Another Electricity Conversion Question

[Schneider]

OK, here's one for the engineers out there.

I bought a 120 volt hot air popcorn popper in Canada (couldn't find one here).

I thought I could simply plug it into a 220 - 120 volt converter that I have here (the same one works fine with my 120 volt stereo equipment).

The popcorn popper keeps blowing the fuse on the converter (immediately when the power is turned on).  It's a 2 amp fuse.

So:
1.  Is it the converter?
2.  Or is it the popcorn popper?
3.  Or is a 2 amp fuse too small (though I'm reluctant to just put in a bigger fuse).

[Popper]

I don't really know the answer but I think you can buy the microwavable popcorns from supermarkets and just pop them in micorwave oven.

[Olly]

A popper will probably have a heating element that uses somewhere around one kilowatts. That's four amps. Find a bigger transformer or get a 220volt machine.

Good luck,

Ol.

[Bang Corn]

It sounds like your fuse is too small, but if that came with the convertor, then just putting in a bigger fuse will probably simply result in your convertor blowing up or melting.
You need a stronger convertor.

[Schneider.]

Ollie,

Thanks for the response.  I've now checked and see that the popper is 60 Hz and 1200 Watts, which seems to be consistent with what your suggesting.  Do these numbers match your suggestion that my fuse (and therefore my converter) is too weak?

[current]

I think that the watts used is voltage x current, so 220volts x 2 amps = 440 watts, ie much less than your popper

[Schneider,]

Thanks all.  I can remember learning that formula when I was 12.  Terrible how much we forget!

[Worried]

For the sake of you health (and that of your neighbours) don't just change the fuse, change the whole converter!

[bad news]

For a 1200 watt appliance, you need a very large and heavy transformer.  I brought one from the U.S. for my cuisinart and kitchen aid mixer, and it cost 125 USD.  That's why the usual advice is to not bring coffee makers and toasters.  The wattage is just too high.

[corn man]

1200W machine with 120V? The current would be 1200/120 = 10A rite?

did they put in 2A fuse by mistake?

[Transformer]

we've just been through much the same thing with our appliances.  If  the popper is 1200 watts,   you'll need to get a big transformer.  They're about S$300 - S$500 for one that big.   We found Best Denki on Orchard to have the best selection.