Convert 110V Waffle Iron to 220V

[Billebaars]

Hi all,

I recently purchased a Chef's Choice Cone Maker 838, which is a fairly basic waffle iron. The problem is, that as it is a product from the USA its operating voltage is 120V at 60Hz and 1050 Watt (these are probably the max values). Would there be any way of converting this to the UK 220V as this machine will probably fry when hooked up unmodified.

The iron is probably no more than a heating element with a thermostat, similar to a toaster. Would simply replacing the resistor element in the thermostat suffice? There are also two lights on it, but I don't mind if they break.

A step down voltage converter is too expensive for what it's worth, perhaps anybody could suggest a cheaper converter for this power output as cycles and ac/dc are of no importance to the waffle iron.

Thanks

 

[aptsys]

First of all, just connect the elements in series!

 

[Knobhead]

I’ve said my piece so I’ll leave it with you.

 

[PavelMeld]

Hi, everybody !
For me it was surprising that someone else have tried to mod this device from 110 to 220 =)
It was about one year ago when I bought such device at Amazon and found this funnny USA plug.
I'm not sure it's possible to attach images of what was inside to this message, so I'll do this in next one.

 

[PavelMeld]

Ok, inside was a pretty simple circuit but with really messy wiring.
Original Schematics (110V):

Corresponding wiring was:

First of all it's easy to see that we really can connect plates in series without any danger to change their operation mode:

Moreover, it's possible to reuse existing wires:


And this works very fine! Cooking timings are as specified in manual for standard 110V mode.
Each waffle-making session lasts at least 1 hour, and no problems were detected during 1 year of exploitation (about 20-25 hours of heating).

May be this will help someone else who will buy this model from US =)

 

[Marvo]

This thread must be ranked in google searches I assume. Many appliances like this have a different kilowatt rated element on the top and bottom, if you change element wiring from parallel to series you could get a different volt drop across each element which may result in uneven cooking of the waffles.

 

[Hawkmoon]

Apologies if someone has already suggested this but:

If you like this waffle iron so much then buy another one, wire them both in series, plug in - more waffles than you can eat!! (assuming frequency diff don't matter)

Bear in mind though - thermostat on one will shut off both so make sure you put all waffles in at the same time!!

lol

 

[Eryrwyn]

Time to stop WAFFLING ON and close this thread. :speechless:

 

[Engineer54]

Never ceases to amaze me just how many fools purchase appliances and equipment from across the big pond without giving a second thought as to how they are going to power these appliances on a voltage system thats double the voltage that the equipment was designed to work with!!
Pure lunacy!!

The only safe way to use such appliances and the like, is to purchase a suitably rated and sized transformer. Far cheaper and wiser to purchase equipment suitable for use in the country in which you live. You'll also benefit in having a valid warranty to boot, ...if anything should go wrong in the first 12 months or whatever!!!!

 

[telectrix]

simplest solution id to go to a wholesalers and buy a 1.5kva site tranny and a 110V plug. shove the tranny in a kitchen cupboard.