Where to find an 240V to 110V step down transformer in EU?

[jacquesdietwaio]

Hallo,

I hope everyone is doing well and having a good day.

Does anyone know where to find a step down transformer, to go from 240-220V mains to 110V, with a wattage rating of about 10kW in Europe, please?

Shipping them from America is possible, but the shipping cost is considerable and I was wondering if anyone might know where to get them in Europe, since that might possibly cut down on the shipping cost.

Currently working on fixing up a sailboat in Portugal, and have lots of american tools that require 110V to operate.

Any advice or tips would be greatly appreciated.

Thank-you very much,

Jacques

 

[davierobb]

screwfix have a 3 KVA screw fix transformer

 

[catmandoo]

Try the Barras in Glasgow . They have got everything

 

[Fr J Hackett]

Try screwfix (google for outlets and catalogue) failing that any independant tool supplier should be able to get you one, 10KW might proove a problem 2 to 5 is probably the most likley, if you don,t have any luck pm me and I may be able to put you in touch with someone.

 

[npf1]

These guys: here made a 5kw step down isolation transformer with a soft start for me. Bloody heavy though at around 60kg. I think they said they make them for Sunseekers too. Bear in mind that anything over around 7Kw will trip a 32A power supply, which might be the largest you will find in a marina - 16A supply is more common and some places have less.

Why do you think you need 10kW???

 

[catmandoo]

Barras E mail address barras1@tiscali.co.uk

also website www.glasgow-barras.com/

 

[stephenh]

Any proper electrical wholesaler / builders merchant in the UK ( and I don't mean B + Q !!!) will have them in all shapes and sizes.
Building site tools are only allowed to be 110v so stepping down from 240v using transformers is the only way.

As above 10kw is large and heavy............

Whats 10kw in kva ? or is that a silly question ?

 

[davierobb]

10 Kw = 10 Kva (power(w) = Volts(v) x Amps(a) hence w is the same as va)

 

[Salty John]

I bought one from a builder's supply company I found on line. As someone else has said, they are used in the UK for tools on building sites. Mine was housed in a yellow plastic waterproof box and worked fine on my American boat. It fed shore power to my 110v, 30 amp battery charger/ inverter. Remember that you will only be changing voltage, not frequency.

 

[Norman_E]

Do not even think of fitting one that big. In most marinas you will not be able to use it. A 10Kva transformer running on 230 volts draws about 43 amps. Most marina outlets seem to be fitted with 16 or 32 amp overcurrent trips. A 10Kva transformer will trip them as soon as you plug it in.
If you have a lot of electrics like Air conditioning I suggest you fit two smaller transformers, with one to run all your normal equipment and a separate one for the air conditioners, which will need to be on a totally separate circuit.
If it is only for power tools, most will run on a 3Kva transformer, though a large air compressor (for example) might need more.

 

[Guest]

[ QUOTE ]
10 Kw = 10 Kva (power(w) = Volts(v) x Amps(a) hence w is the same as va)

[/ QUOTE ]

Not correct actually ..... the signs and equation say yes but in fact in practice - no.
My B&S Genny is 3.4 KVa .... but actually in KW 2.7

Don't ask me why a difference .... but there is ! Maybe KVa is measured at source alternator ? KW at output after losses ????

Both my Gennys quote different figs for KVa and KW ....

 

[tome]

KW assumes a purely resistive load with a power factor of 1.0. Certain loads (such as motors) have a lower power factor so require more apparent power to drive them this is what the KVA refers to. Confusing isn't it?

 

[catmandoo]

to do with power factor as I recall

kW = kVA x PF and PF =cos( 2 Pi x frequency) which in Uk is 50

 

[asj1]

Maplin have them in their shops

 

[brianrunyard]

10kW to power "lots of american tools that require 110v to operate"????
What power tools have you got that need approx 90 amps @ 110v?

 

[Billjratt]

groan.....back to 60's Stow College Shamrock street, where all those lost braincells must be. When will we ever be free enough just to plug it in and use it?

 

[stephenh]

small arc welder perhaps ???

 

[Norman_E]

Pretty big arc welder. My 140 amp stick welder runs from a 240 volt 13 amp socket. Therefore on 10Kva you could theoretically get about 480 amps at welding voltage.

 

[st599]

It won't trip when plugged in, it'll only trip if it starts drawing enough current to trip the device. Plus the breaking current of a 32A device is not 32A

 

[Norman_E]

Surely as soon as you connect a transformer you have put the primary winding in to the mains circuit, and that is what draws the current. I do not know if the current drawn by the primary winding is any different when the secondary winding is connected, or not, but I suspect that any difference is small in relation to the total.
My own 3Kva 110 volt power supply is a large and heavy wire wound transformer, not some kind of electronic step down device.