Using 240V-110V converters

[sancho57]

Hey guys,

There is a chance that I maybe relocating to Europe in the near future. Will my Festools that use 110V (US) operate with no issues in Europe (240) using a 240-110 converter?

Thanks for any help  you can give me.

 

[Jalvis]

I've dont some research on the Topic for some tools in the USA(220 to 110).  There really isnt that much information about what the long term effects will be on the tools.  I recommend contacting Festool headquarters with an email stating your concerns.  Also be sure to ask for a specific converter they recommend. 

From the Feedback I've received short term use will be fine but not daily use.  So if most of your work will be done in a shop with the appropriate plug-in and your only going to use the converter onsite for occasional use then everything will work and last as expected.  Remember this is only opinion I've received as I have no experience as of yet.

If you find out anything PLEASE post as I'm very interested.

 

[sancho57]

I called the festool rep and he referred me to a local tech guy. I talked to the tech guy He said I would need a "step down" transformer. 220-110V.

He also said the size of transformer would depend on What tools I would be using it with. I said TS 55 w/ CT 26 and a Kapex with a CT 22 plus router ect.

He suggested a 3000V transformer.

Anyway just passing on the info i got.

 

[ccarrolladams]

I called the festool rep and he referred me to a local tech guy. I talked to the tech guy He said I would need a "step down" transformer. 220-110V.

He also said the size of transformer would depend on What tools I would be using it with. I said TS 55 w/ CT 26 and a Kapex with a CT 22 plus router ect.

He suggested a 3000V transformer.

Anyway just passing on the info i got.

Hi Good Buddy,

Probably you either did not hear correctly or you made a typo in your post. Almost certainly you mean a 3,000W=Watt transformer.

In Europe 3,000W is often expressed '3KVA' which means the same thing.

If a transformer can deal with 3,000 volts, that could only safely be installed by an electrical utility, or very specialized high voltage electrical contractors. Here in California the most common electrical contractor's license is a 'C-10' which allows work on voltages under 600v. This is one reason in industrial plants 480v 3ph is so popular. All of our favorite industrial electrical contractor can do that work.

 

[ccarrolladams]

I've dont some research on the Topic for some tools in the USA(220 to 110).  There really isnt that much information about what the long term effects will be on the tools.  I recommend contacting Festool headquarters with an email stating your concerns.  Also be sure to ask for a specific converter they recommend. 

From the Feedback I've received short term use will be fine but not daily use.  So if most of your work will be done in a shop with the appropriate plug-in and your only going to use the converter onsite for occasional use then everything will work and last as expected.  Remember this is only opinion I've received as I have no experience as of yet.

If you find out anything PLEASE post as I'm very interested.

In the USA and Canada virtually all electrical utilities supply AC at 60hz in various voltages and phase. Homes usually have 15 amp grounded outlets at up to 120v. Some homes have a few 20a 120v outlets.

In Europe and much of the rest of the world AC is 50hz usually at 230-240v.

All Festools are designed to safely use either 50hz or 60hz. The only problem using step-down transformers from 230v 50hz is that to deliver 3,000 w one designed for 50hz will be heavier than a 60hz transformer of the same rating.

 

[Rick Christopherson]

In Europe 3,000W is often expressed '3KVA' which means the same thing.

The Volt-Ampere is not a European/U.S. thing. Transformers are rated by volt-ampere because the actual current in the winding is the limiting factor. Generators are rated in watts, because the power (hp) of the engine is what normally limits the output.

The two ratings are related, but not identical. The volt-ampere will always be larger than watts, because the watts are equal to the VA times the powerfactor, which is a number between zero and 1, but 0.8 is the generally assumed "typical" number.

A 3 KVA transformer will deliver 25 amps at 120 volts, and will consume 12 amps at 240 volts. For transformers this small, there is little difference between 50 and 60 hertz.

As for the tools, there is no difference between short term and long term use. They are universal motors, which means they don't care what the frequency is. Induction motors do, but universal motors don't.

 

[ccarrolladams]

In Europe 3,000W is often expressed '3KVA' which means the same thing.

The Volt-Ampere is not a European/U.S. thing. Transformers are rated by volt-ampere because the actual current in the winding is the limiting factor. Generators are rated in watts, because the power (hp) of the engine is what normally limits the output.

The two ratings are related, but not identical. The volt-ampere will always be larger than watts, because the watts are equal to the VA times the powerfactor, which is a number between zero and 1, but 0.8 is the generally assumed "typical" number.

A 3 KVA transformer will deliver 25 amps at 120 volts, and will consume 12 amps at 240 volts. For transformers this small, there is little difference between 50 and 60 hertz.

As for the tools, there is no difference between short term and long term use. They are universal motors, which means they don't care what the frequency is. Induction motors do, but universal motors don't.

Thanks, Rick

In my early years I was a licensed Electrical Engineer. What I wrote is correct. Often in Europe instead of expressing the capacity of a transformer as '3,000 w' they would write that as '3 KVA' and I wrote that because many Americans are not used to that expression.

 

[Rick Christopherson]

Often in Europe instead of expressing the capacity of a transformer as '3,000 w' they would write that as '3 KVA' and I wrote that because many Americans are not used to that expression.

It's 3KVA in the Both the U.S. and Europe.There is nothing European about that. Transformers are ALWAYS rated by VA (volt-ampere), because watts are meaningless to a transformer. If you put 3000watts of power through a 3KVA/120V transformer, but at a 0.1 powerfactor, you will melt that transformer, because it would be 250 amps.

There is no such thing as "used to be" an electrical engineer. You either have the degree or you don't. If you have the degree, you wouldn't be thinking this was a "European thing", nor would you be arguing the point. The difference between watts and VA is standard knowledge for any EE.

 

[GhostFist]

Oooook what about step up converters? All good? Layman's terms please I do not have a degree.

 

[Rick Christopherson]

Oooook what about step up converters? All good? Layman's terms please I do not have a degree.

Transformers are one of the most efficient devices that humankind has created. The power-out vs. power-in is very close to ideal.

When you increase voltage (as you requested), then you proportionally decrease the amperage. The product of voltage times amperage on both the input and output sides of the transformer will be equal. (Hence the VA ratings). So when you have a step-up transformer, you need to make sure that the supply circuit can handle the amperage of the output needs.

In other words, if your 240 volt tool requires 5 amps of current, then your 120 volt supply circuit will have to be capable of delivering 10 amps. The ratio is always the same, so as one value goes up, the other has to go down.

As for the Festool tools, they don't care as long as they get the voltage they expect. My Kapex saw is a 240 volt European version that I am running here in the U.S. on a 240 volt circuit.

 

[ccarrolladams]

Often in Europe instead of expressing the capacity of a transformer as '3,000 w' they would write that as '3 KVA' and I wrote that because many Americans are not used to that expression.

It's 3KVA in the Both the U.S. and Europe.There is nothing European about that. Transformers are ALWAYS rated by VA (volt-ampere), because watts are meaningless to a transformer. If you put 3000watts of power through a 3KVA/120V transformer, but at a 0.1 powerfactor, you will melt that transformer, because it would be 250 amps.

There is no such thing as "used to be" an electrical engineer. You either have the degree or you don't. If you have the degree, you wouldn't be thinking this was a "European thing", nor would you be arguing the point. The difference between watts and VA is standard knowledge for any EE.

Yes, Rick, I have degrees from Cal Tech and Yale. I wrote "use to be" because I have concentrated on several other technical area, especially structural engineering, over the past few decades.

Bottom line is that if Santos decides to move to Europe with his USA 115v 60hz Festools and obtains a step-down transformer in Europe rated 3,000 w he will be fine.

Meanwhile we each have our own businesses. In my case one of my businesses is a sophisticated custom cabinet shop. We use a lot of Festools, but we also use a lot of CNC equipment.

 

[Davej]

U.S. 110v tools work fine here in the U.K. I have a pc circular saw and a U.S. spec cement mixer (dont ask [smile] both work fine , sometimes the mixer can be running allday long . If you have the of2200 running through your vac you may be better getting a 4kva transformer. If you have an extension lead from transformer to vac it needs to be 2.5 amp ( U.K. that is) also the shorter the better. You could also make yourself a short conversion lead to save changing the plugs on your tools . Hope this helps a bit .
Dave

 

[jeh]

Any issues with using a UK 110 volt/50 Hz tool in the US (110 volt/60 Hz)?

 

[ccarrolladams]

Any issues with using a UK 110 volt/50 Hz tool in the US (110 volt/60 Hz)?

All of the tools I have purchased in the USA from Festool dealers are rated to use 110v/ 50-60 Hz. However it is possible Festool make tools not sold in the USA for the UK 110v market which do not work correctly on 60 Hz. Why not ask Festool UK directly.

It is also possible that 110v tools made by other manufacturers might not work on 60 Hz.

 

[Sam fitz]

I moved from the UK to Canada and brought with me lots of UK 110v power tools
Festool, Hilti, Makita etc. All work fine on 110v 60hz

Although UK homes are wired 240v and you can buy 240v power tools when working on a construction site all tools should be 110v so most trades people buy 110v tools and have a yellow 240v to 110v transformer (which are fairly cheap)

Before moving to Canada I asked Festool if there would be an issue regarding 50-60hz they said they would work fine and they did

I am sure you will be fine taking your tools to the UK

Hope this helps

 

[sancho57]

They are working great. I have been here about a year and half now. I'm using a 3Kv tranny. The only difference I see is the tools seem to be working at a slightly less RPM.
But other then that I'm a wood working fool here.

 

[Holmz]

... I'm using a 3Kv tranny.
...

2 problems:
1) It is 3 kva with a "va" being like a watt and the k being 1000.
2) The second is that "tranny" in Australia makes your avatar picture seem like it could be from Thailand.

 

[jacko9]

Any issues with using a UK 110 volt/50 Hz tool in the US (110 volt/60 Hz)?

All of the tools I have purchased in the USA from Festool dealers are rated to use 110v/ 50-60 Hz. However it is possible Festool make tools not sold in the USA for the UK 110v market which do not work correctly on 60 Hz. Why not ask Festool UK directly.

It is also possible that 110v tools made by other manufacturers might not work on 60 Hz.

That's interesting since the Mafell MT-55cc delivered to the North America is 110v @ 50Hz can there be an issue with that tool running on 110v @60Hz?

 

[Holmz]

Any issues with using a UK 110 volt/50 Hz tool in the US (110 volt/60 Hz)?

All of the tools I have purchased in the USA from Festool dealers are rated to use 110v/ 50-60 Hz. However it is possible Festool make tools not sold in the USA for the UK 110v market which do not work correctly on 60 Hz. Why not ask Festool UK directly.

It is also possible that 110v tools made by other manufacturers might not work on 60 Hz.

That's interesting since the Mafell MT-55cc delivered to the North America is 110v @ 50Hz can there be an issue with that tool running on 110v @60Hz?

It is totally dependent on motor design, and probably best to ask.

In general running a 50-Hz at 60-Hz has less issues with inductance and "iron loss" than a 60-Hz run at 50-Hz.

But unless it is a big saw running continuously at 'wide open throttle' (WOT) (Like a table saw being fed by two people, then I am not personally too concerned.

 

[jacko9]

Any issues with using a UK 110 volt/50 Hz tool in the US (110 volt/60 Hz)?

All of the tools I have purchased in the USA from Festool dealers are rated to use 110v/ 50-60 Hz. However it is possible Festool make tools not sold in the USA for the UK 110v market which do not work correctly on 60 Hz. Why not ask Festool UK directly.

It is also possible that 110v tools made by other manufacturers might not work on 60 Hz.

That's interesting since the Mafell MT-55cc delivered to the North America is 110v @ 50Hz can there be an issue with that tool running on 110v @60Hz?

It is totally dependent on motor design, and probably best to ask.

In general running a 50-Hz at 60-Hz has less issues with inductance and "iron loss" than a 60-Hz run at 50-Hz.

But unless it is a big saw running continuously at 'wide open throttle' (WOT) (Like a table saw being fed by two people, then I am not personally too concerned.

At my age there is no WOT!

Jack