Using Mafell Erika 85 with generator / inverter

[diymco]

I want to buy a MAFELL ERIKA 85 table saw.  This is VERY EXPENSIVE (USD$8,000) MADE IN GERMANY.  Mafell will not reply to my emails.  Their US distributor is saying you can't use a generator/ inverter because it will mess up a special computer board in motor.  It is a 230V / 12.6 amp motor.  I find it hard to believe that you can't use a generator / inverter.  Could someone please give insight?

 

[squall_line]

I want to buy a MAFELL ERIKA 85 table saw.  This is VERY EXPENSIVE (USD$8,000) MADE IN GERMANY.  Mafell will not reply to my emails.  Their US distributor is saying you can't use a generator/ inverter because it will mess up a special computer board in motor.  It is a 230V / 12.6 amp motor.  I find it hard to believe that you can't use a generator / inverter.  Could someone please give insight?

Timberwolf is the only importer and servicer of Mafell in the United States.  The saw is wired to use 230V mains power in the US because it's rated at over 2500W, which is around 22 amps on 110V service.

It also only starts at $5,100, not $8,000.

Most portable generator/inverters have lousy power quality/power reliability, even the inverters with "pure sine wave" output.  What is the use case for using a portable push/pull 230V cabinet saw with a generator?

If they are specifically recommending against using a generator/inverter, the only thing stopping you is whatever the warranty says.  If the warranty only covers mains power connection and you fry something, it probably won't be covered.

If I were to be in the market where I was selling Mafell equipment, I would want my customers to have the best experience possible from the tool and would recommend everything that the manufacturer recommends, and recommend against anything that the manufacturer doesn't recommend.  I certainly wouldn't want to put someone in a scenario where they're coming back to me and telling me that their high end tool no longer works because I recommended something that was not recommended by the manufacturer.

Have you tried posting or researching the Mafell forums?

 

[Cheese]

If this were my problem...I'd just install some 240 volt receptacles in the shop. What's not to like about that? Easy...peasy.

If you purchase this saw, I'd be very interested in hearing about your feedback...it does seem to be a very nice piece of equipment.

 

[Tom the Remodeler]

Hi Diymco,

Cheese and squall_line summed it up pretty well. The Erika 85 is an impressive machine, but at 2500W, the only way you can run it off 120V would be on a step-up converter on a 30A circuit (not going to find many of those in a residential setting). At that point, you're better off just running on a 240V outlet.

I have a colleague in the St. Louis MO area with a newer Erika 85, he has plenty of 240V outlets in the Shop, and when he's working on-site he just plugs into the oven or dryer outlet.

If you're mostly mobile and want to get into an Erika, you'll want to look at the Erika 60. I'm running a 120V Erika 70 and it's a great machine, but now longer available in 120V. Now that I am better equipped in the Shop, if my 70 were to get stolen I'd consider replacing it with the Erika 60 + step up converter, as that's a better fit for my mobile needs at this point.