I recently purchased a trimming machine from the US during a business trip, and I brought it back to Europe (Switzerland) where we have 230 V - 50 Hz. The machine has on top "120V ~ 60Hz 9W". I used 2 different voltage converters which read "INPUT 200/240V 50/60Hz - OUTPUT 100/120V 50/60Hz - MAX 100W" however I am not able to use the machine properly and it makes insane sound and work very fast/overheats. What am I doing wrong?


Thanks in advance.
Emmanouil

Should work OK, except that at 50Hz the motor will run slower than intended by the manufacturer - I wonder if that's the issue?

Before you plug in anything you test the output with a good digital multimeter set on "volts." You need to be sure you are getting the correct voltage out that you are supposed to get. Apparently you are getting way too much voltage out possibly because there is a switch that is set wrong on the converter or you have a shorted converter. ALWAYS check the output on any converter before using it, if you value your appliances. Here are some instructions: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/8010163/How%20to%20use%20Test%20Equipment%20Service%20Manu al.pdf
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/8010163/How%20to%20Diagnose%20and%20Fix%20Everything%20Ele ctronic.pdf
Just click on the links and download the PDF manuals. I hope you did not plug it into a 380 volt line. Check the wall plug before you plug in the converter, too. Make sure about everything, do not assume anything when dealing with these European countries, or anywhere else. In the US we have 120 volts to ground and 220 volts between two hot wires, but in many countries they have 220-240 volts to ground, which is far more dangerous and apt to cause arcing from a live wire to ground. It's easier to get killed by a ground fault.