220 Electronics Step Up & Down Voltage Converter DS-1000
The Diamond Series Step Up & Down Voltage Converter changes standard United States 110 input voltage to the 220 volt standard used in Europe or vice versa easily with this convenient converter.
Ease of Use, Performance: 25/25
Look & Feel: 23/25
Features 24/25
How much I enjoy 23/25
Total: 95/100
220 Electronics is a smaller company based in Elk Grove, Illinois that sells a variety of electronics including a full line of economic and the better Diamond Series voltage converters. The Diamond Series DS-1000 is a step up and step down voltage converter that takes either the 110 volt or 220 volt standard and pushes it to the other standard using a large transformer with appropriate circuit protection.
The DS-1000 Voltage Converter is rated up to 1000 watts of power from either the 110 volt or 220 voltage input using either the two prong adapter or three prong power plug. The DS-1000 has four outlets on the front and is current and voltage protected for an excellent continuous use voltage converter.
The United States uses a common three prong power cord and wall outlet with two flat blades and a round ground plug while the common setup in Europe and a few other countries is the round two prong plug and wall outlets. Often if you have an electronic device form an odd company here in the United States or if you travel to Europe or another country you will need at least an adapter or for higher more power hungry devices a voltage converter.
The DS-1000 converts power from 110 volts input to the 220 volts or the other way around from 220 volts common in Europe to the 110 volts device from the United States often are wired for. The converter changes voltage by a simple transformer that is large enough to handle the current and power up to 1000 watts but it has plenty of protection to convert the power safely.
The DS-1000 Voltage Converter has two input types using the attached power cord that has the common United States three prong power cord with an adapter that changes the input to the common European plug. When using the voltage converter you need to make sure the slide switch on the back is also set to your input voltage.
This is one time when you really should check this voltage switch that is on the back of the voltage converter so that you have the correct input. On the back of the DS-1000 there is also the fuse for over current protection as well as the circuit breaker on the front that protects from overloads or short circuits.
The front of the DS-1000 has two 110 volt three prong outlets common to the United States and two 220 volt outlets, one that is a multi prong outlet and the one for the European common round two prong plug. There is also an on light to show when the converter is on, the DS-1000 is very simple to use as long as you understand what you have for input power and what you want.
Actually knowing the plug types and power supplied by the wall outlets where you want to use a device is the way to tell the power input, three prong 110 volt like the United States uses or the two prong common to Europe. Once you make sure the back power input switch is in the right position you simply plug in the power cord or power cord with adapter then plug your device into the appropriate front outlet.
If your converting to 110 volt while in Europe simply plug your device into one of the two three prong power outlets on the front and flip the circuit breaker switch. If you're in the United States, as I am, you plug the two prong or other odd, to us in the U.S., pronged cord into the two round outlet or the multi outlet and your ready to go.
The multi outlet is a type of multiple plug devised for various plugs common to Europe and the rest of the world to make the outlet usable for more than just one type of plug. The front of the DS-1000 has two outlets for 110 volt and two outlets for 220 volt so you should have plenty of space for a couple of devices.
The converter should have enough current for two devices to use at the same time as long as they are not power hungry things like microwaves or toasters. I charged a bodycruZer body shaver and used a coffee grinder at the same time with no problems so using the converter for these smaller devices should be fine.
If you need the converter for larger appliances like a microwave you might look to only use one thing at a time with the converter. I found all you had to do is plug in your device and flip the power switch to use the converter but if you need a converter you should also get the correctly rated model.
220 Electronics sells a couple of lines of converters and the Diamond series has from 100 watt to 5000 watt rated converters for sale starting at $20 and going to $175 for the 5000 watt. The 1000 watt DS-1000 model I received for reviewing can handle up to 1000 watts of power which is enough for many appliances and devices by themselves.
Many devices like blenders and even smaller microwaves are below or near 1000 watts but if you are going to need more power from your converter you can go for the highest rated one. I think the 1000 watt model which costs $70 before shipping is about right for most common appliances like blenders and personal care items like blow dryers and curling irons or even those shavers.
I had no problem using the 220 Electronic Diamond Series converter for the two months I had it and would highly recommend this if you need a converter for home or travel. This converter looks just fine with it gloss black exterior and is about as plain looking as you can get with its four outlets on the front.
While this converter is not the lightest at fourteen pounds it does have a convenient and sturdy handle on the top for toting the converter around. The voltage converter has enough power and a big enough transformer to handle those power hungry devices much better than those smaller converters available at stores like Wal-Mart.
The Diamond Series Voltage Converter from 220 Electronics like the DS-1000 is a great converter for your higher power needs to convert voltages from 110 or 220 volts common to other countries to the other voltage. The DS-1000 is an excellent converter and works well as a quick and easy device for converting power for your foreign devices whichever country your standing in.