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Hello,
Join us now for part two of the saga:Using 110V American power tools in a 220V land.Is it possible to purchase and a converter here (amsterdam) and use my skilsaw,makita table saw ect.. without hurting the tools or my back lugging around a portable power plant? The answers I will get here tommorow will be perhaps a little vague so anyone with thoughts,experience enz.. please let me know.
Thanks , Dan
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Dan
For tools that use universal motors a transform or auto transformer that steps the voltage down from 240 to 120 will work.
Universal motors are ones that have brushes. This includes drills, routers, circular saws, recip saws, etc. I suspect that the Makita table saw has a universal motor, but I am not sure.
The larger contractors style table saws use induction motors. They will run too hot if you try to use 60 Hz motors on 50 Hz (unless the label says 60/50Hz).
*The Makita table saws have universal motors. At the price of tools in Europe, I can see investing in a transformer. Make sure you get something big enough that can handle the 13A/15A range of most saws (the primary of the transformer will be half of that).fv
*Any transformer has to be able to handle the starting amps of the motor which can be 4-6 times the running amps. There are some outlets of multi-voltage tools. The couple such stores that I know are at the west end of University Avenue in Berkeley. But LA, and NYC must have similar outlets for ex-patriots looking for better US prices to take home with them. Ask anyone who commutes to India. -David
*Dan, I tried that with some of my tools when I lived in Germany and fried a few beyond repair. Even though the voltage can be reduced, the Hertz cannot be changed and they could overheat. Although tools are not as cheap as they are Stateside, they're not too outrageous. If you don't plan on spending a lifetime over there, you can find some Eastern European products at relatively good prices. I have a few drills and a sander made in Albania that I think I paid about $20 for each and believe it or not they still work fine although I would never find parts if they broke. If it were me, I wouldn't try "transforming" my US tools as you'll fry something in the long run. I know, it happened to me...Mike
*Hey folks,Thanks for all the good advice.It is too bad my idea will not work as tools here are pretty expensive and well I just would like to have my simple little makita table saw on the job here.Most of the tools here for example circular saws just seem a little wimpy after my Sklisaw.I would not want to drop a festo saw off a roof!I will go out to the big tool place tommorow and ask around. Thanks agin for all your advice. Tot ziens, Dan
*
Hello,
Join us now for part two of the saga:Using 110V American power tools in a 220V land.Is it possible to purchase and a converter here (amsterdam) and use my skilsaw,makita table saw ect.. without hurting the tools or my back lugging around a portable power plant? The answers I will get here tommorow will be perhaps a little vague so anyone with thoughts,experience enz.. please let me know.
Thanks , Dan