>I assume the 110V is still 60 cycles, but is the 220V 50 cycles or 60
>cycles?
They come off the same winding of the transformer so they will be 60hz.
(It is centertapped 240v, giving 120/240)
Everything on the standard grid here is 60hz. There are some special purpose
installations that are still 25hz up north but that is just because nobody has
upgraded the infrastructure since Thomas Edison built it.
Mess with them.
Install a "buck-boost" transformer to lift your measly 208 VAC to a
magnificent 240 VAC. Just make sure to connect it in the boost and not the
buck mode.
Check with your local electrical supply house (not the Borg).
Rick
"Tom Kohlman" wrote
> Having lived in several areas of the globe, can tell you volts can
> effectively be converted through wiring or converters, except for the UK
> where for whatever reason they cheat and only seem to deliver 208v which
> some of my US stuff on continental converters did not seem to appreciate.
Oz,
I spent 4 years in GA and took some 240v tools with me. They worked fine
there, they worked well at home too. The 240v tools some other guys bought
worked ok back here also.
The only electrical problems we found were with some items that relied on
frequency for timing, such as breadmakers (these were 110v run through a
transformer back home). Also some filtered outlet boards use capacitors that
like to fry under 50hz. This are minor examples, and unlikely to be a
concern, but you may want to keep it in mind.
The only other thing of course is the plugs, you have to factor that in the
cost, along with freight, a possible customs bill and warranty repair risk.
cheers,
Greg
"OzSawdust" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> From various Q & A posted here I gather that USA people now have a choice
of
> 110 Volt AC or 220V AC.
> I assume the 110V is still 60 cycles, but is the 220V 50 cycles or 60
> cycles?
>
> Just wondering whether 220V gear purchased from say Woodcraft will work on
> the 220 - 240 V 50 cycles here.
> TIA
> Oz
>
>
In the US most houses are wired with 220V "split phase" which means three
wires, one of which is "neutral" and the other two are each 110V with
respect to neutral, and 220V with respect to each other. Heavy appliances
such as kitchen ranges and water heaters use the full 220V, and power tools
can often be wired this way also. Most everything else (lights, appliances,
electronics, etc) uses 110V by connecting between one "hot" leg and neutral.
Houses are wired to balance the 110V loads roughly equally between the two
legs. This has been the normal situation in the US for many decades.
Commercial buildings are often wired with different voltages, like 440V/208V
three phase, but in all cases the frequency is 60hz. Manufacturers of goods
for international markets commonly use generators to create 50hz power for
testing.
So tools made for the US market are all designed for 60hz, and your idea of
using a 220V 60hz tool on 220V 50 hz is not likely to pay off. Motors are
typically designed for either 50 or 60 hz, but this is mostly a matter of
managing motor speed and temperature. Some 60hz motors could be happy on
50hz but you'd probably not find it easy to determine whether this was the
case for a particular tool. Best to get a tool that is designed for your
locale. However, if the savings was great enough you might be able to
change just the motor and have a better deal.
HTH
Don
"OzSawdust" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> From various Q & A posted here I gather that USA people now have a choice
of
> 110 Volt AC or 220V AC.
> I assume the 110V is still 60 cycles, but is the 220V 50 cycles or 60
> cycles?
>
> Just wondering whether 220V gear purchased from say Woodcraft will work on
> the 220 - 240 V 50 cycles here.
> TIA
> Oz
>
>
Many thanks for the replies.
Oz
"OzSawdust" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> From various Q & A posted here I gather that USA people now have a choice
of
> 110 Volt AC or 220V AC.
> I assume the 110V is still 60 cycles, but is the 220V 50 cycles or 60
> cycles?
>
> Just wondering whether 220V gear purchased from say Woodcraft will work on
> the 220 - 240 V 50 cycles here.
> TIA
> Oz
>
>
I bought a Kawasaki generator that can be set for 50 or 60 hz. The manual
suggested setting it for 50 hz if you didn't need the full output, because
it ran quieter.
I looked into it, and found most motors were hz sensitive, and running at 50
hz was a very bad idea. I suggest you check with the manufacturers of the
particular machines you are concerned with. Unless they say it is okay, I
wouldn't do it.
My understanding is that 240v is 240v, whether it comes from our system or a
European system.
The main difference is, it takes more iron in the core to make the
same amount of power. The motor will run slower -- a 3450 saw motor
will run at 3450*50/60 RPM, aprox as they are syncronous. I suspect
many companies already put enough iron in to run at either frequency,
especally stuff made in Japan or Taiwan.
Dan
On Thu, 13 Nov 2003 06:14:10 GMT, "OzSawdust"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>From various Q & A posted here I gather that USA people now have a choice of
>110 Volt AC or 220V AC.
>I assume the 110V is still 60 cycles, but is the 220V 50 cycles or 60
>cycles?
>
>Just wondering whether 220V gear purchased from say Woodcraft will work on
>the 220 - 240 V 50 cycles here.
>TIA
>Oz
>
Colorado Springs, CO
My advice may be worth what you paid for it.
"OzSawdust"writes:
> From various Q & A posted here I gather that USA people now have a choice
of
> 110 Volt AC or 220V AC.
> I assume the 110V is still 60 cycles, but is the 220V 50 cycles or 60
> cycles?
<snip>
Maybe this will help eliminate the confusion.
Here in North America (US & Canada), distribution equipment such as
transformers, panel boards, busway, etc, are rated at 120VAC and multiples
there of. (ie: 120,240,480&600 (Canada)).
Utilization equipment such as motors, heaters, etc are rated at 115VAC and
multiples there of. (ie: 115,230,460&575 (Canada)).
The 5 VAC minimum voltage difference is to allow for line drop.
As far as typical wood working shop equipment is concerned, hand tools are
usually 115VAC, 60 Hz.
Table saws, air compressors, etc, are typically driven by 115VAC/230VAC/60Hz
motors which can be wired for either voltage.
HTH
--
Lew
S/A: Challenge, The Bullet Proof Boat, (Under Construction in the Southland)
Visit: <http://home.earthlink.net/~lewhodgett> for Pictures
--
Lew
S/A: Challenge, The Bullet Proof Boat, (Under Construction in the Southland)
Visit: <http://home.earthlink.net/~lewhodgett> for Pictures
All systems in North America are 60 Hz
Having lived in several areas of the globe, can tell you volts can
effectively be converted through wiring or converters, except for the UK
where for whatever reason they cheat and only seem to deliver 208v which
some of my US stuff on continental converters did not seem to appreciate.
The "hz" thing is only important on motors. Think you'll find more and more
motors are designed to accept either 50 or 60, probably due to the fact that
so many come from the same far-east factories and they don't have time to
customize to the ultimate destination.
"Wade Lippman" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I bought a Kawasaki generator that can be set for 50 or 60 hz. The manual
> suggested setting it for 50 hz if you didn't need the full output, because
> it ran quieter.
>
> I looked into it, and found most motors were hz sensitive, and running at
50
> hz was a very bad idea. I suggest you check with the manufacturers of the
> particular machines you are concerned with. Unless they say it is okay, I
> wouldn't do it.
>
> My understanding is that 240v is 240v, whether it comes from our system or
a
> European system.
>
>