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US 240v to power EU 240v machine?

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jonlaury

Joined: 06 Nov 2006
Posts: 336

Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2015 10:45 am Post subject: US 240v to power EU 240v machine?

During the lull in aerolectric posts...



What's the simplest way to use US 240v to power a EU 240v (at) 150w machine. The EU machine uses a single hot leg, neutral and ground through the plug in the picture attached.

   

Thanks,

John

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yellowduckduo(at)gmail.co
Guest

Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2015 11:12 am Post subject: US 240v to power EU 240v machine?

For temporary use I use clothes drier or stove receptacles in houses 

that have them.

Either a patch cord or just replace the plug on the existing cord.

Not for unattended use as those receptacles are fused 30 to 50 amps.

Ken

do not archive



On 18/10/2015 2:45 PM, jonlaury wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		   



 During the lull in aerolectric posts...



 What's the simplest way to use US 240v to power a EU 240v (at) 150w machine. The EU machine uses a single hot leg, neutral and ground through the plug in the picture attached.

     

 Thanks,

 John

JOHN TIPTON

Joined: 17 Sep 2006
Posts: 239
Location: Torquay - England

Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2015 11:42 am Post subject: US 240v to power EU 240v machine?

That's not a EU plug, it's our standard 'ring main' plug here in the UK: the plug as you look at it (upside down) has three pins, the longest (at the bottom of the picture)  is the earth, first to go into the socket when inserted and last to leave when removed, the pin on the left is the neutral, and the one on the right (as viewed) is the live and is fitted with a fuse up to 13amps ie: 3000watts (maximum load) divide by 240volts equals 12.5 (13amps)



I presume you have similar 'wires' in USA ie: Live, Neutral and Earth



John



Sent from my iPad



     ----x--O--x----



 	  Quote: 	
		   On 18 Oct 2015, at 07:45 pm, "jonlaury" <jonlaury(at)impulse.net> wrote:

 

 

 

 During the lull in aerolectric posts...

 

 What's the simplest way to use US 240v to power a EU 240v (at) 150w machine. The EU machine uses a single hot leg, neutral and ground through the plug in the picture attached.

 

 Thanks,

 John

 

 

 

 

 Read this topic online here:

 

 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=448050#448050

 

 

 

 

 Attachments: 

 

 http://forums.matronics.com//files/dsc03159_small_173.jpg

JOHN TIPTON

Joined: 17 Sep 2006
Posts: 239
Location: Torquay - England

Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2015 12:00 pm Post subject: US 240v to power EU 240v machine?

And just to make it clear:



Earth lead is: green/yellow

Live lead is: Brown

Neutral lead is: Blue



John



Sent from my iPad



     ----x--O--x----



 	  Quote: 	
		   On 18 Oct 2015, at 08:41 pm, John Tipton <jmtipton(at)btopenworld.com> wrote:

 

 

 

 That's not a EU plug, it's our standard 'ring main' plug here in the UK: the plug as you look at it (upside down) has three pins, the longest (at the bottom of the picture)  is the earth, first to go into the socket when inserted and last to leave when removed, the pin on the left is the neutral, and the one on the right (as viewed) is the live and is fitted with a fuse up to 13amps ie: 3000watts (maximum load) divide by 240volts equals 12.5 (13amps)

 

 I presume you have similar 'wires' in USA ie: Live, Neutral and Earth

 

 John

 

 Sent from my iPad

 

     ----x--O--x----

 

> On 18 Oct 2015, at 07:45 pm, "jonlaury" <jonlaury(at)impulse.net> wrote:

> 

> 

> 

> During the lull in aerolectric posts...

> 

> What's the simplest way to use US 240v to power a EU 240v (at) 150w machine. The EU machine uses a single hot leg, neutral and ground through the plug in the picture attached.

> 

> Thanks,

> John

> 

> 

> 

> 

> Read this topic online here:

> 

> http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=448050#448050

> 

> 

> 

> 

> Attachments: 

> 

> http://forums.matronics.com//files/dsc03159_small_173.jpg

ceengland7(at)gmail.com
Guest

Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2015 12:01 pm Post subject: US 240v to power EU 240v machine?

On October 18, 2015 2:45:19 PM EDT, jonlaury <jonlaury(at)impulse.net> wrote:[quote]  rch  , which could kill. 

 

 Much safer to use a 120-240volt stepup transformer (pricey).

 -- 

 Sent from my Android device with K-9 Mail. Please excuse my brevity.  [quote][b]

Bob McC

Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 258
Location: Toronto, ON

Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2015 12:10 pm Post subject: US 240v to power EU 240v machine?

The plug you've pictured is actually "British Standard" not EU, but simply

connect your two North American 240 volt hot lines to the "line" and

"neutral" of the British plug and ground to ground of course and you're good

to go. (Ignore/don't connect, the North American neutral.) As someone else

mentioned if this is a permanent conversion, cut off the British plug,

attach a NEMA 6-15 North American plug  http://tinyurl.com/nfrrzrx  the

matching receptacle such as this http://tinyurl.com/pags86c , and you're

set. 



If you don't wish to modify the existing plug, here's the matching British

receptacle. http://tinyurl.com/qcqqd9p

By the way the British plugs are internally fused (at) 13 Amps so the concern

for connecting to a North American dryer or stove circuit is minimal as long

as you retain the existing plug. (you can actually see the fuse in your

photo)



Bob McC



[quote] --

_________________
Bob McC
Falco #908
(just starting)

peter(at)sportingaero.com
Guest

Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2015 12:14 pm Post subject: US 240v to power EU 240v machine?

Assuming you have a UK extension lead, fit a US 240v plug and hook it 

up. I lived in Texas for 5 years and did exactly that with several 

appliances - all seemed to work OK. Motors will run 20% faster as US 

uses 60Hz and UK/Europe uses 50Hz. When looks at the pins of the plug, 

hot is on the left (usually brown wire), earth is at the top (usually 

green or yellow/green wire) and neutral on the right (blue wire). The 

hot pin is usually protected by a fuse within the plug body.



Peter



PS US motors run in Europe can suffer from overheating.



On 18/10/2015 19:45, jonlaury wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		   



 During the lull in aerolectric posts...



 What's the simplest way to use US 240v to power a EU 240v (at) 150w machine. The EU machine uses a single hot leg, neutral and ground through the plug in the picture attached.

     

 Thanks,

 John





 Read this topic online here:



 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=448050#448050





 Attachments:



 http://forums.matronics.com//files/dsc03159_small_173.jpg

mmoyle

Joined: 15 Jun 2015
Posts: 10
Location: Platinum, Alaska

Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2015 12:17 pm Post subject: US 240v to power EU 240v machine?

http://www.amazon.com/STEP-UP-DOWN-TRANSFORMER-WATT/dp/B002RRPTZU/ref=sr_1_78?srs=2530188011&ie=UTF8&qid=1445199307&sr=8-78



Sent from my iPad



 	  Quote: 	
		   On Oct 18, 2015, at 10:45 AM, "jonlaury" <jonlaury(at)impulse.net> wrote:

 

 

 

 During the lull in aerolectric posts...

 

 What's the simplest way to use US 240v to power a EU 240v (at) 150w machine. The EU machine uses a single hot leg, neutral and ground through the plug in the picture attached.

 

 Thanks,

 John

 

 

 

 

 Read this topic online here:

 

 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=448050#448050

 

 

 

 

 Attachments: 

 

 http://forums.matronics.com//files/dsc03159_small_173.jpg

billp(at)wwpc.com
Guest

Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2015 1:23 pm Post subject: US 240v to power EU 240v machine?

Ouch! So, in the U.S. on single phase services, the usual arrangement is 

120V (L1) -neutral-120V (L2) and a separate protective ground that is 

tied to neutral at the load panel. A 240V to 240V isolation transformer 

can be used to make the connection you need. On the U.S. side, L1 and L2 

are connected to the transformer's primary and on the U.K. side connect 

one leg of the transformer to neutral and one leg to 240V hot. Pass the 

protective ground through.



If you connect the L1 and L2 of the U.S. system together you will make a 

lot of sparks and pop the circuit breaker! L1 and L2 are 2 120V legs 

180º out of phase. Don't connect them!



For just a 150W device I think you'll find an "International Step-up 

Transformer" is probably the simplest solution. Forget the U.S. 240V 

circuit all together. For $35 on Amazon I don't think you can buy all 

the connectors and stuff you need to build a solution for that price.



http://www.amazon.com/Dynastar-Converter-Transformer-Lifetime-5-Year-Warranty/dp/B00KAJ8KG2/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1445203102&sr=8-6&keywords=international+transformer 

Bill



On 10/18/15 13:09, Bob McCallum wrote:

[quote] 



 The plug you've pictured is actually "British Standard" not EU, but simply

 connect your two North American 240 volt hot lines to the "line" and

 "neutral" of the British plug and ground to ground of course and you're good

 to go. (Ignore/don't connect, the North American neutral.) As someone else

 mentioned if this is a permanent conversion, cut off the British plug,

 attach a NEMA 6-15 North American plug  http://tinyurl.com/nfrrzrx  the

 matching receptacle such as this http://tinyurl.com/pags86c , and you're

 set.



 If you don't wish to modify the existing plug, here's the matching British

 receptacle. http://tinyurl.com/qcqqd9p

 By the way the British plugs are internally fused (at) 13 Amps so the concern

 for connecting to a North American dryer or stove circuit is minimal as long

 as you retain the existing plug. (you can actually see the fuse in your

 photo)



 Bob McC



> --

Bob McC

Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 258
Location: Toronto, ON

Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2015 2:55 pm Post subject: US 240v to power EU 240v machine?

The original question was for the "simplest" way to operate the UK device on

a North American power system. The "Simplest" way is what I described. No

transformer is required. A 240 volt device is a 240 volt device no matter

which side of the ocean it resides on. In the UK (or Europe) 240 volt single

phase devices are connected between a "hot" line and a "neutral" (grounded)

line. In North America that same 240 volt single phase device would be

connected between the two live line connections (L1, L2, as you've

described) and not connected to the "neutral" (grounded) connection. In

either case the actual "ground" (earth) connection would be made as usual.



My original description in no way suggested connecting together the two

"line" connections creating a direct short as you seem to have interpreted.

Maybe I should have said "Connect your two North American 240 volt hot lines

to the "line" and

"neutral" RESPECTIVLY of the British plug and ground to ground of course and

you're good

to go" to make it clearer.



If that British supply cord were cut open you would find a Brown conductor

which you would connect to L1 of the North American system, a blue conductor

which you would connect to L2, and a green/yellow striped conductor which

you would connect to ground. (green or bare in the American system).



The transformer connections you describe are correct and would work, but the

transformer is not necessary. Simply connect directly to the 240 lines plus

ground.



The only slight difference, as someone else pointed out, is frequency, which

in North America is 60 Hertz and most of the rest of the planet 50 hertz.

This will make a difference in the speed of motors which will be faster on

60 and slower on 50. Also depending on the iron content 60 cycle motors may

tend to overheat on 50 cycle. 



Respectfully

Bob McC



[quote] --

_________________
Bob McC
Falco #908
(just starting)

paul.r.kuntz(at)gmail.com
Guest

Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2015 5:16 pm Post subject: US 240v to power EU 240v machine?

Bob McC is correct.  I was on assignment to the UK for a few years, and

took a 240V US power tool with me to the UK, then brought a couple of 240V

UK power tools back with me when the assignment ended.  The only thing I

had to do at each end of the assignment was cut off the plugs and replace

them.  There are also plug adapters available from many sources if you

don't want to replace the plugs.  As Bob notes, since they were powered by

synchronous AC motors, they ran faster on 60 Hz US power than they did on

50 Hz electric power.  That's almost never a problem, unless the

application is dependent on the motor speed, such as an electric clock.



Paul Kuntz



On Sun, Oct 18, 2015 at 3:53 PM, Bob McCallum <robert.mccallum2(at)sympatico.ca

 	  Quote: 	
		   wrote:


	


[quote] 

 robert.mccallum2(at)sympatico.ca>



 The original question was for the "simplest" way to operate the UK device

 on

 a North American power system. The "Simplest" way is what I described. No

 transformer is required. A 240 volt device is a 240 volt device no matter

 which side of the ocean it resides on. In the UK (or Europe) 240 volt

 single

 phase devices are connected between a "hot" line and a "neutral" (grounded)

 line. In North America that same 240 volt single phase device would be

 connected between the two live line connections (L1, L2, as you've

 described) and not connected to the "neutral" (grounded) connection. In

 either case the actual "ground" (earth) connection would be made as usual

jonlaury

Joined: 06 Nov 2006
Posts: 336

Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2015 8:05 am Post subject: Re: US 240v to power EU 240v machine?

WOW!

From the response to my rather pedestrian dilemma, and with no competing posts, it sounds like there's a bunch of Aerolectric List junkies needing a fix ! 

Big THANKS! to all.



John

peter(at)sportingaero.com
Guest

Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2015 12:06 pm Post subject: US 240v to power EU 240v machine?

> Also depending on the iron content 60 cycle motors may tend to 

overheat on 50 cycle.

That's interesting, I bought a large 240v compressor when I lived in the 

US. Now trying to run it in the UK it keeps overheating and popping the 

thermal cut-out. I guess a new motor is on the cards...

Peter

Do not archive

On 18/10/2015 23:53, Bob McCallum wrote:

[quote] 

 The original question was for the "simplest" way to operate the UK device on

 a North American power system. The "Simplest" way is what I described. No

 transformer is required. A 240 volt device is a 240 volt device no matter

 which side of the ocean it resides on. In the UK (or Europe) 240 volt single

 phase devices are connected between a "hot" line and a "neutral" (grounded)

 line. In North America that same 240 volt single phase device would be

 connected between the two live line connections (L1, L2, as you've

 described) and not connected to the "neutral" (grounded) connection. In

 either case the actual "ground" (earth) connection would be made as usual.

 My original description in no way suggested connecting together the two

 "line" connections creating a direct short as you seem to have interpreted.

 Maybe I should have said "Connect your two North American 240 volt hot lines

 to the "line" and

 "neutral" RESPECTIVLY of the British plug and ground to ground of course and

 you're good

 to go" to make it clearer.

 If that British supply cord were cut open you would find a Brown conductor

 which you would connect to L1 of the North American system, a blue conductor

 which you would connect to L2, and a green/yellow striped conductor which

 you would connect to ground. (green or bare in the American system).

 The transformer connections you describe are correct and would work, but the

 transformer is not necessary. Simply connect directly to the 240 lines plus

 ground.

 The only slight difference, as someone else pointed out, is frequency, which

 in North America is 60 Hertz and most of the rest of the planet 50 hertz.

 This will make a difference in the speed of motors which will be faster on

 60 and slower on 50. Also depending on the iron content 60 cycle motors may

 tend to overheat on 50 cycle.

 Respectfully

 Bob McC

> --

Bob McC

Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 258
Location: Toronto, ON

Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2015 5:03 am Post subject: US 240v to power EU 240v machine?

The higher the frequency the less iron is needed. This is one of the reasons that aircraft AC systems are generally 400 cycle. Due to the lower iron requirement, all else being equal they're lighter. In today's modern efforts for "cheap" construction, the iron content is likely to be the bare minimum. "Old" motors on the other hand may have way more than adequate iron content and may work just fine on the lower European frequency.



Bob McC



[quote] Subject: Re: US 240v to power EU 240v machine?

 To: aeroelectric-list(at)matronics.com

 From: peter(at)sportingaero.com

 Date: Mon, 19 Oct 2015 21:04:55 +0100

 

 --> AeroElectric-List message posted by: Peter Pengilly <peter(at)sportingaero.com>

 

  > Also depending on the iron content 60 cycle motors may tend to 

 overheat on 50 cycle.

 

 That's interesting, I bought a large 240v compressor when I lived in the 

 US. Now trying to run it in the UK it keeps overheating and popping the 

 thermal cut-out. I guess a new motor is on the cards...

 

 Peter

 

 Do not archive

 

 

 On 18/10/2015 23:53, Bob McCallum wrote:

 > --> AeroElectric-List message posted by: "Bob McCallum" <robert.mccallum2(at)sympatico.ca>

 >

 > The original question was for the "simplest" way to operate the UK device on

 > a North American power system. The "Simplest" way is what I described. No

 > transformer is required. A 240 volt device is a 240 volt device no matter

 > which side of the ocean it resides on. In the UK (or Europe) 240 volt single

 > phase devices are connected between a "hot" line and a "neutral" (grounded)

 > line. In North America that same 240 volt single phase device would be

 > connected between the two live line connections (L1, L2, as you've

 > described) and not connected to the "neutral" (grounded) connection. In

 > either case the actual "ground" (earth) connection would be made as usual.

 >

 > My original description in no way suggested connecting together the two

 > "line" connections creating a direct short as you seem to have interpreted.

 > Maybe I should have said "Connect your two North American 240 volt hot lines

 > to the "line" and

 > "neutral" RESPECTIVLY of the British plug and ground to ground of course and

 > you're good

 > to go" to make it clearer.

 >

 > If that British supply cord were cut open you would find a Brown conductor

 > which you would connect to L1 of the North American system, a blue conductor

 > which you would connect to L2, and a green/yellow striped conductor which

 > you would connect to ground. (green or bare in the American system).

 >

 > The transformer connections you describe are correct and would work, but the

 > transformer is not necessary. Simply connect directly to the 240 lines plus

 > ground.

 >

 > The only slight difference, as someone else pointed out, is frequency, which

 > in North America is 60 Hertz and most of the rest of the planet 50 hertz.

 > This will make a difference in the speed of motors which will be faster on

 > 60 and slower on 50. Also depending on the iron content 60 cycle motors may

 > tend to overheat on 50 cycle.

 >

 > Respectfully

 > Bob McC

 >

 >> --

_________________
Bob McC
Falco #908
(just starting)

CallumMcLeish

Joined: 01 Sep 2021
Posts: 6

Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2023 7:07 am Post subject: Re: US 240v to power EU 240v machine?

If you need to power a European 240V machine in the US, it is crucial to ensure a safe and efficient voltage conversion. While both regions operate on 240V systems, they utilize different electrical standards, requiring appropriate adjustments. To address this, one can utilize a voltage converter or transformer designed to convert the US 240V to match the EU 240V power requirements. These devices enable seamless compatibility and safeguard the machine from potential damage. For the best industrial machines, one can explore an extensive range of options available at www.haiweimachinery.com/product-category/coil-fed-laser-cutting-machine/ â€” a reliable source offering top-notch equipment to meet diverse industrial needs.

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