SIMRAN Step Down Transformer THG-500 - Transformer - AC 220/230 V - 500 Watt

by SIMRAN

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

500 Watt maximum capacity heavy-duty continuous use transformer. It converts single phase 220/240 Volts down to 110/120 Volts. One grounded outlet in front of unit (accepts 3 or 2 prong US and Euro plugs). Hard wired with a European Shucko plug also good for Asian outlets. Built-in fuse protection. Durable design with a heavy-duty cord. TRANSFORMER PURCHASE GUIDE: Remember to leave at least a 100% slack for the voltage converter transformer. For the TVs, the power surge margin is 5 times the wattage of the TV. Heating appliances, laser printers and power tools spike when you turn them on. For these products you need to buy a voltage converter transformer that is at least 3 times the items capacity

Product Description

500 Watt maximum capacity heavy-duty continuous use transformer » Converts 220/240 Volts down to 110/120 Volts » One grounded outlet in front of unit (accepts 3 or 2 prong US and Euro plugs) » Hard wired with a European Shucko plug also good for Asian outlets » Built-in fuse protection » Durable design with a heavy-duty cord Weight: 8 Lbs Dimensions(LxBxH): 6" X 6" X 5"

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 3.8 x 6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000278S3M
• Item model number: THG-500
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #26,126 in Home Improvement (See Top 100 in Home Improvement)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic, albeit a bit bulky., June 13, 2009

By 

A. DuPriest "Jubilee" (Fort Worth, Texas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: SIMRAN Step Down Transformer THG-500 - Transformer - AC 220/230 V - 500 Watt (Tools & Home Improvement)

My family and I just returned from our two week trip to France and Italy. Before we left, I searched around for a few weeks before I committed to buying some good converters for us to bring.

One of the most important things I learned in this process was that not all chargers and electronic products can handle the 240 volts of power that the plugs in Europe put out. For example, my Nintendo DS charger can handle anywhere from 110-240 volts, but my digital camera battery charger can only handle the 110. To check for this information, look on the back of your chargers and in the manuals of your appliances. There should be a little box of details that will tell you how many volts it can handle.

If all of your appliances can handle 240, you don't need to buy a step-down converter like this one. However, if you can't find that information or the appliance says otherwise, DON'T RISK IT. BUY A STEP-DOWN CONVERTER.

Yes, step-down converters are bigger. This one that I'm reviewing weighs 7 pounds. And yes, they're more expensive, but just think about it this way:

It's better to spend $40 now on a full step-down converter and to sacrifice a little room in your luggage than to spend $5 for one of the tiny non-steps, plug in your iPod, fry it, and have to spend $200 in the long run to replace it. (Just an example. :D)

Also, another thing to check is how many watts your converter/transformer can handle versus how many watts your appliance uses.

This converter was perfect. We bought two of them, and with them we used two different hair straighteners, three different camera battery chargers, iPod chargers, and a Nintendo DS charger, and it worked great. Like I said before, it's bulky at 7 pounds, but this does exactly what you need it to do, and does it very well.

A final note on using it, too--make sure you shove the prongs ALL THE WAY INTO THE WALL. It fits in there nice and tight. :D

1.0 out of 5 stars -5 stars!!, January 6, 2012

By 

KIMBERLY D CASON (SAN FRANCISCO, CA, US) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: SIMRAN Step Down Transformer THG-500 - Transformer - AC 220/230 V - 500 Watt (Tools & Home Improvement)

You have to be kidding me! I found a 1600w step-down from Brookstone that is super light. This one is only 50w, which would've been fine, but Due to the fact that it weighs about 10-15lbs, I think not!! Not convenient for travel. Also, when I unpacked it, it was dented in (NOT good for electrical equipment, and it had a funny electrical smell. I wouldn't trust this thing with the cheapest appliance. This is going back.

4.0 out of 5 stars Carefu, this is only one way transformerl, February 4, 2011

By 

Mark E. Barrett (Bangkok Thailand) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: SIMRAN Step Down Transformer THG-500 - Transformer - AC 220/230 V - 500 Watt (Tools & Home Improvement)

I bought this to take back to use in Thailand for my keyboard. Whoops, I found out it was only a one-way transformer, useful only in 220 volt countries (to step down to 110). Actually, that is implied in the name of the product, so I should have read more carefully. So, I have to bring this one to Thailand and bring back the one I bought over here, which is two-way and thus twice as useful. Just a matter of attaching a receptacle on each side -- why didn't they do that!! Buyer beware.