Maker Pro
Maker Pro

Help with understanding Polarity Selector switch

desertguy

May 19, 2012
4
Joined
May 19, 2012
Messages
4
Hi guys, I have a quick question; I have a European appliance that is a 220 and I need to run it in the US.....I bought an AC/DC adapter thru Amazon.com and was getting ready to hook it up to the unit but I see it has what's called a reverse polarity switch on it that you turn with a little key; It's called a Polarity selector and one side turns to the left which is a + and the other side on the right is a - (minus sign) What is this Polarity switch and do I turn it to the plus or minus to safely run the European appliance here in the States? thanks!
 

davenn

Moderator
Sep 5, 2009
14,254
Joined
Sep 5, 2009
Messages
14,254
hi desertguy
welcome

the AC side shouldnt have a polarity selector since there is no fixed polarity

I can only assume, without more info, that it selects the polarity of the DC output
so that the centre pin of the DC plug can be switched to either + or -

but back up a bit....

you start by saying you have an appliance that works of 220VAC but then you are talking about an AC/DC adaptor ??

you dont use an AC/DC adaptor on an AC appliance

Dave
 

Rleo6965

Jan 22, 2012
585
Joined
Jan 22, 2012
Messages
585
You need AC Step UpTransformer that will conver 110V AC into 220V AC for your aplliance. Be sure to buy correct Wattage.
 

Wabajig

Apr 14, 2012
75
Joined
Apr 14, 2012
Messages
75
We have 220vac in the states in circuit breaker box, is it the frequency 50hz or 60hz that is the problem?
 

Rleo6965

Jan 22, 2012
585
Joined
Jan 22, 2012
Messages
585
If your Appliance have no AC motor. I think it would not be a problem.
 

desertguy

May 19, 2012
4
Joined
May 19, 2012
Messages
4
I appreciate your help guys. It turns out that it works fine when switched to either the plus or the minus.
 
Top