Transformer 120 VAC to 220/240VAC

[Leaflessshadetree]

I have an ultrasonic cleaner that is designed for 220/240 VAC and 1.75A. I'd like to be able to use plug it in 120V outlets. The step up transformers I find have european style outlets. What other options do I have?

 

[Bert_]

Probably not going to find anything premade with plugs. A 120x240 500VA transformer would be easy to find though.

 

[mike93lx]

Is it actually rated for 240? Sharing the name plate would help

 

[Norcal]

Look for "travel transformers", most will be to allow 120V appliances to operate on 240V, but they are out there, no need to reinvent the wheel.

Amazon.com

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

Is it actually rated for 240? Sharing the name plate would help

 

[jeepxj]

what kinda plug is on the end of the cleaner?


cause this has a universal recep for the 220.

Amazon.com

 

[Lassen Forge]

It's more than just volts - EU 230 volt systems run on 50 Hz... 120V us runs on 60Hz. Most things that is designed to run on one that have computer controls will not function well (if at all) on the other. I just spent a small fortune on a "power exchanger" that changes 120V60Hz to 230V50Hz so I can run my US standard stuff I can't get in the EU there...

 

[mike93lx]

It's more than just volts - EU 230 volt systems run on 50 Hz... 120V us runs on 60Hz. Most things that is designed to run on one that have computer controls will not function well (if at all) on the other. I just spent a small fortune on a "power exchanger" that changes 120V60Hz to 230V50Hz so I can run my US standard stuff I can't get in the EU there...

That's why I asked for the nameplate, which shows 240v 60hz. Just needs to up the voltage, or put in a 240v receptacle and change the cord end

 

[walta]

When I have used the travel transformers the wattage /power rating on the box are a joke and must be derated by 5X if you plan on operating the equipment at its rated voltage.

Shop by looking at the shipping weight 1 pound is good for 25VA so any transformer under 20 pounds is likely a waste of time and money.

Walta

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

what kinda plug is on the end of the cleaner?


cause this has a universal recep for the 220.

Amazon.com

I have a NEMA 6-20P on it but it is not original. I'm not familiar with "universal" 220 but looking at the image it looks similar to some of the plugs with round pins used in Europe and elsewhere. I'm guessing that a NEMA 6-20 (or maybe 6-15) could fit but don't know how well they would work.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

It's more than just volts - EU 230 volt systems run on 50 Hz... 120V us runs on 60Hz. Most things that is designed to run on one that have computer controls will not function well (if at all) on the other. I just spent a small fortune on a "power exchanger" that changes 120V60Hz to 230V50Hz so I can run my US standard stuff I can't get in the EU there...

Better go look at the nameplate he posted.

 

[Norcal]

It's more than just volts - EU 230 volt systems run on 50 Hz... 120V us runs on 60Hz. Most things that is designed to run on one that have computer controls will not function well (if at all) on the other. I just spent a small fortune on a "power exchanger" that changes 120V60Hz to 230V50Hz so I can run my US standard stuff I can't get in the EU there...

Transformers do not change frequency, only voltage up or down, changing frequency is expensive.

 

[Steve from Socal]

The device IS dual rated 220/50 and 240/60.

As Bert mentioned just get a 240/120 and run it in reverse. Maybe wire the transformer so it is on when plugged in and the on/off is on the 240 side.

Steve

 

[Phantomd]

Are you sure a NEMA 6-15 wont work?
The model number is US-**** - I would bet the manufacturer made that model for the US market.
There are a few 220v 60hz contries, but every piece of equipment that ive seen with a 60hz rating with a tag in english is made to run on 2-pole (single phase) 250v which is common in the US.

I am unable to find any info on that model number of ultrasonic cleaner.

Can't tell you how many times I've seen excessive voltage changes with transformers and such when the equipment does not really care.

 

[laser3kw]

I read the tag as:
220 / 240 volts 50 / 60 hz
I have always interpreted as 220 v / 50 hz or 240v / 60hz

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

Are you sure a NEMA 6-15 wont work?
The model number is US-**** - I would bet the manufacturer made that model for the US market.
There are a few 220v 60hz contries, but every piece of equipment that ive seen with a 60hz rating with a tag in english is made to run on 2-pole (single phase) 250v which is common in the US.

I am unable to find any info on that model number of ultrasonic cleaner.

Can't tell you how many times I've seen excessive voltage changes with transformers and such when the equipment does not really care.

The unit works fine at 240V and 60Hz (just like the tag says). I don't plan on taking it to other countries but I expect it would work at 50Hz and 220 or 230 V though maybe some minor difference in vibration or heating performance.
Yes a 6-15 would work if I installed a 6-15 receptacle. I don't see where that is any different than the 6-20 I have now.

The travel transformer appears to be the lowest cost option. I ordered one rated at 1000W.

 

[Lassen Forge]

I have a few devices that need that (damned) 60Hz to work right - and there's not a real good alternative in the EU. Otherwise I'd just use a transformer and deal with the frequency difference... But even something like my Miller 211 that WILL run (quite well) on 230 still needs that (deleted) 60 Hz... The 5% difference between 220 and 240 is negligable (our "230" house current in Italy tests consistantly over 240) and were it not for that... well... yeah.

 

[u3b3rg33k]

I read the tag as:
220 / 240 volts 50 / 60 hz
I have always interpreted as 220 v / 50 hz or 240v / 60hz

You're right if it's a motor - mostly. Hz determines RPM. if so, they generally list the RPM at the frequency.

anything with a SMPS inside dgaf about the frequency, and barely cares about the voltage.
or a universal motor - those used to come name-plated for DC-60Hz, or 0-60Hz too.

with something like this, there's a lot they're leaving out.


this one is more honest:

47Hz at 100V, 63Hz at 250V, right?

and then there's this one that pulls 820W to put out 330W.




or this one that can run at 200V, or on a 277V lighting circut, but you better get the frequency right for the voltage, or else!



Lesson #B: all nameplates are lies. unless it's a synchronous motored clock. I never understood how 50Hz countries can think 50Hz makes sense with 60 seconds in a minute!

 

[Norcal]

You're right if it's a motor - mostly. Hz determines RPM. if so, they generally list the RPM at the frequency.

anything with a SMPS inside dgaf about the frequency, and barely cares about the voltage.
or a universal motor - those used to come name-plated for DC-60Hz, or 0-60Hz too.

with something like this, there's a lot they're leaving out.


this one is more honest:

47Hz at 100V, 63Hz at 250V, right?

and then there's this one that pulls 820W to put out 330W.




or this one that can run at 200V, or on a 277V lighting circut, but you better get the frequency right for the voltage, or else!



Lesson #B: all nameplates are lies. unless it's a synchronous motored clock. I never understood how 50Hz countries can think 50Hz makes sense with 60 seconds in a minute!

Tesla preferred 60 hertz, but 50 hertz is "metric".

 

[BukitCase]

Lassen -

"even something like my Miller 211 that WILL run (quite well) on 230 still needs that (deleted) 60 Hz"

Depends - is your mm211 the older transformer model, or the newer inverter? If it's the transformer one, then yeah; 60 hZ ONLY.

The inverter version is OK with either frequency. From the inverter 211 manual, section 4 -

"Amperes Input at Rated
Load Output,
50/60HZ, Single−Phase "

I verified this with a call to Miller tech support. Several years ago my first mig was a transformer mm211, I later found a mm252 with NIB 30A spool gun, dual running gear, 3 bottles, for less than HALF the new price; so I sold the ****** 211 to a friend (he got as good a deal as I did), then decided I wanted to add a smaller unit for an "offroad" version so I bought the inverter 211.

The "offroad" cart I built for the inverter 211

Container Weld Shop build -

I'm thinkin' second from the left. Yes, the one who gave his wife an allowance and she spent before I could borrow it back, how'd you guess.................

www.tractorbynet.com

Only reason I cared about the frequency is my 8 k genny tends to wander off frequency a little, and I didn't want that to be a concern... Steve

 

[laser3kw]

Lesson #B: all nameplates are lies. unless it's a synchronous motored clock. I never understood how 50Hz countries can think 50Hz makes sense with 60 seconds in a minute!

Lol!
thanks for the illustrations - those are great to show the different name plates and the nuances they present. The show that it is device dependent. Just shows you how much we forget as we age
I would read the first one a little different. The 100-240~, 50/60hz I would read "voltage from 100v to 240v (because of the ~ "tilde") at either 50 or 60 hz. Also, power supplies (switching mode) really are loose because of their conversion to DC and internal regulation. The others are just plain mean.

 

[htmdude57]

It might be that if you opened up the ultrasonic unit, you might find that it has a transformer inside that drops the input voltage down to something like 12 or 24 volts to run the electronics. If so, you could replace the internal transformer?

 

[Solarphil]

Yes a 6-15 would work if I installed a 6-15 receptacle. I don't see where that is any different than the 6-20 I have now.

You are correct - the 6-20 would be perfectly fine for your application. It will have a little more theoretical ’headroom’ than you need for your application, but no worries there since you already own it. The travel transformer will be the limiting factor in the power chain.

As someone who’s built power systems for multiple countries, I’ve found 220 / 240 nomenclature to be more slang than actual definitions of a voltage standard available at any one given receptacle across this world - there’s just too much variation in voltage at different points in the line across different regions, even within one country. However what’s clear is this particular device doesn’t GAF what frequency it’s fed, and will draw 1.75 Amps when fed 220 volts, perhaps a bit less when fed 240.

 

[Norcal]

XXXXX

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

The travel transformer works.
That "universal" receptacle accepts many types of plugs including NEMA 6-20 and 6-15.
I'm a bit surprised this is available because allows 120V plugs {5-15 or 520) to be connected but the voltage is 240V.