Electronics: What To GET ... 220 to 110v saga

This is where i spent the most time researching

You probably already know this:

1) India is 220V 50Hz
2) US is 110V 60HZ
3) TV format in INDIA is PAL
4) TV format in the US is NTSC

I got all my electronics from the US and i am using them in INDIA (almost for 2 yrs now). Here are the items i got from the US and using in India

1) TV's
2) Amplifier
3) Home theater (with powered sub woofer)
4) DVD/Bluray player
5) Game consoles (XBOX and WII)
6) Printer
7) Phones
8) Router

First things first: 

1) You will need a STEP DOWN transformer. (220 to 110V)

I suggest get a good one with a voltage regulator built into it. I choose the LITEFUZE brand. I got it from BOMBAY ELECTRONICS. (http://www.litefuze.com/) . My friend got the SIMRAN brand and he is happy with it.

I got the following

1. LiteFuze LR-3000 W 
2. LR 1000 W
3. LR 500 W

I decided on these wattage based on the output of the items i was going to use in India

Example: I choose the 3000 W for the living room because i planned to use the following gadgets in the living room

1) TV - 120 W
2) Amplifier - 300 W
3) Sub Woofer - 150 W
4) DVD Player - 100 W
5) XBOX ~ 100 W

The total is close to 800 W.

 I read somewhere that TV's need an estimated 3 - 4 times the wattage (how i don't know) at start up.

Transformer Efficiency 0.7 = 3000 * .0.7 = 2100 W (net wattage). As you can see 3000 W well covers what i was planning on using in the living room.

****Note: (ENSURE YOU CHANGE MCB IN INDIA)

In my Electrical board (where all the circuit breakers are) the MCB for the living room was rated at  6 AMPS. Since i had a 3000 W transformer the theoretical possibility was 3000 W/220 V = 13.5 AMPS

I used to have this problem, sometimes when i turned on the transformer that line used to trip, i once even managed to trip the entire house 1 time. After discussions with a local electrician i changed the MCB
(miniature circuit board) from 6 AMPS to 16 AMPS.

Since then i have had no problems of tripping.

50 HZ VS 60 HZ:

Lot of people have this question whether 60 to 50 HZ will work or reduce the performance of the device. 

All Electronics (TV,DVD, AMPLIFIER ETC run on DC not AC). Frequency does NOT matter

It matters for motors (Mixie, Grinder), clocks etc

EXTENSION CHORD:

The number of outlets on the transformers will not be enough to power all your electronics, get a 220 V extension chord WITHOUT SURGE PROTECTOR. I got the WONPRO extension chord from BOMBAY ELECTRONICS.

INDIA CABLE PROVIDERS:

Converter free cable providers (i.e no need to PAL to NTSC converters)

1) Videcon D2H:  It does not require a converter box (they use MPEG4 so no need for a converter box) --- On the set-top box use the TV setting 1080 60HZ --- and use HDMI

I use the Videocon D2H without any converter box. They also have a 3D channel in case you are getting a 3D TV.

2) AirTel  (they use MPEG4,  i am guessing you can use it similar to Videocon)

TATA SKY Requires a Converter Box

I got the Orei XD-990 PAL HDMI / Composite to NTSC HDMI 50/60 Hz Multi-System Video Converter - Up to 1080p
 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0062BS09O/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I did not have good luck with it. If you ask me not a good buy.

DSL MODEMS:

Most cable providers in India use ADSL2 so bring your existing DSL modem (if you have one). All you will require is a power converter (Rs 200 - 300) to use it in India.

ADSL modem + Router combined are pretty cheap in India (TP Link or D-LINK can cost any where from Rs 1400 - Rs 3000). You can save the hassle of converters etc. (Amazon and Flipkart have tons of modem+router combos)

CELL PHONES:

I got my cell phones from the US and actually had them unlocked in the US itself at a mall (Valley View for those from Dallas). Phones are expensive in India especially Apple.

Example: Apple 5 costs close to Rs 51000 while a Samsung S5 costs Rs 44000 (2014 prices)