Use voltage converter backward

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I got a Foreign Voltage Converter made by Recoton. Like others in
Wal-Mart, it converts 220-240 volts AC to 110-120 volts AC. I want one
that can convert the other way, 110-120 volts to 220-240 volts. Is it
possible I plug in 110 volt into the output end of this and expect 220
volt from its input? I need this because I bought a gadget that needs
220 volt power. Thanks.

Yong Huang

 

[Gerard Bok]

I got a Foreign Voltage Converter made by Recoton. Like others in
Wal-Mart, it converts 220-240 volts AC to 110-120 volts AC. I want one
that can convert the other way, 110-120 volts to 220-240 volts. Is it
possible I plug in 110 volt into the output end of this and expect 220
volt from its input? I need this because I bought a gadget that needs
220 volt power. Thanks.

If the 'converter' is a transformer, you can do this.

There is a snag though. Quite often these converters provide for
'loss'. So they do not have a 2:1 turn ratio but for instance
2:1.1
If you plug such a beast in reverse, the 'loss compensation'
works against you and you will end up with far less than 230
Volt. Which, in turn, may hurt your gadget.