| Author | Message | ||
     Mr_grumpy |
The container with all our stuff in arrives next week & there's various electrical appliances in there that are of course built to run 220v 50hz single phase. Now if I run 2 110v phases to these things instead of a phase & neutral will they work? I expect simple stuff like a toaster would, but what about more complicated stuff like microprocessor controlled washing machine etc? Voltage converters are readily available & relatively cheap, but the ones I've seen don't appear to resolve the hertz question of going from 60 down to 50. I know there's a few electrical engineers on here, what do you reckon. | ||
| Hootowl |
Standard household power in the US is 240 volt single phase 60 hz. A standard outlet however is one leg of that, with a center tapped common. Rewiring outlets for 220 is not trivial. You're likely better off replacing small appliances. | ||
| Hootowl |
Your microprocessor controlled washing machine converts the ac to dc, so frequency isn't all that important. Also, most stuff like that is rated for 50 or 60 hz anyway, and likely has a switch or bonding strap that can flipped or moved to convert it from 220 to 110. | ||
| Reepicheep |
You need an electrician, not an electrical engineer. An electrical engineer in this context is likely to get you killed.  Many of the smaller computer and household appliances may work fine if they use little wall wart type switching power supplies. If it is heavy, it has a transformer, and should probably be replaced. If it is light, it is probably a switcher, and would work fine with an physical plug adapter. Break out the reading glasses, the adapters should be marked with the inputs they will work with. | ||
| Kenm123t |
if its not field switchable I mean with a dip switch or dual rated replace them. Canada went 60hz with the Us The Grids are interconnected. Many US products are 50 /60 hz rated check the labels | ||
| Hootowl |
I bought a PC monitor in Hong Kong back in 1991. It was 220. I took the back off, and there was a jumper to switch it to 110. I would imagine most things, especially major appliances, have a similar mechanism. Why build two different version of the same model? | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
Update time. I've found that the kitchen countertop dual sockets aren't common phase but 2 separate phases, yippee. So I've taken a Euro socket bar, cut the plug off & stripped the cable back, fitted 2 US/Can plugs. #1 has phase & Earth #2(which is the neutral wire) goes into the other phase socket. Presto 220-240v. Most stuff seems to be working normally. Washing machine however is proving troublesome. It won't drain, the drain pump motor is a brushless type, made by Askoll rated at 220-240v 50hz, It'll spin up fine with no load but, won't pump when it's full of water just chucks until the pcb shuts it down & throws an error code. Motors are dirt cheap in Europe but I don't know if it's just shagged or if it's due to the frequency difference. Can anyone help? My wife loves her washing machine & hates the crap top loader we have here, my life would be so much more peaceful if her machine did its job. | ||
| Blake |
You shouldn't refer to yourself as a "machine" if you're not able to do your job. "Toploader"? That may be illegal in Texas. Probably encouraged in Quebec, though bragging on the internet is a bit cheeky. | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
Blake. I thank you profoundly for your concern, but I thought that bragging was the whole point of the internet. | ||
| Fast1075 |
It sounds as though the motor is an ECM type (Electrically Commutated Motor). If so, the frequency is throwing off the feedback loop, causing the shutdown and error. You need an opinion from someone very familiar with the product to advise you. | ||
| Kenm123t |
Fast do you have older drive to send Grumpy to correct his input htz? I dont have any thing over 2 Hp that will work | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
Main motor is fine. It's 240v DC. PCB runs 50/60hz only the wee drain pump motor is the pproblem, but it's an Askoll. I expect there's a 240 60 version but I've so far not been able to find one. | ||
| Ferris_von_bueller |
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