230 volt hand held power tools

Status
Not open for further replies.
kwired said:
Other then the occasional item like the OP has, there is little demand for anything but 120 volt, as there is seldom a tool less then 1400VA that runs above 240 volts, Electronic items (data processing and accessories in that area) are different, but usually are dual voltage capable.

Probably has some wanting 400Hz supply to run them now, they should be lighter weight then their 60 Hz counterparts.
Click to expand...

400Hz generators (but not the engines) are also lighter than their 60Hz counterparts.
 
400 Hz generators, motors, transformers, etc can be smaller because the magnetic field generated in a coil is proportional to both to flux and frequency (higher frequencies require less flux and less iron)

Speed of the motor isn't necessarily an issue. A 2-pole motor at 60Hz = 3600 RPM and a 12-pole motor at 400Hz = 4000 RPM
 
FWIW, I live in the UK which is part of the EU. I'm not happy that it is but that's different story for a different place.
The standard singe-phase voltage for the region is 230V 50Hz. Here, it is running at 50.039Hz at the moment.
I digress. I did have a slightly more serious point.
Most of my work has been on industrial sites. Few, if any, allow portable equipment on site that requires anything above 110Vac

Given that most portable tools are battery powered these days, it isn't much of a problem. Even instruments like oscilloscopes are usually multi-voltage.
 
mbrooke said:
In theory, a faster running engine can be smaller?
Click to expand...

High Hz = smaller, lighter motors and generators but more voltage drop issues.

Lower Hz = larger, heavier motors and generators but less voltage drop.

It is my understanding that is one of the reasons 400 Hz is used on planes and 25 Hz is used on many electric railroads.
 
iwire said:
High Hz = smaller, lighter motors and generators but more voltage drop issues.

Lower Hz = larger, heavier motors and generators but less voltage drop.

It is my understanding that is one of the reasons 400 Hz is used on planes and 25 Hz is used on many electric railroads.
Click to expand...

Make sense, skin effect goes up with frequency.
 
Besoeker said:
FWIW, I live in the UK which is part of the EU. I'm not happy that it is but that's different story for a different place.
The standard singe-phase voltage for the region is 230V 50Hz. Here, it is running at 50.039Hz at the moment.
I digress. I did have a slightly more serious point.
Most of my work has been on industrial sites. Few, if any, allow portable equipment on site that requires anything above 110Vac

Given that most portable tools are battery powered these days, it isn't much of a problem. Even instruments like oscilloscopes are usually multi-voltage.
Click to expand...

Isnt the actual voltage still 240-245? The 230 volt thing is just a label to harmonize the UK with 220 volt Europe.
 
Tim Keveney said:
... as it is not permissible for companies to operate equipment in which the operator can touch a button which is directly connected to 230 Volt. ...
Click to expand...

I'm not sure where you are getting that from, but it's not from any national codes or regulations. We can use 480V control if we want to. Most people don't want to, but there is nothing stopping us. Direct acting wall thermostats for baseboard heaters are switching at least one leg of a 230V circuit 230V as a matter of fact, and people are touching the thermostat knobs all the time.
 
Tim Keveney said:
I work for a European machinery manufacturer. We import a hand held power tool which runs on 230 volt 1 ph current.

I have heard that in a place of business, that it is not legal to operate a hand held power tool which runs on voltage greater than 125 volt.

Is this true?

Thanks in advance for your advice on this topic.

TIM
Click to expand...

peter d said:
Why would you be importing 230 volt tools when all the world's major tool manufacturers make 120 volt versions of their tools? It's not like they aren't aware of the North American market. It sounds like your company needs to go back to the drawing board. Unless these European tools aren't the traditional power tools I'm thinking of (Bosch, Metabo, Festool, etc)
Click to expand...


On a UK building sites or industrial sites 110V (55-0-55V) is the maximum voltage allowed for power tools.

Why anyone would even want 230V is a mystery to me.
 
mbrooke said:
Isnt the actual voltage still 240-245? The 230 volt thing is just a label to harmonize the UK with 220 volt Europe.
Click to expand...

Besoeker said:
You are not wrong. It's a fudge. And totally unnecessary. In my opinion of course.
Click to expand...

I’m just waiting for the mandarins in their ivory towers to decree 380/220V as the unified European voltage.

We’ll just ignore them as per usual if they do ;-)
 
Jraef said:
Direct acting wall thermostats for baseboard heaters are switching at least one leg of a 230V circuit 230V as a matter of fact, and people are touching the thermostat knobs all the time.
Click to expand...



That's still just 120V potential to ground. That's normally what you worry about.

I hear people talking about getting shocked by 240V and I wonder if they really were touching both phases ( I doubt it).
 
growler said:
That's still just 120V potential to ground. That's normally what you worry about.

I hear people talking about getting shocked by 240V and I wonder if they really were touching both phases ( I doubt it).
Click to expand...

Curious, if two fingers (one on each leg) touched two line conductors, wouldn't the current to ground be much lower then when only touching one?

I know its an odd question.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top