Step up transformer for US craising in a 220v boat

Regarding frequency difference (60Hz US, 50Hz Europe). I am not surprised that some US 60Hz equipment works OK at 50Hz - synchronous motors, for instance would probably just run 16% slower, as would mains derived timers. There may be more serious problems using 50Hz (European) items on a 60Hz supply e.g. items working 20% 'harder'. They may overheat etc.
 
Playtime said:
Regarding frequency difference (60Hz US, 50Hz Europe). I am not surprised that some US 60Hz equipment works OK at 50Hz - synchronous motors, for instance would probably just run 16% slower, as would mains derived timers. There may be more serious problems using 50Hz (European) items on a 60Hz supply e.g. items working 20% 'harder'. They may overheat etc.
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Japan uses both 50Hz (north east) and 60Hz (south west) so equipment made for sale there - amongst other places - generally has to be happy with either.
 
JumbleDuck said:
US domestic supplies use a two-phase (or split-phase) system, so the two phases are 180o out from each other and the line voltage is therefore twice the phase voltage. Although phase voltage in North America is now nominally 120V +/- 5%, I gather that in many places is is still effectively 110V, which is just out of spec. It's a bit like the European standard of 230V + 10%/-6%, which allows us to stay on 240V and those funny foreigners to stay on 220V.

In industrial use I think they sometimes have three-phase supplies and therefore 120/208 rather than 110/220.
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Thanks. Hadn't heard of that. Is that from a centre tapped tfr on 1 phase of a 3 phase supply? That could get confusing!
 
Plevier said:
Thanks. Hadn't heard of that. Is that from a centre tapped tfr on 1 phase of a 3 phase supply? That could get confusing!
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Yes, it's a centre tapped winding. Dunno what's on the other side - I'll guess normally a winding across two phases of 3-phase, but American electricity is funny.
 
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