Generator Question: Is overseas 220v the same as US 220v?

[bhays]

Is overseas 220v the same as US 220v? I am looking for a generator to use with our new searchlight when we take it places away from the haunted house. I wanted to go with an inverter style generator due to noise, but the only one available in the US is a Honda eu7000is that is over $3700.

The searchlight only needs 7.6 amps at 220v (1760 watts). If a Honda/Generac/etc 2000 watt model would be just fine if it had a 220v output. All of the manufacturers produce overseas versions of the same generators that produce 220v. Could I just get one of those or is that different than domestic 220v service?

http://www.electricgeneratorsdirect.com/Honda-EU7000IS-Portable-Generator/p14017.html

 

[sleepy127]

The hertz rating is different on most stuff produced for overseas. Not too big of a deal unless you are powering something with a motor in it.

 

[bhays]

Well, it does have a motor to rotate the light so that could be an issue. What about a step up transformer? I see those on eBay for under $100 for 2000 watt models.

 

[Fretters]

You run 60Hz over there whereas we use 50Hz.

 

[bhays]

http://www.nasasearchlights.com/nasasearchlights.com/HD-1_SEARCHLIGHT.html

I have the HD-1 zArc Max model.

 

[Givl Reggin]

As others have said, the Hz (50/60Hz) will be different. Some things can handle the +/- 20% some can't - look at the electric tag on the equipment it will say.

But, I have to ask; Are you really intending on shipping a search light overseas? Why not buy (or rent) one locally?

 

[bhays]

No, we have the searchlight here in the US. I am searching for a quiet generator to use and was wondering about an overseas model to get 220v output for less expense.

 

[eljefino]

If your generator is sized for the light a "standard" model will make as much noise as an inverter one. I had a 3000 watt generator with a 220/ 15 amp plug, looked like a 110 outlet but with "squinty eyes".

How much work would it be to re-bulb the searchlight for 110? Seems like something many would want to do.

The 220 bulb itself won't need a 110 neutral, but IDK about the motor etc. What style plug is on there?

 

[Rookie2]

On Your HD-1 spec sheet it, there is a listing for 13amps @ 120 vac . Is your HD-1 reconnectable ? What does the plug look like ? Most US generators will have a 240vac receptacle.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Get a 240/120 "step down" transformer. Hook it up backwards and make it a "step up" transformer.

Yes it is safe.

 

[Elvenhome21]

Heres a question out of curiosity. I know europe is 220v 1 phase vs US is 220 2 Phase, but does europe have a 2 phase voltage that would be 440 2 phase or do they skip 2 phase and only have 1 phase and 3 phase.

 

[Fretters]

Just single and 3 phase.

 

[Alan Douglas]

Strictly, the US is 120/240V single phase and Europe is 230V single phase, for domestic power (I don't know about industrial in Europe). "One-ten" or "two twenty" is a figure of speech. The first standard was 115/230V in 1927.

 

[Milton Shaw]

The 120/240 60 hertz standard used in the USA and Canada is all interconnected so that current can be generated in one area and used in another. This means that one plant going off line will not be noticed as other plants in the system can take up the load. The big outages such as the one in 2003? in the northeast was a fluke of the system, it should not have happened.
Japan has 120/240/60 on the east coast of Japan and the Euro/British 240/50 on its west coast and this is why are in such a mess with the outage from the earthquake and its outcome. They could not interconnect the two sides of their country as the systems were entirely different.
This is why stuff bought in the USA does not work in England etc. Some things can be adapted but its better to buy the right stuff rather than convert the wrong stuff.

 

[The Cobbler]

Happens I have research this a few weeks ago.
Basically what I've determined is that North America 240 has 2 hot legs, European 220 has 1 hot leg.
It seems that resistive loads will work either way, but electronics don't.
reason I looked into it is I picked up a laser printer that is European and after it spits out a few prints it stops and the error code is " fuser is wrong voltage" . I'm afraid to try hooking it up to 220 here for fear of frying it.
AN electrician I used to know had 220 volt incandescent bulbs from Europe for when he worked on knob & tube wiring, to determine if he had 110 or 220 ( by the brightness of the bulb) not sure why he used them over a meter, just passing that along

 

[bhays]

I have noticed that on aliexpress.com you can order inverter generators of various wattages and specify what voltage/Hz you want. Since one or two Chinese oem's make all the inverter generators anyway, I think I am going to go this route.

I tried the new searchlight out tonight and even on a really cloudy night it was well over 10 miles visible.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Happens I have research this a few weeks ago.
Basically what I've determined is that North America 240 has 2 hot legs, European 220 has 1 hot leg.

This is only partial true !

The US and EU systems are really similar when used for 240V (or if you prefer to call it 220V) loads except for the difference between 60 (US) and 50 (EU) Hz. The big different is that the US system has a "center tap" allowing use of only half of the voltage (120V).

It is NOT "2 Phase", it is SPLIT PHASE. There are only 2 "hots" on a US system when you reference them to the center tap which is typically call "neutral".

 

[The Cobbler]

This is only partial true !

T....

so are you suggesting that a laser printer rated for 220 to 240 v , 50/60 hz will work on North American 240 volts?

thanks

 

[abk241]

so are you suggesting that a laser printer rated for 220 to 240 v , 50/60 hz will work on North American 240 volts?

thanks

Those specs translate to 220V 50Hz (European) and 240V 60Hz (American).
So, yes, the printer will work in any North American home/business with that service.

 

[theoldwizard1]

so are you suggesting that a laser printer rated for 220 to 240 v , 50/60 hz will work on North American 240 volts?

Yes.

Likely all motors and other electrical items (other than maybe the fuser) run off of DC current anyway. The fuser temperature is regulated/controlled so if the voltage is off, it would just draw a bit more current, although now a days, it might be DC also.

Many, MANY years ago I bought a "large" (floor standing) laser printer for my company. The spec sheet said 220V. In the US, 220v is almost impossible to get in an commercial/industrial building (#-phase "Y" is 208V phase to phase). When the installer hooked it up, they checked the voltage at the plug (208V) opened the bottom and changed a jumper on the transformer !

 

[theoldwizard1]

No, we have the searchlight here in the US. I am searching for a quiet generator to use and was wondering about an overseas model to get 220v output for less expense.

I am 99% confident a European Honda Eu20i would work fine. The specs on your lights actual say 208v-250v and nothing about Hz.

Good luck finding one in the US or Canada !

Also it would be useless for almost anything else on this side of the pond.

 

[bhays]

I have pretty much convinced myself to go with an Aurora Silent Diesel. Just so it can be multipurpose.

http://www.emergencypower.com/dieselgenerators/portable/agi6500sde