Voltage converter

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A voltage converter changes the voltage of an electrical power source and is usually combined with other components to create a power supply. The term "voltage converter" is sometimes used as a generic term for a power supply. A voltage converter or a power supply may be called a "transformer" even if it does not contain an actual transformer as the term is used in electronics.^{[citation needed]}

Travel voltage converter

A common use of the term voltage converter is for a device that allows appliances made for the voltage of one geographical region to operate from the power outlets of another area. Such a device may be called a "voltage converter", "power converter", "travel adapter", etc. Most single phase alternating current electrical outlets in the world supply power at 210-230 V or at 100-125 V. The travel-oriented voltage converters usually can only double or halve the voltage, but some can do both.

Often travel adapters are sold with plug end adapters that provide physical compatibility of normally-incompatible plugs and sockets.

There are two types of voltage converters, step up and step down. Step up converts from 110 V to 230 V and step down will convert from 230 V to 110 V. Most voltage converters convert both ways.