Shop power?

[Alowes2837]

Hi all.

This is a question for the US members. I am in the process of looking at/ buying an auto repair shop in the US and moving there from the UK. I understand that the usual voltage in the US is 110V ac but have read a few post about 240v tools there, here in the UK our standard supply is 240v ac 50 htz single phase.
I have plenty of electrical tools etc and compressor that all work work on the 240v supply and would like to take them with me when I move, the main question is will they be compatible. The shop I am looking at has the option to run 3 phase as well as single phase. If anyone could help or point me in the direction of some good referances I would be most gratefull. Oh and before the obvious gets mentioned I understand I will have to change the plugs on the leads.

 

[rinny_tin_tin]

Hi all.

This is a question for the US members. I am in the process of looking at/ buying an auto repair shop in the US and moving there from the UK. I understand that the usual voltage in the US is 110V ac but have read a few post about 240v tools there, here in the UK our standard supply is 240v ac 50 htz single phase.
I have plenty of electrical tools etc and compressor that all work work on the 240v supply and would like to take them with me when I move, the main question is will they be compatible. The shop I am looking at has the option to run 3 phase as well as single phase. If anyone could help or point me in the direction of some good referances I would be most gratefull. Oh and before the obvious gets mentioned I understand I will have to change the plugs on the leads.

Your elek eq designed for 50 Hz will do well here on 60 Hz. I'm not sure what references you would like - but if the facility offers 3 phase - go for it. It automatically includes single phase. With three phase, your conductors can be smaller and your elek losses are also smaller - but this is almost negligible in your case.

Your chief problems will be other than electrical - such as business-related, location, taxes, regulations, etc.

 

[mmg440]

From my understanding most industrial motors have no problem with the change in Hz. It does affect the RPM of the motors. They will run slightly faster. Many computers and such have switchable power supplies on them so the can run with ether current. Many other electronic equipment could give you problems. Anything with a computer screen I would have to wonder. But given shipping costs it may be best to sell off some stuff and just repurchase in the US. Most motor manufactures can supply you with the data of rpm and ratings of particular models and if they are indeed compatible. I have replaced plenty of motors that I have seen the 50 Hz as well as the 60 Hz ratings on the tag.

Any powered potable hand tools would be a pain because our general outlets are the 120 vac and not 240 so most places would not have any or many outlets and you would have to add them all. But most hand tools would probably be able to work if you dedicated to them.


link to a another forum FAQ about Hz change. Looks like a good read, brings up the positives as well as negative affects of the frequncy change.
http://www.eng-tips.com/faqs.cfm?fid=1224

 

[Stuart in MN]

Typical power in the US is 120/240vac single phase - that's what nearly all residences and small businesses will have. When you get into three phase, there are several common voltages: 120/240vac three phase, although that particular voltage is being phased out as time goes on in most parts of the country so you don't find it as often any more; 120/208vac three phase, which is probably most common for light industrial or repair shops; and 277/480vac three phase which will be found in larger facilities and small factories that have lots of large motorized equipment. For this last one, the owner has to have their own transformer onsite to step the voltage down from 480 to 120/240 or 120/208 for general lights and outlets. There are also higher voltages of various sizes for big factories and such, but you won't find them in the kind of place you're looking for.

If the shop you find has three phase, make sure to find out if it's 120/208 or 120/240 - your hand tools probably won't like running on 208. It's probably worth checking with the tool manufacturer to find out what their tolerances are.

Edit: Here's an discussion from last summer where ddawg16 provided a nice diagram that shows how a typical service in the US is set up. http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=21536

 

[W-Cummins]

You might want to make sure what your doing, as your power is 240V to ground ( or at least it was until 2008 when you changed to 230V to make the EU happy). Our 240V is hot to hot and depending on how the device your "converting" is grounded ( earthed in UK speak) it could be a shocking experience when you connect it to our 240V! Also if I'm not mistaken your 3 phase is 240v to ground and 415V phase to phase.

Then of course you may need to deal with the frequency change. Your stuff will run faster, and that may or may not effect its operation. So your wall clock will not be happy.

William....

 

[tfi racing]

William is on the right track here.Most of your tools will NOT be compatible with the voltage here,along with most of your household electronics.If you are very attached to some of them,transformers can be used to allow them to work,but that can get expensive.After you figure in the cost of shipping,conversion and balance that against the pound vs. the US dollar and tools are likely a lot less expensive on this side ,you may be ahead selling your old stuff and replacing it after you arrive.
The good news is that we do use roughly the same air,so except for the compressor your air tools will work fine!

 

[JohnK007]

Wouldn't he also have a problem because his UK power tools are set up for Metric electricity?

 

[mmg440]

Wouldn't he also have a problem because his UK power tools are set up for Metric electricity?

The UK may have also finally started to switch to the metric system otherwise I am sure some of there stuff still goes by feet and inches and fractional fasteners. But I don't think this changed the size or shape of the electrons.

 

[tfi racing]

Metric electricity shouldn't be an issue,you guys south of the border have been buying megawatts of it from Canada for many years now!
I'll get back to you on the metric air thing though.

 

[kbs2244]

You will be money ahead to sell the powered tools and buy new.
They are heavy and non-compatible.
Your 220 is 2 wire.
Ours is 3 3 wire.
(Two 120 and a netural.)

 

[Alowes2837]

Guys

Thanks very much for the replies and it is looking like I thought, I will probably be best off selling the UK spec power tools and re buying in the US. I also enjoyed the humour with the metric electricity but we still use imperial air. Once again thanks a lot.