110vac to 220vac Conversion Revisited

[delmarrey]

One of the more common aspects of electricity in the Philippines is Brown Outs, which is when you have a power cut. They are not called black outs in the Philippines.

My PI family must be different cause they do call it "brown outs", but doesn't happen much in Manila.

[savoir]

A few years back I faced this issue with a 110v US boat in Australia.

I bit the bullet and paid the extra for a top quality isolation transformer. It sits in the cockpit on a piece of wood and connects to the boat with a standard Marinco pigtail. It connects to shore via a regular hardware store extension cord. The isolation factor gives me necessary safety from oddball power surges that you get in far flung places. Everything works just fine be it microwave, drill, sander, computer, hell even the toaster.

I recommend paying the extra for a quality isolation transformer. All you need is a simple household plug adapter and you can use this unit in any 220v - 240v country. Mine has never overheated and doesn't hum or buzz. My record 24/7 usage was 2 months without a single hiccup. This is the transformer.

Step down transformer australia

[bangkaboat]

Originally Posted by NorthPacific

Thanks Mike,

I was looking for a boat solution. So do you buy a new 220 battery charger? OR a step down transformer.

Cheers

I have 2 of these on order: Seven Star THG10000 Step Up Step Down Transformer 10000 Watts, Input 110-220 Volt AC, Output 110-220

One for the boat & one for our beach property on Samal Island. The link that "Savoir" gave looks like an Australian distributor for the same manufacturer(s). Some of the small transformers on the link I gave don't last that long, but I've heard only good things about their units that push 1000+ watts.

Yes, Philippines is 60hz(220v). Most important for electrical components used in some developing countries are surge protectors. In The Philippines, at the end of a brown-out, it is not uncommon to experience a sudden surge.

Mike

[savoir]

Thanks for the thought, but my transformer is nothing like that one. It isn't even a quarter as powerful and my unit really is made in Sydney. I had to go to the factory to collect it and saw the guys making them. Then there's the "isolation" factor which mine has and I fully realise comes at a price.

Your transformer looks like a bigger version of the one in post # 14, except it's painted black. It looks way too powerful for any yacht.

[bangkaboat]

You're right, savoir, too big for a yacht, would power a home! They have smaller units on that site, a few that look like the photo you posted, I think. We have a few homes in The Philippines, so I figured I'd take one with me when I sail there, then drag it into the house.