SIM 5000 - 5000 Watt Voltage Power Converter Step Up/Down Transformer. Converts 110V to 220V or 220V to 110V for Worldwide Use. Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased this in June of 2010 for our move to Europe. My intention was to run my Home Entertainment Center off of it. I spent the extra money and exhorinant shipping to be extra safe with 5000W. I have run a couple of small appliances on it. Not until now, October, have I started putting together the Home Entertainment Center. (It has been a long move!) All did not go well from the beginning when I tried to plug in my very high quality Monster Home Center Surge Protector. PLEASE NOTE: This was done with the converter on the OFF position. There was a flash of spark inside the surge protector and the circuit breaker on the house panel tripped off. I repeated this with the converter turned on with the same result. The surge protector was also off. I tried a Belkin surge protector with the same results.
I inquired with VCT electronics and have been told that the unit must have been overloaded with a heating appliance. The largest appliance used was 450W, 10x below the converter rating. So, they are wrong on that point. Then there is the issue that this thing is supposed to be fuse protected. If it is fuse protected, then the fuse should have blown before overload damage could occur. False advertising? I do not know, because it certainly was not overloaded.
The danger lies in the fact that in the OFF position a major electrical surge occured. Again there was a surge in the surge protector AND it blew the circuit breaker. This happened with nothing plugged into the surge protector.
I have been in contact with VTC. At their request I took the top off to inspect the wires; all wires are intact and connected. Should I learn that this is a problem with my particular unit and they come through with a solution, I will let you know. Until you hear otherwise, DO NOT BUY THIS PRODUCT. There is a reasonable fear of damage to unprotected electronics, if not fire.

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