Home |
Search |
Today's Posts |
|
Electronics Repair (sci.electronics.repair) Discussion of repairing electronic equipment. Topics include requests for assistance, where to obtain servicing information and parts, techniques for diagnosis and repair, and annecdotes about success, failures and problems. |
Reply |
|
LinkBack | Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
Posted to sci.electronics.repair
|
|||
|
|||
possible/easy to change an appliance to be a dual voltage one?
Hi - I have a waffle maker which is a USA 110V 1200W standard
appliance. I want to get it to work in the UK (220V) but it is almost impossible (and very costly) to get a voltage converter that would be able to deal with the high wattage (1200W). Would it be possible for me to get an electrician to change the appliance so that it can use 220V as standard so then I wouldn't need to buy any extra voltage converter? If this was possible would this also cost a lot to do? many thanks |
#2
Posted to sci.electronics.repair
|
|||
|
|||
possible/easy to change an appliance to be a dual voltage one?
The only way this might be possible would be if the unit had two 110V
heating elements that could be rewired in series (rather than parallel). This is unlikely. You might be able to find a 220-to-110 converter for heating devices (not motors or transformer-powered devices). This simply reduces the waveform's duty cycle, much as a lamp dimmer does. |
#3
Posted to sci.electronics.repair
|
|||
|
|||
possible/easy to change an appliance to be a dual voltage one?
In article
, wrote: Hi - I have a waffle maker which is a USA 110V 1200W standard appliance. I want to get it to work in the UK (220V) but it is almost impossible (and very costly) to get a voltage converter that would be able to deal with the high wattage (1200W). Would it be possible for me to get an electrician to change the appliance so that it can use 220V as standard so then I wouldn't need to buy any extra voltage converter? If this was possible would this also cost a lot to do? Might be possible to change the elements if the device was sold in countries that use this. But there might be other differences related to safety, etc. BTW, the 'official' voltage in the UK is 230v - to harmonise with Europe. But in practice it is still 240v - only the allowed tolerance has changed. -- *Virtual reality is its own reward * Dave Plowman London SW To e-mail, change noise into sound. |
#4
Posted to sci.electronics.repair
|
|||
|
|||
possible/easy to change an appliance to be a dual voltage one?
wrote in message ... Hi - I have a waffle maker which is a USA 110V 1200W standard appliance. I want to get it to work in the UK (220V) but it is almost impossible (and very costly) to get a voltage converter that would be able to deal with the high wattage (1200W). Would it be possible for me to get an electrician to change the appliance so that it can use 220V as standard so then I wouldn't need to buy any extra voltage converter? If this was possible would this also cost a lot to do? many thanks I suspect it would be cost effective to simply buy a replacement waffle maker in the UK. Aren't they available? Charlie |
#5
Posted to sci.electronics.repair
|
|||
|
|||
possible/easy to change an appliance to be a dual voltage one?
Charlie wrote:
I suspect it would be cost effective to simply buy a replacement waffle maker in the UK. Aren't they available? Considering the cost of electricy wasted (around 200 watts), plus the cost of the transformer, it might be cheaper to forget about the waffle maker entirely and go out for breakfast whenever you want waffles. Another possibility would be one of those voltage convertors sold for hair driers that are really just a big resistor or a diode. The biggest problem I can anticipate with them is that the wiring of the waffle iron is not really safe at 240 volts. If the unit were made in the US and UL certified (the whole unit, not just the cord), it should be insulated up to 600 volts and be ok, but if it were made in China, all bets are off. When we moved here (a real 230 volt 50 Hz system), from the U.S. I bought a waffle maker, that I told my wife was both "multivoltage and multisystem" :-) It's a heavy cast aluminum device, with a thick teflon coating and is used over a gas flame. Geoff. -- Geoffrey S. Mendelson, Jerusalem, Israel N3OWJ/4X1GM |
#6
Posted to sci.electronics.repair
|
|||
|
|||
possible/easy to change an appliance to be a dual voltage one?
Just occurred to me... Stick a 15A, 300V rectifier in series with the waffle
maker. |
#7
Posted to sci.electronics.repair
|
|||
|
|||
possible/easy to change an appliance to be a dual voltage one?
In article f526294a-05e7-44c2-a850-5b2b9f67dab8
@r15g2000prh.googlegroups.com, says... Hi - I have a waffle maker which is a USA 110V 1200W standard appliance. I want to get it to work in the UK (220V) but it is almost impossible (and very costly) to get a voltage converter that would be able to deal with the high wattage (1200W). Would it be possible for me to get an electrician to change the appliance so that it can use 220V as standard so then I wouldn't need to buy any extra voltage converter? If this was possible would this also cost a lot to do? Buy a second waffle maker and hook them in series; make twice the waffles in the same time. ;-) |
#8
Posted to sci.electronics.repair
|
|||
|
|||
possible/easy to change an appliance to be a dual voltage one?
"krw" wrote in message t... In article f526294a-05e7-44c2-a850-5b2b9f67dab8 @r15g2000prh.googlegroups.com, says... Hi - I have a waffle maker which is a USA 110V 1200W standard appliance. I want to get it to work in the UK (220V) but it is almost impossible (and very costly) to get a voltage converter that would be able to deal with the high wattage (1200W). Would it be possible for me to get an electrician to change the appliance so that it can use 220V as standard so then I wouldn't need to buy any extra voltage converter? If this was possible would this also cost a lot to do? Buy a second waffle maker and hook them in series; make twice the waffles in the same time. ;-) Alternatively, assuming that it is a 'clam-shell' type design, it will probably have a 110v element in both the top and bottom halves, hooked in parallel. Convert to 220v (near enough with an item such as this to not be of any consequence) by rewiring the internal connector block where the wiring from each element comes together, to place the two elements in series. Arfa |
#9
Posted to sci.electronics.repair
|
|||
|
|||
possible/easy to change an appliance to be a dual voltage one?
In article , "Arfa Daily" wrote:
"krw" wrote in message et... In article f526294a-05e7-44c2-a850-5b2b9f67dab8 @r15g2000prh.googlegroups.com, says... Hi - I have a waffle maker which is a USA 110V 1200W standard appliance. I want to get it to work in the UK (220V) but it is almost impossible (and very costly) to get a voltage converter that would be able to deal with the high wattage (1200W). Would it be possible for me to get an electrician to change the appliance so that it can use 220V as standard so then I wouldn't need to buy any extra voltage converter? If this was possible would this also cost a lot to do? Buy a second waffle maker and hook them in series; make twice the waffles in the same time. ;-) Alternatively, assuming that it is a 'clam-shell' type design, it will probably have a 110v element in both the top and bottom halves, hooked in parallel. Convert to 220v (near enough with an item such as this to not be of any consequence) by rewiring the internal connector block where the wiring from each element comes together, to place the two elements in series. Arfa First thing to do is contact the manufacturer and see if there is a 220 model by rewiring or parts replacement. I can see that being difficult to do with consumer products, but is standard procedure for dealing with equipment. I recently tried to contact Toastmaster consumer affairs and got lead around to Fox International, and Salton, now I see a different company today, Middleby, but they do have a phone #. Emailing these people is a major hassle. greg |
#10
Posted to sci.electronics.repair
|
|||
|
|||
possible/easy to change an appliance to be a dual voltage one?
GregS wrote:
First thing to do is contact the manufacturer and see if there is a 220 model by rewiring or parts replacement. I can see that being difficult to do with consumer products, but is standard procedure for dealing with equipment. Rewiring is usually not an option, nor is a transformer with anything with a motor in it. 60Hz motors will run 20% slower, with 20% less power and more (20%?) heat. We brought a US refrigerator with us and had to run it on a 100 volt output transformer so that the compressor motor would not overheat and burn out. It worked for 11 years before the seals went on it. Geoff. -- Geoffrey S. Mendelson, Jerusalem, Israel N3OWJ/4X1GM |
#11
Posted to sci.electronics.repair
|
|||
|
|||
possible/easy to change an appliance to be a dual voltage one?
|
#12
Posted to sci.electronics.repair
|
|||
|
|||
possible/easy to change an appliance to be a dual voltage one?
On Mon, 12 Jan 2009 09:05:55 -0800, "William Sommerwerck"
put finger to keyboard and composed: Just occurred to me... Stick a 15A, 300V rectifier in series with the waffle maker. That would still result in twice the rated power consumption. - Franc Zabkar -- Please remove one 'i' from my address when replying by email. |
#13
Posted to sci.electronics.repair
|
|||
|
|||
possible/easy to change an appliance to be a dual voltage one?
Just occurred to me... Stick a 15A, 300V rectifier in
series with the waffle maker. That would still result in twice the rated power consumption. Right. Sudden inspirations aren't always correct. |
#14
Posted to sci.electronics.repair
|
|||
|
|||
possible/easy to change an appliance to be a dual voltage one?
On Tue, 13 Jan 2009 10:41:11 +1100, Franc Zabkar
wrote: On Mon, 12 Jan 2009 09:05:55 -0800, "William Sommerwerck" put finger to keyboard and composed: Just occurred to me... Stick a 15A, 300V rectifier in series with the waffle maker. That would still result in twice the rated power consumption. But much faster waffles! g (IMHO the best idea was if there were two elements (each half) in parallel, just series 'em!) - Franc Zabkar |
#15
Posted to sci.electronics.repair
|
|||
|
|||
possible/easy to change an appliance to be a dual voltage one?
But much faster waffles! g (IMHO the best idea was if there
were two elements (each half) in parallel, just series 'em!) Which was my idea, but no one paid any attention. |
#16
Posted to sci.electronics.repair
|
|||
|
|||
possible/easy to change an appliance to be a dual voltage one?
On 13 Jan, 14:36, "William Sommerwerck"
wrote: But much faster waffles! g (IMHO the best idea was if there were two elements (each half) in parallel, just series 'em!) Which was my idea, but no one paid any attention. Thanks for the tip about getting a special voltage converter for heating appliances - I searched around and I could get a travel one from the USA designed to convert the voltage for hairdryers/curling tongs/irons etc to be used in the UK. They cost around £16-20 including postage - so I think I will get one of these as the waffle maker was worth much more than this. |
#17
Posted to sci.electronics.repair
|
|||
|
|||
possible/easy to change an appliance to be a dual voltage one?
Thanks for the tip about getting a special voltage converter for
heating appliances - I searched around and I could get a travel one from the USA designed to convert the voltage for hairdryers/curling tongs/irons etc to be used in the UK. They cost around £16-20 including postage - so I think I will get one of these as the waffle maker was worth much more than this. Just make sure it has adequate capacity. |
#18
Posted to sci.electronics.repair
|
|||
|
|||
possible/easy to change an appliance to be a dual voltage one?
On Jan 13, 4:50*pm, "William Sommerwerck"
wrote: Thanks for the tip about getting a special voltage converter for heating appliances - I searched around and I could get a travel one from the USA designed to convert the voltage for hairdryers/curling tongs/irons etc to be used in the UK. They cost around £16-20 including postage - so I think I will get one of these as the waffle maker was worth much more than this. Just make sure it has adequate capacity. what do you mean by capacity? sorry to be ignorant |
#19
Posted to sci.electronics.repair
|
|||
|
|||
possible/easy to change an appliance to be a dual voltage one?
Just make sure it has adequate capacity.
What do you mean by capacity? sorry to be ignorant. It has to handle the current drain, which is going to be at least 5A on the 220V line. |
#20
Posted to sci.electronics.repair
|
|||
|
|||
possible/easy to change an appliance to be a dual voltage one?
"GregS" wrote in message ... | | In todays world market, they try to make it universal whenever possible. | | greg Seems like cell phone makers don't believe so with their different sizes of batteries and adaptors for chargers. Every time they come up with a new line/model they introduce new batteries and chargers even though the voltage and capacities remain the same as the ones for the older models. Standardization is good for consumers but manufacturers seem to like to make things nonstandard to force people to buy new accessories again. |
Reply |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Forum | |||
The Easy Way to Move a Large Appliance | Home Repair | |||
Change in current to change in voltage | Electronics | |||
Why are most shaver sockets dual voltage? | UK diy | |||
Minimum safe voltage for appliance motors | Home Repair | |||
AC Repulsion motor dual voltage selection? | Electronics Repair |