step up/down transformer
#46
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Joined: Jan 2004
Location: Worcestershire
Posts: 4,219
Re: step up/down transformer
The old same size 2 pins are being phased out
the switch controlled the current, it didn't make the unit 'safe'
#47
Re: step up/down transformer
In term of the appliance and (also to a point the house wiring to the junction box), the neutral is normally carrying current
The difference is its potential in relation to earth. But... In a UK system we'd only have a breaker on the live phase for 240v a North American set up for 250v would have a dual breaker on both phases (or mine did)
The difference is its potential in relation to earth. But... In a UK system we'd only have a breaker on the live phase for 240v a North American set up for 250v would have a dual breaker on both phases (or mine did)
As I see it, the greatest danger in using UK-sourced appliances on a jerry-rigged 240v North American supply is when the appliance has its own switch. That switch will isolate power from all the circuitry when supplied with UK-style 240v, but if the appliance is plugged in in North America, turning "off" the same switch will leave 120v feeding all the circuitry "backwards", through the neutral wire!
Most appliances that care about polarity actually have one fatter pin, which is the neutral, if they are two pin configuration with no earth. Laptop supplies etc that just convert to DC don't care so they have two slimmer prongs.
#48
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Re: step up/down transformer
Quote by Mike: I look at its in a simple transformer view (as thats what your getting)
UK earth's one side of the 240v transformer and ignores the centre tap
US earth's at the centre tap/point and uses either side or both lives. Unqoute.
I totally agree with your explanation.
The US 240VAC 3 wire system taps from both live wires, and doesn't connect to the centre tap. The phase-difference between the two 120VAC legs becomes the neutral. The third wire acts as ground.
What I find difficult to understand is how can UK Black and Decker drill still rotate when directly plugged to this source. I would have thought the neutral wire, internally connected to the return end of the stator windings within the motor, would be energised incorrectly.
UK earth's one side of the 240v transformer and ignores the centre tap
US earth's at the centre tap/point and uses either side or both lives. Unqoute.
I totally agree with your explanation.
The US 240VAC 3 wire system taps from both live wires, and doesn't connect to the centre tap. The phase-difference between the two 120VAC legs becomes the neutral. The third wire acts as ground.
What I find difficult to understand is how can UK Black and Decker drill still rotate when directly plugged to this source. I would have thought the neutral wire, internally connected to the return end of the stator windings within the motor, would be energised incorrectly.
#49
Part Time Poster
Joined: Jan 2004
Location: Worcestershire
Posts: 4,219
Re: step up/down transformer
Quote by Mike: I look at its in a simple transformer view (as thats what your getting)
UK earth's one side of the 240v transformer and ignores the centre tap
US earth's at the centre tap/point and uses either side or both lives. Unqoute.
I totally agree with your explanation.
The US 240VAC 3 wire system taps from both live wires, and doesn't connect to the centre tap. The phase-difference between the two 120VAC legs becomes the neutral. The third wire acts as ground.
What I find difficult to understand is how can UK Black and Decker drill still rotate when directly plugged to this source. I would have thought the neutral wire, internally connected to the return end of the stator windings within the motor, would be energised incorrectly.
UK earth's one side of the 240v transformer and ignores the centre tap
US earth's at the centre tap/point and uses either side or both lives. Unqoute.
I totally agree with your explanation.
The US 240VAC 3 wire system taps from both live wires, and doesn't connect to the centre tap. The phase-difference between the two 120VAC legs becomes the neutral. The third wire acts as ground.
What I find difficult to understand is how can UK Black and Decker drill still rotate when directly plugged to this source. I would have thought the neutral wire, internally connected to the return end of the stator windings within the motor, would be energised incorrectly.
If you plot two anti phase 120V sine waves against each other, its give a 240V sine wave
All the motor sees is a voltage potential
Most if not all wired domestic power tools are a two wire double insulated set up ?
I'm not sure you do understand my explanation
Last edited by MikeUK; Oct 13th 2016 at 3:47 pm.
#50
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Joined: Apr 2016
Location: IL
Posts: 184
Re: step up/down transformer
What I find difficult to understand is how can UK Black and Decker drill still rotate when directly plugged to this source. I would have thought the neutral wire, internally connected to the return end of the stator windings within the motor, would be energised incorrectly.
Last edited by Mangaboy84; Oct 13th 2016 at 3:53 pm.
#51
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Posts: 1,274
Re: step up/down transformer
Single phase motors from the uk use a capacitor to phase shift the input and allow the motor to start spinning which then is kept going upto speed using the normal single phase supply.
I think if you try to plug a uk drill into a usa 230v supply at best the motor wouldnt turn work because the L & N are both at different phase shifts possibly apposing each other and at worst likely to blow up both the drill and the fuse box.
I think if you try to plug a uk drill into a usa 230v supply at best the motor wouldnt turn work because the L & N are both at different phase shifts possibly apposing each other and at worst likely to blow up both the drill and the fuse box.
#52
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Joined: Apr 2016
Location: IL
Posts: 184
Re: step up/down transformer
Thats why i edited my post to tweek the answer after reading back through the thread, plenty of experience with uk electrical systems but i really need to learn the US systems once i move over this year before starting work again
#53
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Posts: 1,274
Re: step up/down transformer
If you look on a US pole mounted transformer you can see the three taps, outer two taps your 120v phases, centre tap (neutral) 0v usually earthed right there on the pole ?
If you plot two anti phase 120V sine waves against each other, its give a 240V sine wave
All the motor sees is a voltage potential
Most if not all wired domestic power tools are a two wire double insulated set up ?
I'm not sure you do understand my explanation
If you plot two anti phase 120V sine waves against each other, its give a 240V sine wave
All the motor sees is a voltage potential
Most if not all wired domestic power tools are a two wire double insulated set up ?
I'm not sure you do understand my explanation
However, I understand that although you achieve 240VAC the difference in the phase-angles of the sine waves on L1 and N1 will be 180deg out. This is OK on N.A. 240V motors as the windings can be assimilated but it's not the same on UK 240V wound-motors.
How can a UK wound motor work if the designed continuous winding Line to Neutral wire, creating the magnetic stator field, use sine waves opposing at 60hertz?
#54
Re: step up/down transformer
I think it's RivingtonPike that may have a number of workshop tools from the Ulk- if not he's been active in the debate.
#55
Re: step up/down transformer
I do indeed have a bunch of tools that I brought from the UK. I've got 220v in my garage already, but I also have a 3000w transformer which is heavy, but in the garage, who cares. I still use 2 drills, a leaf blower, hot air paint stripper, jig saw, dyson, B&D electric screwdriver. No idea if they run faster or not, but they all work fine. As things have worn out, of course we've bought Canadian versions, but I couldn't see the point of selling my stuff in the UK for peanuts and having to replace everything. Plus I seem to remember having rather bigger issues on my mind that selling a few power tools.
#56
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Posts: 1,274
Re: step up/down transformer
Thanks for that info Rivington but, just to clarify, do you use those inductive UK tools directly from the BC Hydro 240VAC supply or through your 3KW transformer?
#57
Re: step up/down transformer
Mainly from the BC Hydro 220v. The Dyson we use around the place from time to time so use the transformer
#58
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Re: step up/down transformer
Then I'm clearly wrong in my theoretical thinking....and it is perfectly OK to plug a 240Vac UK motor into the N.A. 240Vac system with impunity...and it will go faster due to the increase in hertz.
#59
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Joined: Jan 2004
Location: Worcestershire
Posts: 4,219
Re: step up/down transformer
the motor spins faster and its cooling fan spins faster ~ usually not an issue as excess cooling offsets the speed
60hz to 50hz slower motor slower cooling ~ risk of overheat, on this one I'm resurrecting a Compressor with 1.7KW draw shortly I'll let you know how reliable it is ??? or If I need to replace the motor
as for the voltage consider only the potential difference across the motors poles and ignore any neutral/earth reference points
#60
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Posts: 1,274
Re: step up/down transformer
We all know that it isn't voltage that turns an electric motor..it's magnetism.
The UK 240VAC produces a single sine wave and a UK motor 'usually' has a single winding. The magnetic polarity changes with the frequency of the sine wave and the motor, once started, runs. A capacitor is the simple way to kick-start but I'm aware that there are other methods using more windings.
As the US 240VAC system uses 2 sine waves 180deg apart (that's why it doesn't need a neutral wire) I couldn't see how that can make a UK wound motor turn.....as the polarity will reverse every cycle.
However, I'm only thinking theoretically...so I bow to those who have practical information and have made the UK motors work directly from the N.A. 240VAC source without modification.
I just cannot comprehend how that works.
The UK 240VAC produces a single sine wave and a UK motor 'usually' has a single winding. The magnetic polarity changes with the frequency of the sine wave and the motor, once started, runs. A capacitor is the simple way to kick-start but I'm aware that there are other methods using more windings.
As the US 240VAC system uses 2 sine waves 180deg apart (that's why it doesn't need a neutral wire) I couldn't see how that can make a UK wound motor turn.....as the polarity will reverse every cycle.
However, I'm only thinking theoretically...so I bow to those who have practical information and have made the UK motors work directly from the N.A. 240VAC source without modification.
I just cannot comprehend how that works.