Electrickery?

Belly · 3 Jan 2018 at 10:45

Hi, I'm off to Mexico on Monday, I've just read that their voltage is 110 with 60 cycles.

Could someone please advise me on the following:

The wife wants to take a travel kettle from UK the label reads: 120 - 240v. 50/60hz. 270 - 1800w.

Would it be safe to use the kettle?

Does hz in 50/60hz mean cycles?

We're intending to take our Samsung Galaxy Tab S and are two mobile phones LG G5 and Samsung J5.

I read somewhere that Tablets and Mobiles automatically select the correct voltage. Is that correct, I wouldn't want to trash the Tab and Phones.

I realise the plug is different and I've already purchased a couple of those.

Thank you

ubersonic · 3 Jan 2018 at 10:52

Belly said:
Would it be safe to use the kettle?

Yes, it's well within spec.

ubersonic · 3 Jan 2018 at 10:53

Belly said:
We're intending to take our Samsung Galaxy Tab S and are two mobile phones LG G5 and Samsung J5.

I read somewhere that Tablets and Mobiles automatically select the correct voltage. Is that correct, I wouldn't want to trash the Tab and Phones.

The tablets/phones don't, the chargers usually do (the tablets/phones these days just take universal USB DC power supplied by the charger).

adolf hamster · 3 Jan 2018 at 10:57

check your phone chargers for having the 110v 60hz (they should do, most stuff these days they make universal), the kettle shouldn't be an issue considering it's built for much more power, you'll likely find it a bit slower though.

touch · 3 Jan 2018 at 10:59

ubersonic said:
Yes, it's well within spec.

Technically, it's not, but i'm sure it'll be fine.
110v supplied is not within the 120 - 240 range on the spec of the kettle.

The nominal supply voltage isn't an exact steady voltage though. It'll probably be +- 10% or something.

ubersonic · 3 Jan 2018 at 11:10

touch said:
Technically, it's not, but i'm sure it'll be fine.
110v supplied is not within the 120 - 240 range on the spec of the kettle.

It's +/- 10%, so it's really 108-264v

Belly · 3 Jan 2018 at 11:10

Thanks everyone! Really Helpful. Unfortunately I can't get my head around electricity but from what you've all written I'd assume I'm safe?

I've got a 4 port Anker Charger for Tab and Samsung: input: 100 - 240v -0.9A. 50 - 60 hz

LG Fast Charger: Anker but 0.5A

adolf hamster · 3 Jan 2018 at 11:13

Belly said:
Thanks everyone! Really Helpful. Unfortunately I can't get my head around electricity but from what you've all written I'd assume I'm safe?

I've got a 4 port Anker Charger for Tab and Samsung: input: 100 - 240v -0.9A. 50 - 60 hz

LG Fast Charger: Anker but 0.5A

should be find then, one of the wonderful advantages these days of everything being usb chargable you only need one decent brick and it'll go anywhere

413x · 3 Jan 2018 at 11:15

As long as wall plug says 110-240 you should be fine.

Only modern device I've had issues with is Nintendo DS! It's country specific.

Much more of an issue when 110v countries come to 240v country!

Rroff · 3 Jan 2018 at 11:26

Looks like that Kettle can operate at wide range of voltage and current so shouldn't be an issue - one thing to bare in mind though is that if it was 110V @ 1800 watt that would likely blow the fuse on a lot of those sockets which IIRC are rated for 15 amp in Mexico except for specific sockets.

touch · 3 Jan 2018 at 11:28

ubersonic said:
It's +/- 10%, so it's really 108-264v

The supply voltage will also have a variance (probably close to 10% also?) so it can still be out of spec.

Kol · 3 Jan 2018 at 11:29

Rroff said:
Looks like that Kettle can operate at wide range of voltage and current so shouldn't be an issue - one thing to bare in mind though is that if it was 110V @ 1800 watt that would likely blow the fuse on a lot of those sockets which IIRC are rated for 15 amp in Mexico except for specific sockets.

Good point, it'd be drawing 16A+ at 1800w but it looks like that's variable too.

something daft already!! · 3 Jan 2018 at 11:29

I find they take a while to boil though.

Rroff · 3 Jan 2018 at 11:53

Kol said:
Good point, it'd be drawing 16A+ at 1800w but it looks like that's variable too.

Have to say I have no idea how the variable wattage range comes into play and whether that is something switchable or a side effect of different voltages (though the maths doesn't quite add up for that).

Tunney · 3 Jan 2018 at 12:21

Taking a kettle on holiday abroad is the most British thing ever.

adolf hamster · 3 Jan 2018 at 12:22

Tunney said:
Taking a kettle on holiday abroad is the most British thing ever.

i thought that was taking a smartly dressed army to subdue the natives?

Kol · 3 Jan 2018 at 12:42

Rroff said:
Have to say I have no idea how the variable wattage range comes into play and whether that is something switchable or a side effect of different voltages (though the maths doesn't quite add up for that).

Me either... been looking at it and it's not too clear.

OP, do you have a model number?

Duke · 3 Jan 2018 at 15:16

something daft already!! said:
I find they take a while to boil though.

Roland Butter · 3 Jan 2018 at 15:24

"Taking a kettle on holiday abroad is the most British thing ever."

Not just the kettle, tea bags, shortbread fingers, Jaffa cakes, Nivea, wet wipes, and bog roll.

My petite travel kettle gives top performance in UK and USA.

Actually I find it boils quicker when on the 110v setting in the USA, their electricity must be
hotter than ours.

Dirk Diggler · 3 Jan 2018 at 17:47

Kettle will be fine, it's a resistive load. And forget about the frequency (Hz) it won't make a difference for the time you'll be there and the items you're using.