Best-Car-Care.com - Jensen 1600 Watt Power Converter Kit JEN1600
List Price: $25.95
Our Price: $19.97
Your Save: $ 5.98 ( 23% )
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Manufacturer: Jensen
Average Customer Rating:
Binding: Electronics Brand: Jensen EAN: 0079000332589 Feature: Converts voltage (220/240V AC) to U.S. voltage (110/120V AC) Label: Jensen Legal Disclaimer: Warranty does not cover misuse of product. Manufacturer: Jensen Model: JEN1600 Publisher: Jensen Studio: Jensen
Features
Converts voltage (220/240V AC) to U.S. voltage (110/120V AC) Includes 5 adapter plugs and storage case
Customer Rating: Summary: Not really a VOLTAGE converter Comment: The description of this product (Jensen 1600 Watt Power Converter Kit JEN1600) is about as believeable as any election campaign promise. First of all, it falsely claimed that this product "Converts voltage (220/240V AC) to U.S. voltage (110/120V AC)". Secondly, it failed to mention that you can only use this product for simple HEATING appliances from 500-1600W, and never for any electronic appliances.
To actually convert a 220V sinusoidal waveform into a 110V sinusoidal waveform, you need to use an AC transformer. This product, on the other hand, uses a solid-state switch inside to 'chop off' part of the 220V sinusoidal waveform. This is exactly how an incandescent lamp dimmer works. The resulted waveform, however, is highly distorted and is far from a 110V sinusoidal voltage.
Most simple HEATING appliances (such as travel iron or hair dryer) work just fine regardless of distorted voltage waveform. Therefore you can safely used them with this POWER converter. But if you ever try to plug in an electronic appliance (such as DVD player, computer or microwave oven), then either the converter or the appliance could be fried in an instant!
My advice is to stay away from this potentially destructive product. If you must bring electronic appliances with your oversea trips, make sure they are rated for universal voltage of 100-240V AC. That way, you can safely use them in other countries without the need for a volatge converter. All you need is a set of universal plug adapters.
Power supplies for most portable electronics (laptop, camcorder, cell-phone, electric shavers, etc.) are already designed for universal voltage, although some of them may require you to physically flip a voltage-selection switch. Check the user manual or the AC input plug of your appliance to make sure. Customer Rating: Summary: I used this in the UK with no problems Comment: I have used the Jensen 1600 on two trips to the UK and had no problems. My daughter used it with her iPod and it didn't hurt it. I charged up my camera with no problems. We also bought the Jensen 50 for my daughter's iPod and it almost ruined it, but this worked fine. Maybe other countries are not as suited for use as the UK. I didn't use it with a hair dryer or a microwave either. Customer Rating: Summary: great product Comment: Great product works great for the 500-1600 wattage range listed. My uncle in Europe tried all sorts of converters for his breadmaker and this is the only one that worked right. Customer Rating: Summary: Couldn't Use Do To Smoking Comment: I tried to use this in Germany. It started smoking and smelling burnt about 3 minutes into use. I never used it again. Customer Rating: Summary: Can't say it is junk but I'm not sure what it should be used for Comment: I bought this converter a few weeks ago to power up my microwave oven. I popped in a bag of corn and used the preset timer 'Popcorn' which is about three minutes. At the end of three minutes the job was incomplete so I decided to give it an extra minute, as soon as I press the start button: Pop but this time it was not the corn. the converter went dead. Can't say what this piece of equipment is designed to used with, it says heating appliances. Well I would have thought that a microwave oven is a heating appliance but someone has proven me wrong. So if you plan on using this with a microwave oven, please save your money!
