates on 230v @ 50Hz while the US works with 120V @ 60Hz for instance, as certain electronics that are singular voltage (Hair Dryers, Desk Fans or Electric Blankets) have their frequencies disclosed even if the voltage on those are different than the one that country uses.
Does plugging in a device that has 120v-60Hz via a transformer on a grid that operates on 230v-50Hz ruin the device due to either heating elements or motors inside? Even between countries that work with 220-40v but one uses 50Hz while the other uses 60Hz, does that render those electronics (like dehumidifiers, power drills, curling irons) incompatible despite them using similar voltage (like 220v vs 230v)?
Anything with a motor will run differently, usually safely but not always.
Motor speed is 120*frequency/poles.
For example, a 4 pole hair dryer motor will run at 60Hz, the fan will run at around 1700-1750rpm instead of 1400-1450rpm.
For fans specifically, this can be a problem because fan load (torque) increases to the third power with respect to speed. This means that changing the frequency to 60Hz for a fan designed for 50Hz will run it at a significantly higher load which can make it run at a worse point of the torque curve where it is less efficient and ultimately overheat.
Some electronics have filters based on their designed operating frequency, so signals may get distorted by switching frequencies (notch filters on sensitive signal chain things like ECGs devices) though many are designed for both nowadays.
Things like electric blankets are just resistive loads so there would be little effect, but if they have very cheap electronics it is possible that the timer functions would be analog AC coupled so the timers might run fast or slow.
- heating elements don’t care about frequency
- modern transformers (any laptop adapter, phone charger, …) won’t care about frequency because internally it convert AC to DC and then produce AC again in a much higher frequency.
- inductive loads (like motors, fans, microwave) do care about frequency. A fan that was designed to work @ 60Hz could burn out @ 50hz
- some ultra cheap low power chines devices (say a tiny bug zapper or dim LED) can rely on capacitive dropper can also be affected. so a device designed to run @ 50hz could burn out @ 60hz (opposite from inductive loads)
Generally, you won’t ruin it. Modern stuff with switching power supplies like laptops handle the difference automatically. Old motor-driven devices like record players may speed up or slow down depending on their rating, and large AC induction motors, like washing machines, might heat up slightly.
This answer right here. Additionally, things that use the frequency for timing such as clocks may operate faster or slower than intended depending on which way they are being converted.
Some time ago, I ran across a frequency converter product meant for professional barbers to use overseas hair clippers. Apparently they are designed to oscillate with the mains frequency, and tear themselves apart when run with the wrong frequency?
From my experience, if the device is not designed to handle the frequency in question, it matters to some degree.
I tried using a 60Hz hair clipper in a 50Hz country, it ran but it was LOUD and vibrated harder is the easiest example I can explain in practical effects.
Most things are going to be weird, not work correctly, or fail prematurely if they aren’t rated for the grid freq. You can buy devices that convert for you but they’re heavy and expensive and electrically inefficient because they have to invert the power to DC and then back into an AC voltage with a different frequency.
On the more technical side, the things that care the most are definitely motors, and resistive loads less so but still yes.
60 > 50, your motor will spin about 17% slower, which can cause strange effects but also your current will increase so you get a lot of effects of stuff getting hot and breaking faster.
50 > 60 your motor will spin 20% faster which will mess a bunch of stuff up also. Might work for a bit ok but then you’ll start losing bearings and so on.
For resistive loads like a light or heating element then it’ll pull more or less current than it’s used to, which is why another poster in the thread talked about an oven burning their food or something.
Also anything that uses the grid freq as a timer, which is most things with any kind of timer built in, will not time things correctly.
To answer your question: it’s usually safer, better, and cheaper to buy new stuff that matches the grid frequency vs buying a frequency transformer but it depends on your specific situation.
Short vacation? You might be able to get away with sending it, but your stuff will have unexpected results, might be unsafe, and could break. Like, I would be very cautious of a curling iron or hair dryer, common stuff people travel with. Electric blankets NO, because fires. If it’s a work trip just get the right stuff for where you’re going or a transformer if you have a lot of expensive, specialized equipment.
For resistive loads like a light or heating element then it’ll pull more or less current than it’s used to,
Umm, are you sure about that? If it’s purely resistive, I would have thought that the frequency does not matter at all. It could even be DC. Or did someone revoke Ohm’s law, or smuggle a frequency into it?
You’re not wrong and my statement wasn’t truly accurate, I was simplifying a bit because OP probably isn’t well read on frequency dependent reactance, ballasts, LED drivers, etc. It’s pretty rare to have purely resistive devices these days.
Most modern “resistive” devices actually have more complicated circuitry or mechanisms that makes frequency relevant. I guess saying current changes was probably a bridge too far, but I was trying to translate into layman.
For example, a PURELY resistive space heater that just cycles on/off until a temp limit is hit will not be affected, but most have fans and are designed to transfer heat under specific conditions. Depending on how they measure heat the coils can overheat or pieces can melt.
A simple incandescent light will act the same regardless of freq, but anything with a ballast or driver likely wouldn’t, if it wasn’t dual rated. Most are, but really cheap/old ones often aren’t. They might flicker or burn out, burn brighter, etc.
Either way, stuff will likely act weird. Might be minimal effect or none for certain simple things but it’s not recommended.
For lower powered devices, you can use a power inverter and power supply to convert the frequency and voltage. They are not particularly expensive or heavy, but it will still be inefficient since you’re stepping down to 12V DC and back up to 120V or 230V AC.
Japan is split and has both 50 and 60hz grids. Modern products don’t have any issues with this (voltage is 100v typically). In the older days, this was an issue for things with clocks and motors from what I understand, but I didn’t move here u til the 2010s
It helps a lot that appliances for the Japanese domestic were designed to cope with different frequencies (for better or worse) from day one, as it’s cheaper than having two almost identical product ranges. Motor and transformer windings designed to tolerate the extra current when running @ 50Hz, or switchable winding taps if efficiency mattered. Different pulleys / switchable gears for things where speed matters, like record players and electro-mechanical clocks.
Transformers are a fixed ratio, they will convert 110->12v, or 240 to 25ish volts. So a 110v transformer on 240v will most likely fry its device.
The frequency mostly doesn’t matter, but some old oven clocks used grid frequency to keep track of time, which was an issue recently: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/08/european-clocks-lose-six-minutes-dispute-power-electricity-grid
I know that 60Hz is faster than 50Hz, since I’ve shipped an air fryer from a country with 50Hz (type I plug) to a family friend who lives in one where 60Hz is used (has a type B outlet) but they used an adapter. There were issues with the heat element, as it turns out their food is overcooked despite us having miminal differences with voltage (230 vs 220).
At most, i would expect the fan in the airfryer to spin faster, but i don’t believe there is a relationship between frequency and power.
Resistive heating elements in airfryers should also be unaffected by frequency.
My guess is that heating element is tuned for 220v, but at 230v it goes to a much higher temperature?Or they suck at cooking :)Edit: thinking more, a 20% faster fan could definitely be the issue.
