On Wed, 13 Oct 2004 01:01:27 GMT, "john smith"
wrote:

Hi all

Does anyone know if there is a inverter or transformer (not sure what they
would be called) that will allow me to bring my 120 volt and 240volt 60hertz
tools to Australia. I'd like to bring the drills, drill press, jointer,
planer... with me if its possible to run them down there. So I guess this
"machine" would have to handle up to 35amps 240volt and 20amps for 120volt.
FYI their power is 240volt 50hertz.

I lived in the US for 4 1/2 years and bought a lot of power tools
before moving back to NZ. Good quality tools, Makita, DeWalt, PC etc,
are considerably cheaper in the US. El-cheapo chiwanese stuff is
approx the same price, so that may alter your decision to bring or
replace.

Anyway, any "universal" motor, used in planers, chopsaws, jigsaws,
biscuit joiners, drills, etc will run fine via a 230-115 vac
transformer, as do battery chargers for cordless tools.

Synchronous motors, usually 1 HP or greater used in bandsaws, table
saws, etc will also run via a transformer, but most can be rewired
(just change two links) to run off 220 vac, However, they are running
at 50 Hz instead of 60 Hz so they run slower, and the motor will run
hotter, so you may not be able to get the same power out of it.

Nevertheless, my Jet 18" BS with a 2HP motor and a large bench grinder
with a 0.75HP run just fine at 50Hz, sometimes for hours. The BS was
just rewired, and the grinder runs thru a transformer.

An inverter will give you 115vac 60 Hz, but they cost $$$$$$$.


Barry Lennox