Lack of 110v options on some tools ( uk)

[carlb40]

Hi guys me again.  [tongue] I was just wondering if anyone knows why here in the uk quite a few of the tools are not available in 110v flavour.

I have noticed a few of the tools i'm interested in getting for work are 240v only.  [scared]
Such as the RS sanders, belt sander, and most importantly the quad drill DR 18/4E. With the latter i can't remember if that was available in 110v form via Protool or not. I could do with a mains drill - none hammer for drilling metal, locks etc.

So any ideas why no 110v options?

TIA  [big grin]

 

[AlexThePalex]

The 110v market is small compared to the one for 220v. My guess is Festool simply doesn't see any profit in redesigning certain tools to 110v. 

 

[wrightwoodwork]

I wish these safety policy makers realize that 240 that is maintained is not dangerous and join the rest of the world

 

[shed9]

I wish these safety policy makers realize that 240 that is maintained is not dangerous and join the rest of the world

To be fair the policy is that 240 can be used on site with a suitable RCD, it's generally site foreman and site insurance which dictate 110 only.

Also you make a point of being maintained and this isn't always the case. I've seen some seriously abused equipment on site left in incredibly hazardous situations where 240 would cause serious harm.

 

[joiner1970]

I would've bought the quadrill if it was available in 110v. It was the same when it was protool it was only available in 240v

 

[joiner1970]

I wish these safety policy makers realize that 240 that is maintained is not dangerous and join the rest of the world

I cannot see why people have a problem with 110v. I've owned and used 110v tools all the 25 years plus I've been in the trade. It's never bothered me I work in private homes and on site and can do both easily with 110v tools

 

[jmbfestool]

I wish these safety policy makers realize that 240 that is maintained is not dangerous and join the rest of the world

I cannot see why people have a problem with 110v. I've owned and used 110v tools all the 25 years plus I've been in the trade. It's never bothered me I work in private homes and on site and can do both easily with 110v tools

You are starting a large 110v debate again lol.

Well....  I believe very much 240v tools are superior hence why I refuse to buy 110v. 
Secondly I love the fact I can carry a little Fein or sds drill or what ever in one hand and in my other hand a level or vacuum cleaner into a clients house plug in use for 10 seconds job done.  If it was 110v I would have to go back to my van and get a heavy transformer.

So 240v I do two trips get tools out put tools back
110v I would have to do 4 trips to do the same job. 

Now some might say no big deal well a job I worked on not long ago me and my mate measured 75 metres from the clients front door up the stairs across the landing and threw a bedroom then bathroom and walk through wardrobe to get to the room where the job was.

Now 240v would mean walking 150meters

110v would be 300meters now that's a long way. 

Just imagen how many more meters you walk over a year because of a transformer for what?!? No reason just because of health and safety.

 

[joiner1970]

All very well on houses but then the next day you go to a site and your not allowed to use your 240v tools so spend all day using hand tools lol. How much time did that save ya lol

Ps : I know you don't do site work but I do both site work and private houses and 110v will cover both

 

[joiner1970]

Cordless everything then we'll all be happy lol

 

[Nippychippy]

I am in the same boat I have df700 midi ts55ro90 in 240v no that I am doing sub work the want 110v so I have just changed my order with ffx for 110 v tools  [scared] I was told by a sparky that 220 with an rcd kills the power straight away if the cable is cut but 110  the power doesn't it still flows

 

[wrightwoodwork]

Cordless is the way especially if working on site just need a cordless vac. 

 

[jmbfestool]

Cordless everything then we'll all be happy lol

Yeah can't wait for the day cordless is more powerful than corded and one battery would last one full day.    It will happen I'm sure it will.

 

[shed9]

110 site practices have saved lives.; this is generally why site foremen and insurance companies err towards 110.

110 is significantly safer than 240 +RCD regardless of where it's used.

 

[shed9]

Yeah can't wait for the day cordless is more powerful than corded and one battery would last one full day.    It will happen I'm sure it will.

There has been some huge advances in Li-ion and battery technology this year. So I agree I'm confident it will happen as well and this is clearly the way forward.

 

[toolfest.co.uk]

Hi Carl

We can order, in fact any dealer should be able to special order the RTS or DTS 400 sanders in 110v, we have done it many times. There is a small premium for the socket and lead change but no more than a tenner. As for other tools, we did ask about DOMINO XL's but were knocked back. All the PROTOOL machines were 240v, so no 110v option on the DR drill I'm afraid. The only exception, years ago were mixer drills, the MXP's, were marketed in the UK by a firm in 110v, but they are no longer available.

Ask your favourite dealer to enquire for you or give us a call, 01483 727227.

Best regards

Warren

 

[Pixel]

My first post brought on by my opposition to an out dated self policing Quango called the HSE.
110V is less powerful than 230V and therefore your 110V tools are less efficient.
Because the UK still uses single pole ring main circuitry in all housing and in some commercial properties the HSE insists that all trailing power leads used in a working environment must me 110V and because of the Corporate Manslaughter Laws brought out in 2005 by Mr Quango himself, Tony Blair, all building site management banned 230V, tool manufactures had to bring out 110V battery charges as no 230V power was available outside a protected supply area.
I used to have HSE executives threatening me with site closures on a weekly basis as we used 230V throughout based on the commercial system used in most commercial properties in the UK and over here in France, Spain, Germany etc.

230V dual pole circuit breakers on a radial only circuit.

 

[shed9]

110V is less powerful than 230V and therefore your 110V tools are less efficient.

240 is more efficient as a carrier but that's generally of no concern to the end user, its the power and capability that we are concerned about.

A 240 or its 110 variant have the same power so no difference at all; a 2200w router is a 2200w router regardless of what voltage is carrying the amps -they both spin to the same RPM with the same amount of torque.

The argument that 240 is better is groundless.

 

[AlexThePalex]

110 site practices have saved lives.; this is generally why site foremen and insurance companies err towards 110.

110 is significantly safer than 240 +RCD regardless of where it's used.

People keep repeating that, but I would really like to see some real evidence in statistics instead of hear-say.

I've been googling quite a bit to find comparing figures on accidents with 110 or 220 volt in their countries respectively, but unfortunately haven't found any. Perhaps if anybody here knows where to find them, please point me to it.

With all the EU's love of regulating things, I could not fathom to think they would let 220 volt go on if it was seriously more dangerous than 110 volt.

And in the end it is not voltage that kills, it is amperage. In the hair on your head there is about 10.000 volts of static electricity but you don't even feel it because it has a very low amperage. And for the same amount of power used, 110 volt needs double the amperage of 220 volt. 

So I am really curious to find what the real rate of acidents on site is regarding to voltage. Even if 110 volt is less dangerous than 220, how much accidents are caused by confusion? Confusion because you have to use 2 different systems? Or work-arounds, like JMB said, you have to walk 300 meters to get your heavy converter, don't want to take the time and come up with a work-around which might be less safe? All of these factors have to be considered.

Unfortunately I haven't found those statistics yet. But I sincerely doubt you'll find much of a discrepancy between 110 and 220 volt. Question is, is all this extra confusion and trouble and cost you have to make for 110v eventually worth it?

 

[shed9]

With all the EU's love of regulating things, I could not fathom to think they would let 220 volt go on if it was seriously more dangerous than 110 volt.

To be fair the on site requirements for 110 in the UK predates the EU. 220/240 is used in domestic environments because its more efficient to transport higher voltage than lower voltage (centre tapped 110 is 55v).

And in the end it is not voltage that kills, it is amperage. In the hair on your head there is about 10.000 volts of static electricity but you don't even feel it because it has a very low amperage. And for the same amount of power used, 110 volt needs double the amperage of 220 volt.

I appreciate the old expression of "volts jolt and amps kill" but its the voltage that breaks down the skin in the first place to push the amps. The higher the voltage the higher the risk of this happening and 55v has very little chance of achieving this. In reality 30mA will cause cardiac arrest so the higher amps of the 110 system is moot and besides by its very nature it dictates a thicker gauged cable which in itself is safer as well.

The 110 system is safer on site because of the possibility of damaged kit or cable being exposed to personnel within hazardous and all weather situations. These situations are unlikely to occur to the same degree or frequency within the domestic environment. The above arguments for 110 are for site use in the UK and whilst I concur that 240 +RCD is perfectly acceptable and should really be allowed, the simple fact is that the risk of injury from a 55v isolated system over a 240v live and neutral is less. I've been electrocuted by both 110 and 240 systems; 110 'tickles', whilst 240 has required medical attention.

As for the stats, I'm not referring to stats, I'm basing this on my own experience. I have never known or met anyone who has known anyone who has died due to electrocution by 110 systems, yet I directly know of several and indirectly many more deaths via 240 - both again associated with site work.

I'm not trying to trump anyone else's experience, knowledge or understanding just saying what I have experienced and understand.

 

[jmbfestool]

I would say most people who have died by the 240v wouldn't have been by their own tool but hitting a cable in a wall or something like that.

Regarding 110v and 240v being equal in power I total disagree.

I'm not going into a massive explanation why I believe this just that I have used 110v and 240v same model and branded tools and found the 110v was less powerfull.  I'm not saying 110v is powerless I just believe 240v is more powerfull especially when there are multiple tools being run on the job.    I know my TS55 always dominated my mates 110v TS55.  I would have to make sure my mate wasn't cutting with his TS55 before I started mine up because his would slow down MASSIVLY.  ( I couldn't help starting up my TS55 a few times though out the day for no reason just to bog down his TS55 just for a laugh)  Needles to say he's wanting a 240v TS now and my other mate bought the mafell 110v because he thought the mafell is more powerfull than the TS SO if it is less powerfull on 110v hoepfully having more power makes up for it

Also another point I forgot to mention before! people like to buy the smallest transformer as possible which often is the cause why 110v tools really lack power.  So you gotta spend more money and buy different size transformers to carry in your van or buy one big heavy transformer which supplies enough power for all your tool needs.