230volt/50hz tools in the US

[ccarrolladams]

I bught a CS70 from a furniture maker/designer who had spent about 15 years in England. When he returned to the US he had his shop wired for 240 and 120. The 240 circuits had UK outlets to match all of his Festools. He had run them for quite some time without difficulty or concern as I have the CS 70 since 2009.

Those UK-standard 240v outlets do not comply with the USA or Michigan electrical codes. It is astounding that a licensed electrician would install those and that a building inspector would allow this to happen. Those 240v Festools do not meet UL standards.

 

[greg mann]

I bught a CS70 from a furniture maker/designer who had spent about 15 years in England. When he returned to the US he had his shop wired for 240 and 120. The 240 circuits had UK outlets to match all of his Festools. He had run them for quite some time without difficulty or concern as I have the CS 70 since 2009.

Those UK-standard 240v outlets do not comply with the USA or Michigan electrical codes. It is astounding that a licensed electrician would install those and that a building inspector would allow this to happen. Those 240v Festools do not meet UL standards.

I am sure you are correct CCarol. The person in question could have cut the plugs off and installed code compliant 240 plugs but chose to do it this way. He is a one man band, lives in a rural area, and could probably have had a local inspector look it over, who then just shrugged his shoulders knowing full we he could uncover a dozen far more dangerous practices with electricity by other residents within a stones throw. In truth, there really isn't anything dangerous about what he did. Non-compliant? Sure, but not dangerous.

Me? I changed the plug.

 

[Peter Durand]

I bught a CS70 from a furniture maker/designer who had spent about 15 years in England. When he returned to the US he had his shop wired for 240 and 120. The 240 circuits had UK outlets to match all of his Festools. He had run them for quite some time without difficulty or concern as I have the CS 70 since 2009.

Those UK-standard 240v outlets do not comply with the USA or Michigan electrical codes. It is astounding that a licensed electrician would install those and that a building inspector would allow this to happen. Those 240v Festools do not meet UL standards.

Why I wonder. UL, and CSA up here do not "allow" many things that are considered safe in regulation mad nanny state EU.

Cheers,

 

[wow]

I bught a CS70 from a furniture maker/designer who had spent about 15 years in England. When he returned to the US he had his shop wired for 240 and 120. The 240 circuits had UK outlets to match all of his Festools. He had run them for quite some time without difficulty or concern as I have the CS 70 since 2009.

Those UK-standard 240v outlets do not comply with the USA or Michigan electrical codes. It is astounding that a licensed electrician would install those and that a building inspector would allow this to happen. Those 240v Festools do not meet UL standards.

Why I wonder. UL, and CSA up here do not "allow" many things that are considered safe in regulation mad nanny state EU.

Cheers,

UL is a FOR PROFIT organization that kind of created their own monopoly. It can be VERY expen$ive to get something UL listed.

 

[Peter Durand]

I bught a CS70 from a furniture maker/designer who had spent about 15 years in England. When he returned to the US he had his shop wired for 240 and 120. The 240 circuits had UK outlets to match all of his Festools. He had run them for quite some time without difficulty or concern as I have the CS 70 since 2009.

Those UK-standard 240v outlets do not comply with the USA or Michigan electrical codes. It is astounding that a licensed electrician would install those and that a building inspector would allow this to happen. Those 240v Festools do not meet UL standards.

Why I wonder. UL, and CSA up here do not "allow" many things that are considered safe in regulation mad nanny state EU.

Cheers,

UL is a FOR PROFIT organization that kind of created their own monopoly. It can be VERY expen$ive to get something UL listed.

You hit the nail on the head. You don't pay their bureaucrats and somehow you are not allowed to sell or use things here. Same with CSA up here. And further, they take no legal responsibility when they have "approved" products that turn out to be unsafe. I recall a case a few years ago in BC house fires (a few of them) were caused by CSA approved wall and ceiling mounted radiant heaters. Court cases determined that it was not improper installation but that the heater design was faulty. CSA refused to accept any responsibility whatsoever. Needless I have no respect for those for profit approvers.

Cheers,

 

[Peter Durand]

I bught a CS70 from a furniture maker/designer who had spent about 15 years in England. When he returned to the US he had his shop wired for 240 and 120. The 240 circuits had UK outlets to match all of his Festools. He had run them for quite some time without difficulty or concern as I have the CS 70 since 2009.

Those UK-standard 240v outlets do not comply with the USA or Michigan electrical codes. It is astounding that a licensed electrician would install those and that a building inspector would allow this to happen. Those 240v Festools do not meet UL standards.

Why I wonder. UL, and CSA up here do not "allow" many things that are considered safe in regulation mad nanny state EU.

Cheers,

UL is a FOR PROFIT organization that kind of created their own monopoly. It can be VERY expen$ive to get something UL listed.

You hit the nail on the head. You don't pay their bureaucrats and somehow you are not allowed to sell or use things here. Same with CSA up here. And further, they take no legal responsibility when they have "approved" products that turn out to be unsafe. I recall a case a few years ago in BC house fires (a few of them) were caused by CSA approved wall and ceiling mounted radiant heaters. Court cases determined that it was not improper installation but that the heater design was faulty. CSA refused to accept any responsibility whatsoever. Needless to say I have no respect for those for profit approvers.

Cheers,

 

[jeh]

I noticed a UK tool site that has 110 volt and 240 volt models of the Mafell P1cc. I did not look at their other Mafell Tools. My question is will the 110 volt version work with our 120 volt supply in the US. I know the UK is 50Hz versus our 60Hz, but I have got to believe that Mafell's tools work at either 50 or 60 Hz. The Mafell also has a universal motor.

Furthermore I am guessing that the 110 volt model sold in the UK is the same model that is sold in the US. For as a small a market as Mafell has in the US there almost is no way they are making a special version of the P1cc for the US.

The P1cc is £333 (No VAT) which is roughly $500 USD. Not a lot of savings when shipping is considered, but combined with some accessories and maybe an MT55 the savings starts to get substantial. Repairs could/will be an issue.

 

[joiner1970]

I noticed a UK tool site that has 110 volt and 240 volt models of the Mafell P1cc. I did not look at their other Mafell Tools. My question is will the 110 volt version work with our 120 volt supply in the US. I know the UK is 50Hz versus our 60Hz, but I have got to believe that Mafell's tools work at either 50 or 60 Hz. The Mafell also has a universal motor.

Furthermore I am guessing that the 110 volt model sold in the UK is the same model that is sold in the US. For as a small a market as Mafell has in the US there almost is no way they are making a special version of the P1cc for the US.

The P1cc is £333 (No VAT) which is roughly $500 USD. Not a lot of savings when shipping is considered, but combined with some accessories and maybe an MT55 the savings starts to get substantial. Repairs could/will be an issue.

Should be ok , I know a few guys here have shipped 110v stuff the other way from the US and just put 110v UK plugs on them and they work fine.

 

[UncleBS]

Just as a note I don't think Festool will be able to repair the 230 volt tools in the states.

 

[fp1337]

Those UK-standard 240v outlets do not comply with the USA or Michigan electrical codes. It is astounding that a licensed electrician would install those and that a building inspector would allow this to happen. Those 240v Festools do not meet UL standards.

oh well

 

[fp1337]

Why I wonder. UL, and CSA up here do not "allow" many things that are considered safe in regulation mad nanny state EU.

That's just how they close their market to all but the most determined European tool makers (such as Festool). They know their junky Made in USA tools could not compete. And then they complain about Made in China... lol. They are barely 1 step above. I wonder how many of the "big gov" haters are also proponents of these anti-competitive practices.

 

[Rip Van Winkle]

Why I wonder. UL, and CSA up here do not "allow" many things that are considered safe in regulation mad nanny state EU.

That's just how they close their market to all but the most determined European tool makers (such as Festool). They know their junky Made in USA tools could not compete. And then they complain about Made in China... lol. They are barely 1 step above. I wonder how many of the "big gov" haters are also proponents of these anti-competitive practices.

While some US made tools can be classified as junk, there are, or at least were, plenty of tools that were very well made, and which would last for a couple decades or more. Some older Milwaukee tools were an example of this, particularly items like their Sawzalls, drills, grinders, etc. Some older Skil and Porter Cable tools are also good examples. The European tools seem to differ from the US tools in some features like safety electronics, and certain innovative features, like the Festool plunge saws.

 

[fp1337]

Why I wonder. UL, and CSA up here do not "allow" many things that are considered safe in regulation mad nanny state EU.

That's just how they close their market to all but the most determined European tool makers (such as Festool). They know their junky Made in USA tools could not compete. And then they complain about Made in China... lol. They are barely 1 step above. I wonder how many of the "big gov" haters are also proponents of these anti-competitive practices.

While some US made tools can be classified as junk, there are, or at least were, plenty of tools that were very well made, and which would last for a couple decades or more. Some older Milwaukee tools were an example of this, particularly items like their Sawzalls, drills, grinders, etc. Some older Skil and Porter Cable tools are also good examples. The European tools seem to differ from the US tools in some features like safety electronics, and certain innovative features, like the Festool plunge saws.

Like you said, "were".

 

[Holmz]

You'd have no problem wiring your shop with some 220V @ 60Hz 1ph receptacles.  Look at the ID plate on each tool to see if they accept that.  No need to buy a step-up transformer to turn 110V into 220V when that's what arrives at your service panel, unless the step-up isn't going to 220V.

[thumbs up]
And if the OP was smart he would buy some outlets in Greece, and use those in the shop, so that cord stays as it was.
And Eu extension cord with the male end changed to US then takes care work out of the shop.