US 220 volt supplies

[Shippers]

Hi, new to the site and not an electrician. I am planning to move to the USA in a year or so.
I just had a question about using UK 240V 50Hz tools on a US 220V 60Hz supply...basically is this possible? Is there any way I can avoid selling all my UK electrical tools and having to buy new ones or is it possible to set up a workshop with a US 220V supply where I could still use them?
My main concern is I realise the UK supply is 3 core Ground, Neutral and 240V live as opposed to the US 110V, 110V and Ground.
My understanding is that as far as the Hertz is concerned, the motor would simply run slightly faster. I would appreciate any advice.

 

[Fin170]

Have a look on your chargers and look at the input, quite a few list 100-240v 50-60hz and should be plug and play

I think the US 240v supply is more than one phase if i remember correct haven't looked into it in great detail, AWG was backwoulds enough for me :lol:

 

[malcolmsanford]

If your tools are cordless then as Fin says most likely the chargers are universal type 100-240v 50/60hz and would be no problem you can check these.

If your tools are direct 230/240 then there is a problem with the voltage. American voltage standards are normally 110/208 and not 127/220. The 127/220 Standard was European

The problem will also be the Hz. Most mains tools have some kind of electronics in them, most of the dual speed tools will be electronic speed control, there will be filters and suppressors also in them, and all these will fail quite quickly under the 60hz frequency

Fin you are correct the American 110/208 standard does use both phases to get the 208 voltage. They rely on the phase lag to create the potential

 

[Engineer54]

That's a bit old hat now Malc, electric utilities typically deliver electricity, under standard conditions, at 240 volts and 120 volts plus or minus 5% at the transformer in the states these days. The 208/220 volt and 110 volt designations are older and familiar terminology, but are no longer used in either product design or by electric utilities in the US and Canada.
Obviously the 60Hz remains the same throughout the whole of the North America's...

I'm sure you'll find some pockets of the older utility voltages scattered about, but generally it's now 240/120V

 

[malcolmsanford]

Thanks Col I do stand corrected, been a long time since I actually worked or was involved with anything in the States.

We still have quite a few of the old Westinghouse 13.8KV/480/208 Transformers over here and often come across the 208/110 supplies in many places.

 

[Marvo]

I've used 50hz tools on a 60hz US supply and they worked okay(ish) although how long they last for is pot luck. A few of mine burned out fairly quickly but I also had a Metabo drill that lasted over a year in the US with heavy usage and is still going strong even now. If you're willing to take the chance you can pretty much tell by the feel of the tool when it's running how long it's going to last.

 

[Shippers]

Many thanks to everyone. I think on balance I will just bite the bullet and sell my mains electrical items before I go. Expensive upfront but perhaps cheaper in the long run if they are just going to burn out.

 

[Engineer54]

Many thanks to everyone. I think on balance I will just bite the bullet and sell my mains electrical items before I go. Expensive upfront but perhaps cheaper in the long run if they are just going to burn out.

Maybe, ...Maybe not!! Power tools cost quite a bit less in the States than they do in the UK and Europe. They tend to get the latest models before anyone else too.

 

[brycenesbitt]

240V tools are pretty rare here, and many houses have no such outlet.
15 AMP 110V tools are the norm. Even 20 amp plugs (with the pin twisted 90 from standard) are pretty rare. The 60hz makes certain types of motors run faster... but little harm beyond for many tools.

 

[MartinSigsworth]

240V tools are pretty rare here, and many houses have no such outlet.
15 AMP 110V tools are the norm. Even 20 amp plugs (with the pin twisted 90 from standard) are pretty rare. The 60hz makes certain types of motors run faster... but little harm beyond for many tools.

Just purchase a transformer I've seen several that will supply 240 on a uk style plug from North American supply and with the changing of a tap at the back would supply 110 from 240

power from 300W up to 3000W

 

[grantr37]

Are you shipping your tools out by container? where roughly in the USA are you planning to move to? I would say you are better to get power tools over there, they might search your things and decide to bin them anyway before your stuff arrives at your new address, they have a tendency to confiscate and bin things that they feel do not meet the US version of standards such as tools, vehicles/vehicle parts, food, outdoor equipment.....
you will find that it is cheap compared to the UK to buy power tools, although if you are making regular use of pipefitting equipment or plumbing gear you would be better to buy that here as we have better quality metalworking tools and plumbing tools as we do more and it's not sold in a big way in the US apart from "vehicle shop" type tools.....there's a lot more good UK made and German made tools on the shelves here and its more asian imports over there...

- - - Updated - - -

Are you shipping your tools out by container? where roughly in the USA are you planning to move to? I would say you are better to get power tools over there, they might search your things and decide to bin them anyway before your stuff arrives at your new address, they have a tendency to confiscate and bin things that they feel do not meet the US version of standards such as tools, vehicles/vehicle parts, food, outdoor equipment.....
you will find that it is cheap compared to the UK to buy power tools, although if you are making regular use of pipefitting equipment or plumbing gear you would be better to buy that here as we have better quality metalworking tools and plumbing tools as we do more and it's not sold in a big way in the US apart from "vehicle shop" type tools.....there's a lot more good UK made and German made tools on the shelves here and its more asian imports over there...

 

[norcal]

110 & 220 volts are OBSOLETE in the US, and have been so for many decades, common supply voltages are 120/240V single phase, 120/240V 3Ø , 208Y/120V, (110 / 208V never existed), & 480Y/277V, Canada uses 600Y/347V instead of 480/277V.

 

[Adam W]

240V tools are pretty rare here, and many houses have no such outlet.
15 AMP 110V tools are the norm. Even 20 amp plugs (with the pin twisted 90 from standard) are pretty rare. The 60hz makes certain types of motors run faster... but little harm beyond for many tools.

Do you not use 220v (or similar) for high current appliances such as tumble driers? I remember I once had to wire an American tumble drier to 2 phase but we can't get the 4 pin sockets over here without great expense so have to cut off the plug and hard-wire them.
I suppose it would make sense if the company supplying them would supply an American 220v socket with the appliance, but of course that would be too simple...

 

[norcal]

Do you not use 220v (or similar) for high current appliances such as tumble driers? I remember I once had to wire an American tumble drier to 2 phase but we can't get the 4 pin sockets over here without great expense so have to cut off the plug and hard-wire them.
I suppose it would make sense if the company supplying them would supply an American 220v socket with the appliance, but of course that would be too simple...

US dryers,ranges (I think the UK term is a "cooker"), & ovens use a 120/240V or 120/208V supply, in the case of a dryer the elements are 240V but the timer & the motor are 120V,the use of a 240V L-N supply will fry the 120V components, this is a case where the appliances should be made for the local market & not brought over 'cause they are cheaper. :icon9:

 

[Adam W]

US dryers,ranges (I think the UK term is a "cooker"), & ovens use a 120/240V or 120/208V supply, in the case of a dryer the elements are 240V but the timer & the motor are 120V,the use of a 240V L-N supply will fry the 120V components, this is a case where the appliances should be made for the local market & not brought over 'cause they are cheaper. :icon9:

I think the UK term for a "range" is "hob", but where I have fitted US spec equipment it has been for use in the US/Mexico, and subject to US coastguard requirements, ie the rest of the AC installation is 110v, GFCI and GFCI-fed receptacles in the galley etc.

Norcal I assume you're in the US - it would be useful if you could update your location accordingly seeing as most of us on this forum are in the UK. Thanks.