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An American percolator in Australia - power adapter?
Oh for pity's sake! Once some of you people get an idea in your head you can't get it out again with a crowbar, and it seems fear is what cements it there!
From post #12 by the OP: "On the unit itself it says approx (actually a squiggly -) 125v at 10a and approx 250v at 5a."
Translated: "On the unit itself it says ~125v at 10a and ~250v at 5a." A "squiggly -" = ~ = AC.
As shocking as it is to some of you, it appears to be a dual voltage appliance and the OP has demonstrated it to be such. No fuses blew, no RCDs tripped, and it works! Nothing to see here; move along!
Really confused now. So, this was a 120V AC unit plugged into a 120V AC socket or what exactly...
Mal.
I read it this way... seems to me a 120V AC unit was plugged into an Aussie 240V AC socket using a cheap adapter from Bunnings. Talk about turbo-charged coffee... probably didn't take long to brew up a cuppa. If the RCD didn't trip it might be time to have a sparky look at the panel before everything melts down and bursts into flames
Hi Z,
Nice one. I will certainly look into one next time I'm in the US. I guess they must work for both voltages then [emoji6] Don't think I would have tried it, but glad you did and had no issues.
Make a good cup?
Well its different. The taste is much milder in flavor. Wasn't expecting it to be as strong as an espresso but it was more like tea (not a bad thing just different). I get why some people would like it. I didn't like it at first but its starting to grow on me.
To be fair I've been using some aldi ground coffee cause I don't currently have a grinder. I could probably add more coffee, currently using 2 tablespoons per cup.
Hi Z,
Nice one. I will certainly look into one next time I'm in the US. I guess they must work for both voltages then [emoji6] Don't think I would have tried it, but glad you did and had no issues.
Make a good cup?
Finally grew the balls to try it out. Worked fine. No issues.
For anyone else who might come across this, the brand is the presto percolator.
Coffee itself is very different to espresso. Its much milder/smoother. Not to my taste but I'm getting used to it. Always comes out streaming hot which I do like.
An American percolator in Australia - power adapter?
I will go in to Walmart and have a look in the next few days to give you an answer if you want.
Having a lot of stuff from the US and overseas (perks of being a sailor) and a few large and very bulky step down converters, it would surprise me a great deal if any cheaply produced appliance drawing high current (domestic) like this would be capable of voltage switching. I have got away with it in lamps from pottery barn and restoration hardware etc but they are only using low wattage in comparison.
Please, do not plug in any appliance to 240 that is not specifically designed to use it. Seriously. You could die in the flick of a switch - literally. Is it worth a $40 kettle?
There are many, just google or try Ebay
[ATTACH=CONFIG]7423[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]7424[/ATTACH]
Wow, I stand corrected. There is a good reason why those are not sold in stores here.
From a user review on Amazon
"I bought this for my trip to Australia to use with my flat iron for my hair. I double and triple checked the max load that this would convert and my flat iron was well within all the limits specified.
The first time I plugged it in it immediately blew the fuses in our hotel room and fried my favorite flat iron. Thanks a lot."
Thanks for the info. I havn't noticed a switch and the instructions don't have any details. I've emailed Presto. Now the waiting game, hopefully they respond.
This type of device usually uses a Series/Parallel selector switch.
Parallel for 120V and Series for 240V. If the unit came with a User Manual, it should be explained in there how to make the change from one to the other. If you're not sure, a quick trip to an licensed appliance repairer will sort it out for you in five minutes...
Thanks all. On the unit itself it says approx (actually a squiggly -) 125v at 10a and approx 250v at 5a.
Since I'm not going to pay a couple of hundred dollars to run this thing can I just plug it in and see. I don't care if the unit blows as it unusable anyway but if their is a risk of me burning the house down i would rather not.
My wife has purchased hair straightness from USA and run them without a transformer. So maybe just plug it in and see?
Hi zaheerkha
Don't people bother to read a post before replying?
In other words it is a dual voltage model... "125v at 10a and approx 250v at 5a" is definitive.
The only thing you need to know is whether it switches automatically (like most "universal" hair dryers and shavers do these days") or whether there is an actual switch. Often the switch is accessible externally, sometimes you have to pull the machine apart just to flick it.
Considering I have an early (1970's???) Panasonic percolator and reckon it is the worst way of making coffee in existence, I will be interested in your comments about what ends up in the cup!
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