PowerLine 0900-27 Global Power Travel Kit

This item offered here (PowerLine 0900-27 Global Power Travel Kit) is actually two different converters built into one package. At LOW setting (up to 50W), it uses a small AC transformer to convert 220V sinusoidal waveform into a 110V sinusoidal waveform. This is the preferred approach which works well for any low power appliance.

To handle higher power, however, the AC transformer must be made bulkier and heavier (around 20 pounds just for 1000W). This makes it impractical as a travel voltage converter for large-wattage appliance. Therefore at HIGH setting (50-1600W), this converter simply uses a solid-state switch inside to chop off part of the input 220V sinusoidal waveform. This is exactly how an incandescent lamp dimmer works. However, its output waveform is highly distorted and is far from an 110V sinusoidal AC voltage.

A purely resistive appliance (such as travel iron or water heater) will work just fine regardless of different voltage waveform. But if you ever try to power an electronic appliance (such as TV, computer or battery charger) with this distorted 220V waveform, it will probably be fried in an instant! My advice is to stay away from this potentially destructive product - unless you are really, REALLY careful about what to plug in.

If you have to bring electronic appliances with your oversea trips, make sure they are rated for universal voltage of 100-240V AC. Power supplies for most portable electronics (laptop, camcorder, cell-phone, electric shavers, etc.) are already designed to accept 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. If that is the case, all you need is a set of plug adapters, which you can purchase separately without a converter.

We used this on our recent trip to the UK. We visited England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Ireland, and Wales. We used this at every stop. Hooked a 1600 watt blow dryer, a 1200 watt curling iron and even used it to recharge my camcorded battery. This little unit never gave me the first problem.

This item worked well. It was bulky and a little heavier than I would have liked it to be; but still, it has survived several layovers in O'Hare and that's more than I can say for my suitcase!

I have had this on 1 trip to Switzerland and Germany. I did not use the voltage converter, only the plugs. The adapters worked great, although trying to figure which ones you need so you only pack the correct ones is not easy, the "manual" in the package is no help. The plastic case is cheap and broke while in my suitcase during the flight over.

If you are looking for just the adapters this is a good value. I can't comment however if the voltage converter works.

I would not recommend this product at all. We bought it new for a trip to New Zealand just to have an extra for my husband's laptop. The 3rd time he plugged it in, we went out for a bite to eat and came back to find our hotel room smoky and smelling like an electrical fire. The converter literally melted; we had to use the ice tongs to pick it up. Imagine if we'd stayed out with friends! I'm buying another Franz. Had mine for years and never had a problem.