Carpentry - US power tools in UK
 

Returning to the UK from the US this summer, husband's skill is as a master carpenter and he's planning to bring all his tools. Does anyone have any experience using large US power tools such as table saws with converter transformers. The concern is that with the converter the cycles are slightly slower and could burn up the tools and/or be dangerous at a slower speed.

If you've used these converters any first hand observations advice is appreciated.

Re: Carpentry - US power tools in UK
 

The problem is not only the voltage in the UK (230v versus 110v) but the frequency, UK runs at 50hz versus the US at 60hz. Hubby could get transformers to step up the voltage but you can’t do much about the frequency.
First thing he should do is look at the tools and see if they will operate at 50hz, some do but lots don’t. If majority don’t work at 50hz then an alternative would be to bring a small petrol generator with all the tools with you from the US and wire up part of his workshop in the UK to run off the US generator. I have a friend who moved to the USA a few years back with lots of UK tools, he bought a small Honda generator which he kept in a small shed off his workshop, he brought UK wall sockets too so he couldn’t plug in his UK tools to the wrong (US) sockets and bugger them up.
Just something to think about, but if he is bringing lots of expensive specialist tools then the generator will not be too much extra cost or inconvenience to move as well.

Re: Carpentry - US power tools in UK
 

I recently brought some US power tools back to UK and have run them on a transformer without problem. As you point out the voltage isn't the potential problem it's the frequency (UK=50Hz, US=60Hz). The only shortfall could be the transformer - mine is a 300 Watt model and was getting pretty warm with my mitre saw. It would be worth investing in a 1KW unit - again these are cheaper in the US than they are in UK, but the difference is not huge.
I use a Makita 1013 compound mitre saw and a Bosch contractor portablem and there is no noticeable speed change.
A rotary converter would be the professional way to go, but these units which maintain 60Hz are mainly for use by the electronics industry where circuits often derive their timing from the frequency of the power supply.
Hope this is of some use.

Rgds
PJ

Re: Carpentry - US power tools in UK
 

It's pretty common for professional contractors on building sites to use 110v tools (presumably for safety concerns outdoors in the rain etc...)

http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/...16158&ts=57400


-- brian

Re: Carpentry - US power tools in UK
 

Due to strong industrial safety legislation in the UK all trailing cables on portable tools, lights and all extension cables must be run from a 110 volts, center-tapped-to-earth supply protected by an RCD (residual current device) or GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter), using one of these transformers would mean changing all the plugs on your tools to the special ones at GBP 1.20 each. It should be noted that these transformers do not alter the frequency of the 50 Hz UK power supply just the voltage, consequently US tools will still run 20% slower in the UK, which may be an issue with professional tools.

Re: Carpentry - US power tools in UK
 

My DH only uses US power tools here (they're cheaper!)- mainly Hilti and DeWalt drills. Never had any problems. Uses transformers and on-site it is 110 anyway.