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How to Make a Homemade Power Converter

Electrical devices that are designed to be used in North America are wired to use 120 volts alternating current (AC). If you take such a device to another part of the world -- such as Europe, Asia or Australia, where the signal voltage is between 220 and 240 volts -- you will need a power converter to use the device. A power converter converts an AC signal from one voltage level to another.

Things You'll Need

240-volt, two-wire electrical cord
Electrical pliers
Electronic solder
Soldering iron
240V/120V transformer
Electrical wire
Solder-type spade terminals
Screwdriver
120-volt electrical receptacle

Instructions

- 1
  Pull apart the wire ends of the electrical cord until there is a 6-inch separation between the wire ends. Strip 1/2 inch of insulating material from each wire end.
- 2
  Place one of the wire ends of the electrical cord on one of the terminals on the 240V side of the transformer. Melt a small drop of solder to both the terminal and the wire and smooth out the soldered joint until the joint is shiny and free of lumps. Use this procedure to solder the remaining wire end to the other terminal on the 240V side of the transformer.
- 3
  Cut four pieces of electrical wire and strip 1/2 inch of insulation from the ends of each wire segment.
- 4
  Solder one end of the first wire to one of the terminals on the 120V side of the transformer. Solder one end of the second wire to the remaining terminal on the 120V side of the transformer.
- 5
  Place a spade terminal over the loose end of the first wire and solder the terminal to the wire.
- 6
  Place a ring terminal over one end of the second wire and solder the terminal to the wire.
- 7
  Hold the electrical receptacle right-side up with the back facing you. Loosen one of the screw terminals on the right side of the power receptacle. Place the spade terminal that is connected to the first wire between the screw head and the right-side metal terminal. Tighten the screw so that the screw head holds the spade terminal snugly to the metal terminal on the receptacle.
- 8
  Loosen one of the screw terminals on the left side of the power receptacle. Place the spade terminal that is connected to the second wire between the screw head and the left-side metal terminal. Tighten the screw so that the screw head holds the spade terminal snugly to the metal terminal on the receptacle.
- 9
  Insert the 240-volt plug into the wall outlet. Plug your 120-volt device into the 120-volt receptacle.

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