possible/easy to change an appliance to be a dual voltage one?

[[email protected]]

Hi - I have a waffle maker which is a USA 110V 1200W standard
appliance. I want to get it to work in the UK (220V) but it is almost
impossible (and very costly) to get a voltage converter that would be
able to deal with the high wattage (1200W).
Would it be possible for me to get an electrician to change the
appliance so that it can use 220V as standard so then I wouldn't need
to buy any extra voltage converter? If this was possible would this
also cost a lot to do?

many thanks

 

[William Sommerwerck]

The only way this might be possible would be if the unit had two 110V
heating elements that could be rewired in series (rather than parallel).
This is unlikely.

You might be able to find a 220-to-110 converter for heating devices (not
motors or transformer-powered devices). This simply reduces the waveform's
duty cycle, much as a lamp dimmer does.

 

[Charlie]

Hi - I have a waffle maker which is a USA 110V 1200W standard
appliance. I want to get it to work in the UK (220V) but it is almost
impossible (and very costly) to get a voltage converter that would be
able to deal with the high wattage (1200W).
Would it be possible for me to get an electrician to change the
appliance so that it can use 220V as standard so then I wouldn't need
to buy any extra voltage converter? If this was possible would this
also cost a lot to do?

many thanks

I suspect it would be cost effective to simply buy a replacement waffle
maker in the UK.

Aren't they available?


Charlie

 

[Geoffrey S. Mendelson]

I suspect it would be cost effective to simply buy a replacement waffle
maker in the UK.

Aren't they available?

Considering the cost of electricy wasted (around 200 watts), plus the
cost of the transformer, it might be cheaper to forget about the waffle
maker entirely and go out for breakfast whenever you want waffles.

Another possibility would be one of those voltage convertors sold for
hair driers that are really just a big resistor or a diode. The biggest
problem I can anticipate with them is that the wiring of the waffle iron is
not really safe at 240 volts.

If the unit were made in the US and UL certified (the whole unit, not just
the cord), it should be insulated up to 600 volts and be ok, but if it
were made in China, all bets are off.

When we moved here (a real 230 volt 50 Hz system), from the U.S. I bought
a waffle maker, that I told my wife was both "multivoltage and multisystem"
It's a heavy cast aluminum device, with a thick teflon coating and
is used over a gas flame.

Geoff.

 

[William Sommerwerck]

Just occurred to me... Stick a 15A, 300V rectifier in series with the waffle
maker.

 

[krw]

Hi - I have a waffle maker which is a USA 110V 1200W standard
appliance. I want to get it to work in the UK (220V) but it is almost
impossible (and very costly) to get a voltage converter that would be
able to deal with the high wattage (1200W).
Would it be possible for me to get an electrician to change the
appliance so that it can use 220V as standard so then I wouldn't need
to buy any extra voltage converter? If this was possible would this
also cost a lot to do?

Buy a second waffle maker and hook them in series; make twice the
waffles in the same time. ;-)

 

[Arfa Daily]

Buy a second waffle maker and hook them in series; make twice the
waffles in the same time. ;-)

Alternatively, assuming that it is a 'clam-shell' type design, it will
probably have a 110v element in both the top and bottom halves, hooked in
parallel. Convert to 220v (near enough with an item such as this to not be
of any consequence) by rewiring the internal connector block where the
wiring from each element comes together, to place the two elements in
series.

Arfa

 

[GregS]

Alternatively, assuming that it is a 'clam-shell' type design, it will
probably have a 110v element in both the top and bottom halves, hooked in
parallel. Convert to 220v (near enough with an item such as this to not be
of any consequence) by rewiring the internal connector block where the
wiring from each element comes together, to place the two elements in
series.

Arfa

First thing to do is contact the manufacturer and see if there is a 220 model by
rewiring or parts replacement. I can see that being difficult to do
with consumer products, but is standard procedure for dealing with
equipment.

I recently tried to contact Toastmaster consumer affairs and got
lead around to Fox International, and Salton, now I see a different company today,
Middleby, but they do have a phone #. Emailing these people is a major hassle.

greg

 

[Geoffrey S. Mendelson]

First thing to do is contact the manufacturer and see if there is a 220 model by
rewiring or parts replacement. I can see that being difficult to do
with consumer products, but is standard procedure for dealing with
equipment.

Rewiring is usually not an option, nor is a transformer with anything with a
motor in it. 60Hz motors will run 20% slower, with 20% less power and more
(20%?) heat.

We brought a US refrigerator with us and had to run it on a 100 volt
output transformer so that the compressor motor would not overheat and
burn out. It worked for 11 years before the seals went on it.

Geoff.

 

[GregS]

Rewiring is usually not an option, nor is a transformer with anything with a
motor in it. 60Hz motors will run 20% slower, with 20% less power and more
(20%?) heat.

We brought a US refrigerator with us and had to run it on a 100 volt
output transformer so that the compressor motor would not overheat and
burn out. It worked for 11 years before the seals went on it.

Last year I got an incubator, kept melting plastic power switches. Found out it
had the wrong heater drawing too many amps. Funny thing, the unit was made
in europe and usually comes with a 240 heater. I finally got the correct heater
element after consultation. I don't think they made many 120 volt models
and somehow screwed it up.

In todays world market, they try to make it universal whenever possible.

greg

 

[Franc Zabkar]

Just occurred to me... Stick a 15A, 300V rectifier in series with the waffle
maker.

That would still result in twice the rated power consumption.

- Franc Zabkar

 

[William Sommerwerck]

Just occurred to me... Stick a 15A, 300V rectifier in

That would still result in twice the rated power consumption.

Right. Sudden inspirations aren't always correct.

 

[PeterD]

That would still result in twice the rated power consumption.


- Franc Zabkar

 

[William Sommerwerck]

were two elements (each half) in parallel, just series 'em!)

Which was my idea, but no one paid any attention.

 

[[email protected]]

Which was my idea, but no one paid any attention.

Thanks for the tip about getting a special voltage converter for
heating appliances - I searched around and I could get a travel one
from the USA designed to convert the voltage for hairdryers/curling
tongs/irons etc to be used in the UK. They cost around £16-20
including postage - so I think I will get one of these as the waffle
maker was worth much more than this.

 

[William Sommerwerck]

Thanks for the tip about getting a special voltage converter for
heating appliances - I searched around and I could get a travel one
from the USA designed to convert the voltage for hairdryers/curling
tongs/irons etc to be used in the UK. They cost around £16-20
including postage - so I think I will get one of these as the waffle
maker was worth much more than this.

Just make sure it has adequate capacity.

 

[[email protected]]

Thanks for the tip about getting a special voltage converter for
heating appliances - I searched around and I could get a travel one
from the USA designed to convert the voltage for hairdryers/curling
tongs/irons etc to be used in the UK. They cost around £16-20
including postage - so I think I will get one of these as the waffle
maker was worth much more than this.

Just make sure it has adequate capacity.

what do you mean by capacity? sorry to be ignorant

 

[William Sommerwerck]

Just make sure it has adequate capacity.

What do you mean by capacity? sorry to be ignorant.

It has to handle the current drain, which is going to be at least 5A on the
220V line.

 

[P D Fritz]

|
| In todays world market, they try to make it universal whenever possible.
|
| greg

Seems like cell phone makers don't believe so with their different sizes of
batteries and adaptors for chargers. Every time they come up with a new
line/model they introduce new batteries and chargers even though the voltage
and capacities remain the same as the ones for the older models.
Standardization is good for consumers but manufacturers seem to like to make
things nonstandard to force people to buy new accessories again.