Continuous use power converter? [closed]

I am moving from the US to New Zealand, and I’m trying to figure out what electrical/electronic devices I can take with me. I know I just need an adapter for my 100-240v devices, but my question is about 110v only devices.

There are a ton of converters that I can get on Amazon, but I’m not sure what is safe for continuous use. Everything I’ve read so far says using 240v to 110v converters are fine, but shouldn’t be plugged in at all times. Is that true? Are there converters that are safe to be plugged in all the time?

power

Best Answer

If you have to convert voltage for long term use I would reccomend an isolating transformer with appropriate ratings. Note that most transformers have two ratings, a continuous rating and an intermittant rating.

I reccommend an isolating transformer because with an autotransformer if the "neutral" connection fails under light load you can see the input voltage on the output.

In the UK we get "Yellow brick" transformers used on construction sites which are 240V to 110V isolating transformers and are reasonablly affordable. For example https://www.screwfix.com/p/portable-transformer-with-2-output-sockets-3kva/84144 which has an intermittant rating of 3KVA and a continuous rating of 1.5KVA. No idea if you can get anything similar in NZ.

Honestly though it has to be a pretty special appliance for it to be worth it.