The ACUPWR Papers

How Transformers Work

Transformers are very basic electrical devices that, according to energyquest.ca.gov, “take electricity that’s one voltage and changes it into electricity that’s another voltage.” Sounds right to us. (Voltage, FYI, is the amount of pressure, or strength, that an electrical current has.) If you search the internet for electrical transformers, you’ll discover a mind-boggling and vast assortment of examples that reflect the way electricity exists in our lives; transformers are within the walls of our homes, in hospitals, universities, factories, machine shops, and transportation grids, emanating from the landscape as much as trees do. And, the huge voltage requirements needed for the modern world attest to the thousands of different transformer types that exist. ACUPWR’s voltage transformers are relatively unsophisticated, step-up...

Read more →

Transformers Get Warm…Don’t Panic!

An ACUPWR customer contacted us in a state of panic because her voltage transformer was getting significantly warm. Not warm enough to fry an egg on, but definitely warm to the touch. It’s perfectly appropriate that her AUD model transformer was warm because wherever there is electricity, there’s also heat—like where there’s smoke there’s fire, and thunder and lightning, and other dualities in life. Electricity is the result of subatomic particles—electrons and protons—that are charged either positively (protons) or negatively (electrons) and interacting with each other. Protons attract electrons and vice-versa. Two protons or two electrons are repellent to each other, as are two negatively charged electrons. Opposites attract, right? The interaction of protons and electrons creates electromagnetic charge or...

Read more →

Five Great Ways That Splurging on an ACUPWR Voltage Transformer/Converter Will Save You $$$$

If you’ve shopped for an international voltage transformer on Amazon, you know that there are hundreds of models and more than a dozen brands, most of which look identical, and many actually come from the same Chinese factory. ACUPWR voltage transformers are the only brand available that are made in the USA using only the best components. We’re also the only manufacturer that offers a lifetime warranty and top-notch customer service. ACUPWR transformers are more expensive than our competition, but we don’t make promises we can’t deliver. Here are 5 ways that choosing us over them will save you money in the long run. 1. Forget about the “Two-Times the Wattage” Rule. There’s an unofficial industry standard regarding how to...

Read more →

Your Passport to 220-240 Volts: The ACUPWR AC-20 Type B to Type F Plug Adapter

[Please note: This product is a plug adapter that allows a particular plug to be used in a non-compatible outlet. It is not a voltage transformer/converter. IT WILL NOT CONVERT VOLTAGE! If you are traveling with a device that needs conversion to the voltage in the country you will be traveling to, you will need a step-up or step-down voltage transformer/converter such as the models manufactured by ACUPWR. View our ACUPWR voltage transformer/converter products here.] ACUPWR’s most popular plug adapter is our AC-20 model. It’s the perfect companion for your iPhone, iPad, MacBook, PC laptops, Android, Blackberry, and tablet, allowing them to recharge their batteries anywhere in the world. This solidly constructed, grounded adapter pretty much opens up the world...

Read more →

What’s the Frequency Kenneth? A List of AC Frequencies Throughout the World

You probably know that plugging a 110-120V appliance into a 220-240V wall outlet will destroy that device and very possibly start an electrical fire. (FYI: Plugging a 220-240V electrical device or appliance into a 110-120V outlet will be far less dramatic, with the device working at one-quarter capability.)  Using an appliance or electronics at the AC line frequencies other than the frequency compatible with the product won’t exactly start a fire the way that over-voltage can, but with large-motor appliances, the wrong frequency can lead to poor performance and the device burning out within a few months. AC line frequency, if you’re unfamiliar with it, is the number of times per second that the AC current completes a full 360°...

Read more →