Visiting the United States of America requires you to be aware of the available voltage, electrical frequency, and types of electrical outlet and plugs they have. It is very important especially to those who plan to bring electrical devices or appliances in their trip. The available voltage in the United States of America (USA) is 120 Volts with an electrical frequency of 60 Hertz.

Resistor Network Voltage Converter

Nowadays, most electrical devices and appliances use 220-240 volts with an electrical frequency of 50 Hertz. If this is the case for your device, a voltage converter would be needed. There are three kinds of voltage converters that are available in the United States of America. First is the resistor network converter that supports electrical devices and appliances that  have a watt rating of 50-1600 watts. This kind of voltage converter can only be used for a short time and are not ideal for digital devices.

Transformer Voltage Converter

Another kind of voltage converter you can use in the USA is the transformer. This kind of voltage converter usually supports devices and appliances that have a lower watt rating of 50-100 watts. It is heavier than the resistor network converters but can be used continuously and provides better electricity.

Combination Voltage Converter

The third type of voltage converter is called the combination converter, which is basically a combination of both resistor network and transformer converters. This kind of voltage converter caters to electrical devices and appliances with both high and low watt ratings. They usually come with a switch that switches between two modes. It is the most convenient among travelers because of its size, weight and usage.

It is also advised that tourists who wish to visit the United States of America use a universal adapter.The universal adapter is the most convenient type of adapter since it is compatible with any type of electrical plug.

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Electrical Outlet and Plug Types in the USA

NEMA 1-15 Electrical Plug and Outlet

Electrical outlet types in the United States of America basically accept only one kind of plug: the two flat blade plug. This type of electrical outlet and plug is called Type A or the North American or Japanese 2-blade electrical plug. This type of electrical plug is commonly known as the NEMA 1-15 and has two flat parallel pins or blades. The design of the NEMA 1-15 allows the blades of the electrical plug to be inserted either horizontally or vertically. Nowadays, the neutral blade of the NEMA 1-15 modern electrical plugs are wider than the live blade so that it could only be inserted in one direction. The only problem with modern NEMA 1-15 is that it will not fit the traditional Type A outlets, however, both old and new Type A electrical plug will fit the new Type A and Type B electrical outlets. This kind of electrical plug can be used in North American countries, Middle East, and parts of Asia.

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