Poss. transformer trick?

Hey guys, long time reader first time poster...

Did a search, but I had a friend tell me that a trick to using transformers was to hook a transformer up to an american surge protector with several outlets and you've got several plugs to use

Sounds a little fishy to me and maybe draining on a transformer, but I also don't really know what I'm talking about.

Any opinions/facts?

Huh?

 The point of a transformer is that it converts a US appliance to UK voltage. What your friend told you makes zero sense.

I'm not sure I really understand what your friend is talking about here, so I can't be of much help, I'm afraid .

The point of a transformer is that it converts a US appliance to UK voltage.

Just to clarify, it doesn't actually convert the appliance itself, but it converts the voltage going into the appliance:

- a step-down transformer converts UK voltage to US voltage so that it will enable the US appliance to work. It takes the 240V and reduces it down to 110V/120V so that when it enters the US appliance it doesn't overload it and blow up.

- going the other way (UK appliance in US), a step-up transformer will increase the 120V coming out of the US mains to 240V going into the UK appliance.

I think that maybe what Boatie means is that if you hook a power strip up to a step-down converter you can hook up more than 1 appliance to the converter. Like in your kitchen while using a US food processor and a US stand mixer and a US blender all during the same cooking/baking binge.

It makes perfect sense and is absolutely true.  First, plug your transformer into the 220 volt outlet, then plug your "surge protector" (let's just call it a multi-plug strip)  into the transformer, then plug your US appliances into the strip. 

The only issue is how much load you put on the transformer.  Say you have a 500 watt transformer and 4 appliances that each require 200 watts.  If you were to plug all 4 of them into the multi-plug strip and turn them all on at once, creating an 800 watt load, you would overload the transformer and blow a fuse or worse.  If you just turn one or two on at a time, no problem. 

Check the rating of your transformer, and check the ratings of the devices you want to plug into it.  It's simple math, just addition really.  If your load is greater than your supply, either reduce load or increase supply (buy a bigger transformer).

Be aware that UK power is supplied at 50 Hz (cycles per second) and US appliances usually look for 60 Hz.  This can be an issue for sensitive electronics, though they are usually protected by their own filters, or for electric motors which will tend to turn more slowly at 50Hz.  I have not had any problems so far, and I run my US coffee maker, coffee bean roaster, and my wife's sewing machine through this setup and these are appliances not rated for 220 volt service.  Remember to check ratings, if your appliance is rated for 220 don't run it through a transformer, just a plug adapter.

Word.