220VAC electrics question

[Robin]

Can I plug a 110VAC USA surge adapter strip into a 220VAC UK wall socket via a simple 3 pin Uk to 2 pin USA plug adapter?. We have a number of these surge strip bars for phone chargers, laptop power supplies etc and wonder if they are worth packing for our imminent return to civilisation. not for high power gizmos but it will reduce the number of straight plug adaptors we will need for the few items with stupid 2 pin plugs like chargers, (her hair curler, hair dryer, (my) shaver a cordless spotlight for the boat etc.

I have a nice cordless Dremel too where the charger says 110VAC< any ideas how to overcome that, simply and cheaply? ​

Also posted this in the lounge but now copied here where the brains are.

 

[lpdsn]

If they can handle 230V AC. Some bits of modern of kit would as they're designed for a world market and can automatically adapt, but you'd want to check in each case. Others will signal their non-acceptance of 230V by smoking. burning, blowing fuses and other generally non-cooperative modes of behaviour.

You can buy 110V AC transformers that work with yellow three pin plugs (often seen on building sites and other industrial workplaces).

 

[VicMallows]

Robin, as lpdsn says, quite a lot of modern, small, electronic items (and wall cubes) will accept 110-230v.). However it is vital to check each one. Certainly any of the old-fashioned 'heavy' transformer based wall cubes will be destroyed at 230v. Likewise any heavy current appliance such as curlers/hairdryers/vaccuum cleaner etc, etc.

A lot will depend on how many 110v appliances you have. After 3 years in the States back in the 70s/80s we had acquired so many appliances (and power tools!) that I actually installed a large 230/110v transformer in our UK house with US sockets permanently installed in strategic places. Transformers are readily available at places like Maplins (think RadioShack), but anything over about 500W is getting heavy/expensive. Be very wary of small so-called 'voltage-reducers' ...... these are unsuitable for many devices.

Many of our small kitchen type appliances have fallen by the wayside ...... but the trusty Sears Wet&Dry Vac, along with various power tools are still in regular use........................along with the vital water-bed heater!

 

[William_H]

"Surge adaptor strip" I assume you mean a strip of sockets with a built in surge protection. This usaully uses voltage dependant resistors which start to conduct above a certain voltage. That gives protection from high voltage spikes from lightning or other induced voltage spike. A protector for 240VAC appliances would start to conduct around 400v but we might imagine a protector for 110vAC system might be made to conduct at a voltage,perhaps over 200v so likely to go up in smoke on 240Vac. But then maybe not. As said look at all your chargers etc as the switch mode power supply makes it very convenient to rate them as 110 to 260vAC but this will always be marked on the charger. If not then no good on 240vAC. olewill

 

[Robin]

"Surge adaptor strip" I assume you mean a strip of sockets with a built in surge protection. This usaully uses voltage dependant resistors which start to conduct above a certain voltage. That gives protection from high voltage spikes from lightning or other induced voltage spike. A protector for 240VAC appliances would start to conduct around 400v but we might imagine a protector for 110vAC system might be made to conduct at a voltage,perhaps over 200v so likely to go up in smoke on 240Vac. But then maybe not. As said look at all your chargers etc as the switch mode power supply makes it very convenient to rate them as 110 to 260vAC but this will always be marked on the charger. If not then no good on 240vAC. olewill

Correct assessment OLe Will. Chargers and laptop power bricks are mostly marked 110-260 but the Dremel one is 110. the headset charger only says output 9.6vdc 200mA. I'm happy enough the phone and lappie stuff will work on 220VAC , just wondered if it was worth using the strip of sockets simply as a recycled strip of multi- sockets for phones etc, being parsimonious as I am. The walkie talkie chargers just say 9.6v 200mA so I think my 12v power adaptor which has adjustable output volts and a range of plug fittngs would charge those ok from the boats DC. The headsets are now over $1000 a pair and 220v not listed anymore. If all else fails and they blow up we can revert to shouting and hand signals.. .

 

[superheat6k]

Not sure whether your device will work OK or not. If it is a Switch Mode Charger then it will likely be OK.

My reason for responding is the subtle difference between 220 v, 230v and 240v AC.

Single phase voltages are derived from the local 3 phase supply from the nearest substation, and for most UK sites this is 415 VAC, where by a single phase is paired with the neutral star point connection on the transformer to derive 240v

The maths for this is 415 v / 1.73 (1.73 = Sq Rt of 3).

So now consider Europe on 380 v then the single phase voltage = ~ 220 v.

Then there is the 'harmonised' voltage level of 400 v which derives ~ 230v.

So what - well each voltage has a range of tolerance after all local supplies are all derived from substations experiencing different loads, so lightly loaded transformers may produce higher local line 3 phase voltages than heavily loaded, and to a certain extent it will be where the installing engineers chose to 'tap' the transformer.

By law the supply voltage has to be within a certain tolerance, which I recall is +- 6% of 415 (or +10 - 4% of 400 v), this allows a local UK voltage to sit within the range 390 - 440 volts. Whereas a European voltage could sit between 357 - 402 volts.

Now the issue - if say an appliance was designed for 220 volts single phase with say a 10% working tolerance then it will be perfectly OK up to 242 volts, yet in the UK the actual voltage could reach 254 volts, where it is quite well outside the safe voltage for the appliance.

Coming back to the OPs question he should be looking to see if the equipment will tolerate the higher UK voltage. Certainly ~ 430 volts is not that uncommon on UK sites we routinely work at.

 

[PaulRainbow]

Can I plug a 110VAC USA surge adapter strip into a 220VAC UK wall socket via a simple 3 pin Uk to 2 pin USA plug adapter?. We have a number of these surge strip bars for phone chargers, laptop power supplies etc and wonder if they are worth packing for our imminent return to civilisation. not for high power gizmos but it will reduce the number of straight plug adaptors we will need for the few items with stupid 2 pin plugs like chargers, (her hair curler, hair dryer, (my) shaver a cordless spotlight for the boat etc.​

I'd suggest something different for most of the things you mention Robin. Run all of the stuff like phone chargers, laptops etc from the boats 12v system via DC-DC converters. I use them for USB charging, 19/20v laptop charger, TV and soundbar (which would usually be 14v via a power brick) etc. Most thing that have a power brick will be lower voltage and a DC-DC converter will work.

I have a nice cordless Dremel too where the charger says 110VAC< any ideas how to overcome that, simply and cheaply?

​

You can buy a UK charger, but i wouldn't call it cheap at close to £50. If this lives on the boat, you could make a 12v charger by fitting a DC-DC converter in a small enclosure with leads to fit the Dremel and a 12v socket. Should be under £10.

 

[rogerthebodger]

Can I plug a 110VAC USA surge adapter strip into a 220VAC UK wall socket via a simple 3 pin Uk to 2 pin USA plug adapter?. We have a number of these surge strip bars for phone chargers, laptop power supplies etc and wonder if they are worth packing for our imminent return to civilisation. not for high power gizmos but it will reduce the number of straight plug adaptors we will need for the few items with stupid 2 pin plugs like chargers, (her hair curler, hair dryer, (my) shaver a cordless spotlight for the boat etc.

I have a nice cordless Dremel too where the charger says 110VAC< any ideas how to overcome that, simply and cheaply? ​

Also posted this in the lounge but now copied here where the brains are.

If you wish to run 110 VAC devices from 230 VAC why not just get a 230VAC to 110 VAC transformer.

I have a 110 VAC abrasive cur off saw that is 110VAC and i run that from 230VAC using a auto transformer.