Voltage Ratings
There are two voltage ratings to be considered on an adapter, converter or inverter: the input voltage, and the output voltage. The input voltage indicates the voltage the conversion device is expecting to receive, and the output voltage indicates the voltage that the conversion device will provide. Either or both of the voltage ratings can be either a single voltage or a selectable voltage.
A conversion device with selectable voltage will have a slide switch or dial to select which voltage will be used. This has the advantage of allowing a single conversion device to work for multiple devices, which is most useful when the consumer has several devices that require different voltages but which will not be used simultaneously.
Voltage is indicated by the letter "V" or by the letters "VAC" (for AC voltage) or "VDC" (for DC voltage).
Frequency Ratings
The frequency rating is measured in Hertz (Hz) and indicates the number of cycles per second for alternating current (AC). In the US, the AC frequency is 60 Hz (one cycle per second) and is used as a reference in some timing circuits. Using a device on AC voltage with a different frequency will not cause a problem in most small electronic devices; however, timing circuits such as clocks will be affected. Specifically, using a 60 Hz device on foreign power (such as 50 Hz) may cause the circuits to run slow. Likewise, using a foreign device on our AC voltage can cause the timing circuits such as clocks to run fast.
Large electronic appliances such as televisions, VCR's and computers should not be used on 50 Hz power unless the device specifically states that it can accept both 50 and 60 Hz. Doing so can lead to damage to the device, converter and/or power wiring.
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