240V -> 208V -- How to?
 

I am seriously looking at a Miele front load washer.

It uses 208V and you have to buy a $200+ "adaptor" in
order to use it where only 1ph 240V is available.

I have done a good bit of 1ph 240V wiring and still remember
some stuff from my college physics classes.

How would one put such an "adaptor" together that would be
robust, safe, and cheaper than $200 ?

Figure the current would be 30A (to allow using a Miele dryer
at some future date.

Thanks,

Jeff Dantzler

You need a buck boost transformer. A new one will set you back $100-$150.
mcmaster.com has them. You can also find used or surplus ones on ebay for
less. Are you absolutely sure you want a Miele? According to Consumer
Reports, their reliability is less than stellar.

"Jeff Dantzler" wrote in message
news:1128277669.21578@yasure...

I am seriously looking at a Miele front load washer.

It uses 208V and you have to buy a $200+ "adaptor" in
order to use it where only 1ph 240V is available.

I have done a good bit of 1ph 240V wiring and still remember
some stuff from my college physics classes.

How would one put such an "adaptor" together that would be
robust, safe, and cheaper than $200 ?

Figure the current would be 30A (to allow using a Miele dryer
at some future date.

Thanks,

Jeff Dantzler

"AL" wrote: You need a buck boost transformer. A new one
will set you back $100-$150. (clip)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Maybe you could find a 32 volt transformer with sufficient current rating,
and hook the secondary up to buck line voltage.

The "adapter" might be a capacitive phase converter as 3-phase power is
usually 208 per leg.

AL wrote:
You need a buck boost transformer. A new one will set you back $100-$150.
mcmaster.com has them. You can also find used or surplus ones on ebay for
less. Are you absolutely sure you want a Miele? According to Consumer
Reports, their reliability is less than stellar.

"Jeff Dantzler" wrote in message
news:1128277669.21578@yasure...

I am seriously looking at a Miele front load washer.

It uses 208V and you have to buy a $200+ "adaptor" in
order to use it where only 1ph 240V is available.

I have done a good bit of 1ph 240V wiring and still remember
some stuff from my college physics classes.

How would one put such an "adaptor" together that would be
robust, safe, and cheaper than $200 ?

Figure the current would be 30A (to allow using a Miele dryer
at some future date.

Thanks,

Jeff Dantzler

In article 1128277669.21578@yasure, Jeff Dantzler says...


I am seriously looking at a Miele front load washer.

It uses 208V and you have to buy a $200+ "adaptor" in
order to use it where only 1ph 240V is available.

I have done a good bit of 1ph 240V wiring and still remember
some stuff from my college physics classes.

How would one put such an "adaptor" together that would be
robust, safe, and cheaper than $200 ?

Figure the current would be 30A (to allow using a Miele dryer
at some future date.

Buck/boost transformer, wired to buck the incoming voltage.

Check in mcmaster carr, they sell them there.

Jim


--
==================================================
please reply to:
JRR(zero) at pkmfgvm4 (dot) vnet (dot) ibm (dot) com
==================================================

Yes, it might be a static phase converter. Germans have 3 phase power in
their homes (or so I've heard) so the Miele might use 3 phase power. Or it
could just use 2 of the 3 phases.

I really have to wonder why someone would spend all that money for a washer
and then have to either use a phase converter or a buck boost transformer.
Why not just get a front loader specifically designed for 120V?

"Tim Killian" wrote in message
. ..
The "adapter" might be a capacitive phase converter as 3-phase power is
usually 208 per leg.

AL wrote:
You need a buck boost transformer. A new one will set you back
$100-$150. mcmaster.com has them. You can also find used or surplus ones
on ebay for less. Are you absolutely sure you want a Miele? According
to Consumer Reports, their reliability is less than stellar.

"Jeff Dantzler" wrote in message
news:1128277669.21578@yasure...

I am seriously looking at a Miele front load washer.

It uses 208V and you have to buy a $200+ "adaptor" in
order to use it where only 1ph 240V is available.

I have done a good bit of 1ph 240V wiring and still remember
some stuff from my college physics classes.

How would one put such an "adaptor" together that would be
robust, safe, and cheaper than $200 ?

Figure the current would be 30A (to allow using a Miele dryer
at some future date.

Thanks,

Jeff Dantzler

On Sun, 02 Oct 2005 22:45:15 GMT, "Leo Lichtman"
wrote:
"AL" wrote:

You need a buck boost transformer. A new one
will set you back $100-$150. (clip)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Maybe you could find a 32 volt transformer with sufficient current rating,
and hook the secondary up to buck line voltage.

Nice idea, but no.

When you hook a transformer up as Buck-Boost you have full primary
line voltage to ground on the secondary windings, so the transformer
you use has to be designed for it. A lot of the surplus transformers
you find are rated B-B, but the nameplate has to be readable, and you
have to dig out the spec sheets and check first.

The cheaper filament transformers that aren't rated for B-B service
will not have the proper insulation on the secondary windings for that
use, and much excitement can happen - think "Fourth Of July Finale".

It might happen the first time you plug it in, or it can wait till
after a few switching transients puncture the insulation. And best of
all it can easily turn into a fire, if you aren't standing there with
a fire extinguisher close at hand...

-- Bruce --

--
Bruce L. Bergman, Woodland Hills (Los Angeles) CA - Desktop
Electrician for Westend Electric - CA726700
5737 Kanan Rd. #359, Agoura CA 91301 (818) 889-9545
Spamtrapped address: Remove the python and the invalid, and use a net.

Yes, not all have 3 phase power in Europe but some do ( I too) , and
then we have 400 Volt between the phase and not 240.

With 1 phase we have 240 V, that's in most houses.


On Sun, 2 Oct 2005 22:27:36 -0500, "AL" wrote:

Yes, it might be a static phase converter. Germans have 3 phase power in
their homes (or so I've heard) so the Miele might use 3 phase power. Or it
could just use 2 of the 3 phases.

I really have to wonder why someone would spend all that money for a washer
and then have to either use a phase converter or a buck boost transformer.
Why not just get a front loader specifically designed for 120V?

"Tim Killian" wrote in message
...
The "adapter" might be a capacitive phase converter as 3-phase power is
usually 208 per leg.

AL wrote:
You need a buck boost transformer. A new one will set you back
$100-$150. mcmaster.com has them. You can also find used or surplus ones
on ebay for less. Are you absolutely sure you want a Miele? According
to Consumer Reports, their reliability is less than stellar.

"Jeff Dantzler" wrote in message
news:1128277669.21578@yasure...

I am seriously looking at a Miele front load washer.

It uses 208V and you have to buy a $200+ "adaptor" in
order to use it where only 1ph 240V is available.

I have done a good bit of 1ph 240V wiring and still remember
some stuff from my college physics classes.

How would one put such an "adaptor" together that would be
robust, safe, and cheaper than $200 ?

Figure the current would be 30A (to allow using a Miele dryer
at some future date.

Thanks,

Jeff Dantzler

According to Bruce L. Bergman :
On Sun, 02 Oct 2005 22:45:15 GMT, "Leo Lichtman"
wrote:
"AL" wrote:

You need a buck boost transformer. A new one
will set you back $100-$150. (clip)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Maybe you could find a 32 volt transformer with sufficient current rating,
and hook the secondary up to buck line voltage.

Nice idea, but no.

When you hook a transformer up as Buck-Boost you have full primary
line voltage to ground on the secondary windings, so the transformer
you use has to be designed for it. A lot of the surplus transformers
you find are rated B-B, but the nameplate has to be readable, and you
have to dig out the spec sheets and check first.

The cheaper filament transformers that aren't rated for B-B service
will not have the proper insulation on the secondary windings for that
use, and much excitement can happen - think "Fourth Of July Finale".

It might happen the first time you plug it in, or it can wait till
after a few switching transients puncture the insulation. And best of
all it can easily turn into a fire, if you aren't standing there with
a fire extinguisher close at hand...

Well ... filament transformers -- especially those which can
handle sufficient current -- are often designed for use with high power
transmitting tubes, which often work with the filament of the tube at
a rather high DC voltage.

However 32V is more likely to be a power supply transformer, not
a filament transformer, which I agree may well not have sufficient
isolation to allow the intended application.

Enjoy,
DoN.
--
Email: | Voice (all times): (703) 938-4564
(too) near Washington D.C. | http://www.d-and-d.com/dnichols/DoN.html
--- Black Holes are where God is dividing by zero ---

Actually, the filament transformers are likely the best ones for voltage insulation.
Many of them are used in 400 to 600v power supplies.
The 5V winding is specifically that high for just that.

I'm buying three buck/boost transformers to ease back my output from the 220 Wye
to Delta.

But I'm buying real buck/boost units.

Martin Eastburn
@ home at Lions' Lair with our computer lionslair at consolidated dot net
NRA LOH, NRA Life
NRA Second Amendment Task Force Charter Founder



Bruce L. Bergman wrote:
On Sun, 02 Oct 2005 22:45:15 GMT, "Leo Lichtman"
wrote:

"AL" wrote:


You need a buck boost transformer. A new one
will set you back $100-$150. (clip)

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Maybe you could find a 32 volt transformer with sufficient current rating,
and hook the secondary up to buck line voltage.


Nice idea, but no.

When you hook a transformer up as Buck-Boost you have full primary
line voltage to ground on the secondary windings, so the transformer
you use has to be designed for it. A lot of the surplus transformers
you find are rated B-B, but the nameplate has to be readable, and you
have to dig out the spec sheets and check first.

The cheaper filament transformers that aren't rated for B-B service
will not have the proper insulation on the secondary windings for that
use, and much excitement can happen - think "Fourth Of July Finale".

It might happen the first time you plug it in, or it can wait till
after a few switching transients puncture the insulation. And best of
all it can easily turn into a fire, if you aren't standing there with
a fire extinguisher close at hand...

-- Bruce --


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