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| It's not a problem if you are talking about a gadget that has a transformer.
Hertz is a measure of how many times the alternating current (AC) alternates polarity each second. Standard is 50hz in europe but 60hz in the US. Direct Current (DC) doesn't alternate (kinda obvious from the name, right?).
Transformers convert voltage, but they also convert AC to DC (direct current). Take a look at the transformer for your computer or whatever. If it accepts 100-240-ish volts, 99.99% sure it will also accept 50-60 hertz. The output side of the transformer won't say how many hertz, because when the AC gets changed to DC, the hertz rate becomes zero.
I guess in theory the hertz difference might cause an issue in an old AC current electric motor.
I probably wouldn't want my life support machine run this way, but something like a food processor isn't exactly running at max efficiency in the first place, and it doesn't seem to notice the difference in hertz.
We have a blender, food processor, mixer, etc. that came over from the States and even though they all say 60hz on the label (I just looked), they all run fine just being plugged into a Step down converter. | |
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| Darn, Jack of all trades beat me to it, curse my slow typing! | |
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I think I wasn't clear... Hertz is a measurement of frequency, which impacts things like how frequently a motor turns or a quartz crystal vibrates, etc. This is why, despite transformers and adapters, US clocks plugged in over here won't keep accurate time, and US electrical motors will eventually burn out over here...