Converter Blogs

Ken Reindel, 2023 To view frequency and voltage converters for purchase click here: https://www.kccscientific.com/frequency-converters/ Not surprisingly, folks are always grasping for a “cheaper” or “clever” way to do frequency conversion. One curious customer came to us recently and asked this question:  “Why do I need a frequency converter?  I’ll just buy a cheap, Chinese sine […]

Photo by Jakob Owens, Unsplash To many, finding affordable, high-quality products made in USA seems to be a thing of the past.  Many folks are so accustomed to living with poor quality products that they have forgotten what it was like when quality products could be purchased in the USA and supported here as well.  […]

Find out how to power your electronics in a new country. Learn power converter terminology, about adapters and more.

US appliances are built to run on 115V AC at 60 Hz, while European appliances are built to run on 230V AC 50 Hz. Here are some things to think about when brining your appliance overseas.

We periodically hear this from curious aspiring customers. How do we respond? First, and most importantly, there are no products–and no other company– like KCC Scientific out there. No other company has the product selection with graduating price points, the precision, reliability or quality of KCC Scientific products. For example, if you need to power […]

Often, innovations come from personal frustration.  In our case, we needed a simple way to convert frequency at a non-astronomical price to power German-made audio equipment in North America.  Creative solutions can stem from dedication to finding a way. This is how we at KCC Scientific started on a mission given the lack of available, […]

Learn how to convert mains power for your turntable anywhere in the world.

Are you experiencing “hum” when operating your newly acquired vintage audio console?  We hear about this extremely rarely, although we have never been able to reproduce it here using our equipment.  Turns out there are some valid technical reasons why we cannot reproduce it on our studio audio equipment here at KCC Scientific.  Let’s explain. […]

By Ken Reindel May 2020, Updated Februrary 2022 and again March 2023 In this blog we review the difference between inexpensive imported voltage converters and precision, properly designed converters. There are entire websites out there dedicated to selling budget import voltage converter transformers. Some of them actually have words that imply great deals in their […]

I. Introduction to Lionel Trains   Lionel Trains are miniature electric train sets that were first created in 1901 by Joshua Lionel Cowen. Cowen started the company with the idea of selling battery-powered toy trains as a novelty item. Over the years, Lionel Trains has become a world-renowned model train manufacturer, producing a wide range […]

When using a turntable designed for use in a different country, there are several important factors to consider.  A common mistake is to consider ONLY voltage and to buy a step-down transformer, which converts 230V AC to 115V AC (or, in some cases, converts 230V AC to 24V AC) but does not address the problem […]

I. Introduction A brief overview of the importance of voltage and frequency converters in scientific research Findings: Voltage and frequency converters can play a crucial role in improving the efficiency and accuracy of lab equipment, leading to more reliable and repeatable results.   Scientific research relies heavily on accurate and sensitive lab equipment in order […]

Model trains are a beloved hobby for many people around the world, and for good reason. Building and maintaining a model train setup can be a rewarding and enjoyable experience, allowing you to create a miniature version of the real world and watch your trains come to life.   However, running AC model trains (meaning, […]

Teri Reindel 8.6.22 Here is a simple summary process of how to select the converter you need for a device you are trying to power. 1. Choose the Converter you need by how many WATTS of power your device needs.  You’ll want a converter that can output slightly more. 2. Locate the information from the […]

Using a quality transformer is important in the performance equation of products. This article reviews what makes a quality transformer and the benefits.

Whether you live in the United States, Canada, Mexico, or on another continent, traveling overseas can pose problems when taking along electrical appliances because of voltage differences in various countries around the world.

Learn about the value of compact, precision frequency and voltage converters for clean power in the research and test lab.

Learn how to adjust out speed error in turntables.

Learn how to block mains power DC from reaching audio equipment.

When your electronic collectibles' power requirements do not match local mains power, remember to consider aligning wattage, voltage AND frequency requirements to assure your devices are operational and safe.

Find out how to power your valuable electronics in a new country. Learn about power converter terminology, about adapters, transformers and more.

Learn how to power your model railroad trains in another country. How to power Lionel trains and O-gauge trains in UK, Australia, New Zealand.

Who can you call to find out how to power your electronics in another country?

Learn what you can do to power your electronic professional tools in another country. What to consider when converting power.

It is now possible to collect antique electronics from around the world. This blog talks about power conversion for electronic collectables.

Some examples of KCC Scientific's power conversion solutions for industry.

Several times over the years, customers have come to us wanting to power either vintage or otherwise unique fans. Thor seems to be the best product for this application, since it has the power output needed for most fans of this type. A few years ago, a UK-based customer bought a beautiful US-manufactured vintage fan […]

Powering electric clocks and flip clocks is where it all started for us! Our Chronos is a favorite with countless customers worldwide.  Recently we had a customer with a favorite flip clock move from the USA to Europe. After arriving in his new home, he was disappointed to learn that a transformer would not solve […]

Athena is the favorite of many for powering salon-style professional clippers designed to operate on 115V AC, 60Hz. We have had several customers contact us after trying import-quality products, and after having bad experiences with them such as catastrophic failure and (frighteningly!) fire. Athena is now gently powering these devices safely and silently, and our […]

Devices with AC motors, such as turntables and tape players, are often designed to work only within the region where they were manufactured. Many US-based turntable manufacturers produce units equipped to operate with 115V AC at 60Hz. When operated outside the USA, even if the voltage is transformer stepped down from 230V AC to 115V […]

Numerous times, we have had customers coming to us wishing to power audio electronics, including tube preamplifiers. Some of the audio equipment is vintage; eg, manufactured in the 1950’s or 1960’s, some is relatively new, manufactured in the last 20 years.  But the problem is the same:  the owner wishes to power the amplifier or […]

Learn how to power electronics from overseas. How to convert power for electronics from another country and how to power your vintage electronics.

Learn about power conversion for U-Turn turntables.

We love our friends at U-Turn, as well as their customers.  We have been taking care of both for many years. The U-Turn is designed to accept 60Hz mains frequency in order to operate at the right speed.  When folks relocate to 50Hz countries, they need our products to use the U-Turn.  We provide exactly […]

“KCC Scientific Clean Power converters will match the voltage, frequency and power (wattage) requirements to your valued device, assuring you are operational anywhere in the world.” Perhaps you finally received that well-deserved promotion involving relocation, or simply have purchased that coveted vintage audio from across the globe. In the new country, the power standards may […]

We take it for granted.  We plug our high-performance audio systems and clocks into it.  We count on it being there when we need it to power everything from vacuum cleaners to washing machines. The playback pitch of our turntables, tape players, and the accuracy of our electric clocks depends on 60Hz (in the USA) […]

Perhaps you finally received that well-deserved promotion involving relocation, or you’ve purchased that coveted vintage audio from across the globe. In the new country, the power standards may be very different compared to where you are today. For the World Citizen, KCC Scientific offers trustworthy, high-precision, scientific-grade voltage and frequency converters. Like no other, KCC […]

Is magneto-therapy the latest promising non-invasive medical treatment? Well, we can’t say for sure either way.  But for certain, every day there seems to be an innovative new treatment for whatever ails you.  Most recently, some interest has gained momentum around magneto-therapy.  This is a treatment which uses electromagnetic impulses to treat a localized ailing […]

When one considers a company’s quality philosophy, product quality obviously comes to mind first. At KCC Scientific, it means much more. Yes, our products are meticulously designed and built with the best quality components to fit the tasks at hand. And, the products are hand-built and tested to assure performance. But keep in mind that […]

The following blog is also summarized in this video, courtesy of flipclockfans.com. Video: Choosing the Proper Converter for your Clock While the fascination with US-made flip clocks may have had its beginning in North America, flip clock fans can now be found the world over. The problem for collectors of these clocks outside of the United […]

If you wish to browse our line of frequency and voltage converters: https://www.kccscientific.com/frequency-converters/ Maybe you are a traveler, and as a result you encounter the multiple power grids across the globe. In North America, the standard power grid provides 115V AC at 60Hz, while on the majority of the rest of the globe; the power […]

Finally, you are an international athlete! Congratulations! Whether recreational, sub-elite or an elite athlete, balancing more factors on the international stage is a challenge. Optimizing elite performance with health management take on new challenges, including powering your recovery devices in a country outside of where you call home.  For this application, we always recommend Athena. […]

What is KCC Scientific’s Hercules voltage and frequency converter, and where might you need it? The 200-Watt Hercules is KCC Scientific’s most powerful frequency converter (today). This converter is 100% universal; allowing you to set either output voltage (115V or 230V AC) or output frequency (50Hz or 60Hz) from the front panel. With an output […]

KCC Scientific products have conservative power ratings and are well-protected against overloads, securing both the converter itself and the device you’re operating. This is no accident; that is the way we intended it. When selecting a voltage and frequency converter, save yourself worry and future disappointment by settling for nothing less than a product that […]

Maybe you are planning to travel overseas, and you are worried about plug compatibility between your prized electrical devices and what’s available in the country you plan to visit.   Or, perhaps you are moving overseas for a temporary assignment that could last several years. What will you do about your plug-in devices once you arrive […]

Power line conversion needs are many! Historically, it seemed that the solutions were few. The most popular solution over the years has been the “voltage converter” or transformer. Unfortunately, this is a sad and ineffective solution if frequency (50Hz or 60Hz) was the reason your prized device would not work in a geographic location outside […]

Recently we received this inquiry from a customer in the UK. He was trying to solve a serious problem powering his tube preamplifier, and wondered if we could help. Read on! Hello, I live in the the UK and have recently purchased a pre-owned high end tube based pre-amplifier from the USA. I have tried […]

What we strive to offer here at KCC Scientific is an unsurpassed combination of innovative products and support for our customers. Much has gone into making our customer service and our power conversion technology stand out from ANY power product offering, and our efforts continue daily. We strive to maintain our spirit of innovation, both […]

Recently we ran across yet another super low cost so-called frequency converter (this one specifically targeted at shavers).  We found it on our favorite high-volume online “A” merchant site; you know, we’ve all bought goods there.  No one in our office ever heard of this particular manufacturer. We bought one of those so-called frequency converters, […]

Perhaps you finally received that well-deserved promotion. Congratulations! But there’s a catch—you must relocate to a different country. In the new country, the power standards may be very different from what you have today. Whether you’re moving from North America to another region or vice versa, you could be faced with the issue of power […]

Many people have, at one time or another, owned or tried one of many “budget” import voltage converters.  Actually, we’ve evaluated several.  While we’re not going to drop names (no need to–most are equivalently disappointing), suffice it to say that many come in with very low scores.  Yes, they do convert power (more or less), […]

If you’re an audiophile, you have probably experienced it. You have fought off hum, harmonics, pops, and hiss.  Someone turns on a mixer in another room of your home and you hear high-pitched tones coming through the speakers.  While not all of these affects always come through the power line or outlets, many do.  And […]

Recently we set up and did some measurements on several popular high-end clippers.  Our analysis is published below! Wahl Balding Clipper:  Rated at 11 Watts, 115V AC 60Hz; Andis Master ML:  Rated at 15 Watts, 115V AC 60Hz; Oster Model 10:  Rated at 40 Watts, 115V AC 60Hz; BaByliss PRO FXF880:  Rated at 11 Watts, […]