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Electrical repair for a US appliance

Posted: Wed, 19 Mar 2014 9:19 am
by chachacha
Has anyone tried getting their US electrical appliance repaired or converted so that it can accept the higher voltage in Singapore?

I know you can buy transformers, etc but unfortunately in my stupidity I plugged the appliance in and there was a loud 'pop' sound. I need to see if it's fried and needs to be binned or whether there is hope as the appliance was not even switched on when it was plugged in. I'm hoping it's only the amp/fuse in the appliance that was damaged and can be replaced.

Thank you in advance.

Posted: Wed, 19 Mar 2014 10:13 am
by Strong Eagle
It would be very helpful if you could name the type of appliance. You mostly will fry most things without recourse but there are exceptions. What is it?

Posted: Wed, 19 Mar 2014 11:06 am
by chachacha
Thank you for replying. Its a Cuisinart food processor

Posted: Wed, 19 Mar 2014 11:37 am
by PNGMK
chachacha wrote:Thank you for replying. Its a Cuisinart food processor
Oh that will have a motor and possibly control board inside. IT will need rewinding or a new motor. It's possible that there is a 220V motor equivelant available tho. Try service centers in 220V countries where the product is sold.

Posted: Wed, 19 Mar 2014 9:58 pm
by Strong Eagle
PNGMK wrote:
chachacha wrote:Thank you for replying. Its a Cuisinart food processor
Oh that will have a motor and possibly control board inside. IT will need rewinding or a new motor. It's possible that there is a 220V motor equivelant available tho. Try service centers in 220V countries where the product is sold.
I'm going to vote for a control board since she said it popped and was not even switched on when she plugged it in. But PNGMK has a good idea... go to the local service center and check your options.

Posted: Thu, 20 Mar 2014 12:20 am
by chachacha
Thank you Strong Eagle for your response as well.

I did contact the service centre of the Company that imports Cuisinart. They do not sell this model of food processor so they said that to order in spare parts would be too expensive. They recommended I just buy a new food processor here!

I was so disappointed and frustrated about this that I ended up writing to the Company who sold this appliance to me (a very well known online company) and made a complaint that their listing did not specify voltage or even stop me from ordering when they knew I was having it shipped to Singapore. They offered me a full refund and said I could keep the processor and not return it!

I am stunned by my good luck, but would not recommend anyone to buy an electrical item from the US for use in Singapore!

Posted: Thu, 20 Mar 2014 1:37 am
by Strong Eagle
chachacha wrote:I am stunned by my good luck, but would not recommend anyone to buy an electrical item from the US for use in Singapore!
Yup - you learn pretty quickly that most manufactures of virtually anything electrical make a USA model which only supports 120 volt and comes with a USA warranty, and the same product for the rest of the world which comes in dual voltage models with international warranties.

Exceptions for dual voltage seem to be computer and phone equipment and _some_ AV equipment.