I’ve picked up a Voltron T-500S step-up and step-down voltage converter, and unfortunately it doesn’t seem particularly interested in working properly. You’d think a device with a simple on/off switch would be fairly difficult to get wrong. Apparently not!

The converter has a selector for 120 V and 240 V operation, along with a power switch that doesn’t actually switch on properly. Push it down and nothing happens. Rock it backwards slightly and the power indicator lights up, accompanied by a rather unpleasant buzzing noise.

Lovely! Just what you want from a mains-powered transformer.

It gets better, though. All those lovely ventilation slots on the case? They’re fake! They’re simply moulded into the plastic, without any actual openings. The case itself also looks warped, as though something inside is pushing against it.

And someone managed to misspell “electricity” on the unit. Wonderful quality control!

I didn’t have anything suitable to connect to the output, so I haven’t tested whether it actually converts the voltage correctly. Given the dodgy switch, buzzing and warped case, I’m not particularly enthusiastic about plugging anything valuable into it.

Overall, I’m rather disappointed with this purchase. Terrible purchase, Voltron!