November 5, 2019 by Teri Reindel The newly-celebrated KonMari Method™ has people around the world organizing their living spaces to KonMari™ . What if the item that “sparks joy” is an electronic device from the other side of the world? What if that valued audio turntable that you loved in your childhood has different power…
DC Blocking for Powering Audio
During our recent presentation at RMAF in Aurora, CO., we received several questions about blocking mains power DC from reaching audio equipment. Why is this important? After all, don’t audio products process the AC part of the input power waveform? DC (direct current) is the absolute enemy of power transformers. A vast majority of audio…
The Notre Dame Cathedral Fire: KCC Scientific Discusses Electrical Treasures, Power and Safety.
Images of the ancient Notre Dame Cathedral going up in flames sparked shock and dismay across the globe and in France, where it is considered one of the nation’s most beloved treasures. Currently, investigators are working around two theories of what caused the devastating fire at Notre-Dame cathedral: a short circuit near its spire, possibly…
Traveling or relocating overseas?
Find out how you power your valuable electronics in a new country. Learn power converter terminology, adapters & more.
50Hz Turntable in 60Hz Geography?
Or is your challenge powering a 60Hz turntable in a 50Hz geography? Either way, you have probably thought about changing belts, idlers or capstans to accommodate the different mains frequency of the local geography. Customers routinely come to us with challenges around powering Braun, Thorens, Phillips, Lenco, ERA, U-Turn and other turntables outside of the…
Lionel Trains and O-Gauge
When I was a child, I remember going up into the attic of our home, where my dad and brothers were building incredible Lionel model railroad “systems” (for lack of a better word) complete with Type-ZW transformer, whistling locomotives, bridges, multiple levels, and every manner of landscape imaginable. It was a world onto itself. Years…
Who you gonna call….?
Most of us are all too familiar with the famous Ghostbusters theme phrase. In this business, things are similar. If you have a problem powering a device outside its country of origin, and you’re not sure what to do, who are you going to call? It turns out, you can call us! We’ve fielded questions…
Electronic “Tools of the Trade” Powered Anywhere in the World!
You are the consummate professional of your trade and have relocated to another region of the world. You are happy about the move! But now your favorite “tools of the trade” no longer operate properly. This is not unusual. With the differences in frequency and voltage standards across the globe, it’s almost inevitable. Perhaps you…
Collectible Electronics Go Global!
KCC Scientific Converters have ended the historic power grid differences for devices under 200 watts. Yes, now it is possible to collect valued electronics from around the globe. Do you have your eye on that vintage German Braun turntable? Buy it now! Then, go to https://www.kccscientific.com and select the Athena frequency converter. Then, from the…
Happy Hew Year!
Like everyone we are renewing our goals for the year. Here at KCC Scientific we have taken on a quest of: “Creating a Unified, Worldwide Virtual Power Grid for Devices under 1000 Watts”. The world has gone Global. We have a global economy, global knowledge via the Internet, global communication from cellphones, and global entertainment…
‘Tis the Season of Longing for the Comforts of Hearth and Home
We at KCC Scientific are reminded during this season how much nostalgia and comfort are brought to folks worldwide through their valued heirloom electronics. This week we shipped a Thor Frequency Converter to a gentleman in California wanting to power his early 1960’s Braun record player from Germany. Last week we shipped a Chronos Frequency…
U-Turn Turntables vs. 230V AC 50Hz
A few times we’ve been approached by customers after they had plugged the U-Turn turntable into 230V AC 50Hz. You can guess the result…the AC adapter gets intensely hot, smokes, melts, and the main breakers in the home trip off. This is a very bad idea! First, it can cause a fire! Second, it can…
Powering U-Turn Audio 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…
Visit Us at Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 2018
“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…
The Dirty Little Secret about Mains Power Line Frequency
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)…
KCC Scientific Ends Historic Power Grid Conversion Problems for Audiophiles
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…
Who needs a frequency converter? I will simply buy an inverter…
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 wave inverter and that will do the job.” Pretty interesting idea! Yes, a proper…
Powering Magneto-therapy Devices
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…
The KCC Scientific Quality Philosophy
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…
Powering Flip Clocks with Chronos
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…
Transformers vs. Voltage and 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 grid is 230V AC at 50Hz. Or, maybe you wish to purchase a…
Powering Athletic Recovery Equipment with Athena
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….
Can Hercules Power an Appliance? The Washing Machine Challenge!
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…
What is Surge Power? Why Does it Matter with Voltage and Frequency Conversion?
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…
Clarifying Power Conversion Terminology
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…
KCC Scientific Exciting Success Stories
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…
Hercules and Thor: Powering USA-Manufactured Audio equipment overseas
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…
The KCC Scientific Difference
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 the alternatives, and our efforts continue daily. We strive to maintain our spirit of innovation, both in the…
That’s a frequency converter? Wait, what?
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,…
Relocating overseas? How do you power your appliances in the new country?
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…
Why does a clean, smooth sine wave matter?
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),…
What do you mean by “Clean Power”?
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…
How much power does your clipper/shaver REALLY need?
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,…
What Sets Our Frequency Converter Products Apart?
Often the most powerful innovations come from personal frustration – a simple way to convert frequency at a non-astronomical price, in our case—and the creative solutions that stem from those who dedicate themselves to finding a better way. This is how we at KCC Scientific started on our personal mission to respond to numerous problems…