Question about using European festools in the US

[ear3]

I'm posing this question for a friend of mine who's going to Europe in may for some art installation builds, and who's thinking about purchasing some festools that are currently NAINA. So...since the British use 110 power standard, is it possible to run those machines in America with no problems or concerns?

Also, what about battery operated tools that are sold in 240 standard zones? While the battery charger would be for the higher current, I assume the batteries are the same, such that one could run, say, the hkc55 off of the 18v batteries we have here in the states.

Lastly, is one subject to VAT if purchasing something in Europe one intends to bring home to the states?

I understand there would be no tech support or warranty on tools purchased abroad here in the us, but that's the risk you take I guess.

 

[Holmz]

Collecting VAT back at the airport is a drama. You friend may not be impressed.
Just get them shipped.

If you liked 220v you are done.
Otherwise get the 110-230v transformer.

The 110v tools are no cheaper. The 230v are.

 

[ccarrolladams]

In the UK usually on large construction sites only 110v hand tools are allowed.

Those will work fine in the USA. All that would need to be changed would be the plug.

The situation is more complicated with 230v tools, which in the UK are commonly used in shops and by DIY. There the usual electricity is 230v 50hz. The USA is 60hz but the difference is no problem with Festools.

What can be a problem is that many regulations in the USA prohibit using any hand-held electrical tools using voltage higher than 120v. Subcontractors usually cannot use 220v tools on sites and they cannot be used in commercial shops.

As the OP realizes Festool USA will not support tools purchased outside the USA.

 

[uke73]

Just checked my UK spec RO 90 and the label shows 220-240v, 50 or 60hz so you should be ok on a US 220v supply? If you would like me to check a specific tool let me know and I'll see what I can find.

 

[Holmz]

The title say "European Festools", but once you have 220v then it is all tools with universal (50-60 Hz) motors.

That opens up a large batch of good tools.

 

[Tayler_mann]

transformer

I may have looked into this idea as well. My friend is an electrical engineer and said this would be a good option although your hz will never change. Shipping the tools is not a good idea unless it is large. The import tax that will be paid can be astronomical to the price of the tools purchased. My uncle goes to London every week and I have him brining me a few toys at some point and than shipping it once it has cleared customs Without an import tax paid (hopefully).

 

[ear3]

Thanks for the replies.

 

[sancho57]

Just found out they use a different plug it.  He can always swap it for a american plugit when he gets back to the states. No biggie and $5 part not counting the cord. He will have to buy a replacement plug to replace the UK plug.

Other then that no issue.  Im buying a 110V Makita thickness planer here with the intention of using it in the states when I return. Shouldn't be a problem other then the plug it

 

[joiner1970]

I have noticed on all my 110v UK Festool stuff it does say on the label not to be sold in north America. Why that is I don't know you will have to make sure the plugit socket isn't different

 

[Svar]

Just found out they use a different plug it. 

Could you clarify:
110V plug-it is different from 240V plug-it (expected)
OR
110V UK plug-it is different from 110V USA plug-it

 

[yetihunter]

I have noticed on all my 110v UK Festool stuff it does say on the label not to be sold in north America. Why that is I don't know you will have to make sure the plugit socket isn't different

Protecting their vendors + non ul listed

 

[sancho57]

Just found out they use a different plug it. 

Could you clarify:
110V plug-it is different from 240V plug-it (expected)
OR
110V UK plug-it is different from 110V USA plug-it

The 110v, it has a butterfly shape. It will work in the US but you will not be able to inter change the cable with other NA festools.

Which remind me, I have to check the pig tails I bought.

 

[Holmz]

In a shop setting with insurance and risk it can be somewhat problematic.

For home use there maybe be less issues.

Here we can have the tools test-n-tag where they validate that the tools are fine electrically and put a stick on them. I did that even though I use them at home... Just in case someone borrows one.

 

[uke73]

I think you will find that UK 110v site power is actually two phases of 55v (so any fault to earth through a person is a maximum of 55v). If you strap a meter between one of the phases and earth you will get a 55v reading but if you test the PD between the two phases that is where you get the 110v. I assume US house power is actually a single phase so you get 110v between the live and the earth. My guess is that this is why there may be warnings on UK 110v kit not to use it in the US?

 

[Holmz]

Good point [member=53679]uke73[/member] , on the red tools they are double insulated and have no earth/ground wire, so the tools sees 2 phases of 110 the same as a single phase of 220.

I do not know if the FT presents a ground wire to the tool. But I suspect that the vacuum has a ground wire connected.

 

[onocoffee]

Hope you don't mind me reviving an old thread but I thought it might be better than starting a new one for this.

Found a guy selling a Kapex 120 REB at a surprisingly good price. Not much detail on the machine but I did ask him to send me a pic of the manufacturer's plate and he seems willing (have not received it yet). But looking closely at the pics, I noticed the plug is green and looks the same as the green plugs on the European Plug-It cables. This leads me to believe that the machine is a Euro-spec 220v Kapex.

While I do have the outlets I picked up at Globus Baumarkt in Germany to wire up in my shop, was curious to know what might be involved in switching it to a US 120v motor. Watching Dean Doherty's video replacing the armature and control board on a 120EB - would that be the same? Order up an armature from FestoolUSA and then done?

Thanks.

 

[luvmytoolz]

[member=82312]onocoffee[/member] Unless the controller board is a universal input (which I doubt) I would expect that would also have to be replaced?

 

[onocoffee]

[member=75933]luvmytoolz[/member] Understood. Just a guess based on the video I was watching - the armature from Festool UK evidently also includes the control board. That said, it looks relatively straightforward. But, still waiting to hear back from the seller.

 

[alltracman78]

Hope you don't mind me reviving an old thread but I thought it might be better than starting a new one for this.

Found a guy selling a Kapex 120 REB at a surprisingly good price. Not much detail on the machine but I did ask him to send me a pic of the manufacturer's plate and he seems willing (have not received it yet). But looking closely at the pics, I noticed the plug is green and looks the same as the green plugs on the European Plug-It cables. This leads me to believe that the machine is a Euro-spec 220v Kapex.

While I do have the outlets I picked up at Globus Baumarkt in Germany to wire up in my shop, was curious to know what might be involved in switching it to a US 120v motor. Watching Dean Doherty's video replacing the armature and control board on a 120EB - would that be the same? Order up an armature from FestoolUSA and then done?

Thanks.

You're better off getting a 240 volt outlet installed IMO.
If you can find a circuit with just one outlet you don't even need to run new wire (assuming you have Romex).

 

[Coen]

I think you will find that UK 110v site power is actually two phases of 55v (so any fault to earth through a person is a maximum of 55v). If you strap a meter between one of the phases and earth you will get a 55v reading but if you test the PD between the two phases that is where you get the 110v. I assume US house power is actually a single phase so you get 110v between the live and the earth. My guess is that this is why there may be warnings on UK 110v kit not to use it in the US?

The tool won't be able to differentiate between the two as the result is just the same 110V sine wave.

It also says "not to be sold separately" at cans of Coca Cola or candy bars that you buy in packs at the supermarket (hehe, and at the kebab place lol) but it's still the same stuff.