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Building sites - 110 or 240 voltage

Hello All,

I am going to buy a DeWalt DC011 radio/charger for my boyfriends birthday and have been given the option of the 110 volt version or the 240 volt version - apparently this is because Health and Safety say you can only take 110 volts onto building sites. Is this correct? What are your thoughts?

P.S. Yes, he does go onto building sites.

Comments

  • Bungarm2001
    Bungarm2001 Posts: 686 Forumite
    110 volts on building sites for generators, but thats all I know. If all they have on site are 110 genny's, then that would probably be the better option.

    Possibly. ;)

    Alternatively, you could buy the 240 with a step-down transfomer for use on site? I think that's what I would do. Best of both then.

    Hopefully there'll be someone more knowledgable along in a minute. ;)
  • Hitch
    Hitch Posts: 215 Forumite
    Has he got any corded powertools? Id get whatever voltage they are.

    You can run 240 or 110v on some sites, but the 240v must be normally protected with a RCD. Some if not most sites will insist on using 110v, and that will often be all that is available.

    It depends on what sort of site it is to be honest.

    The last thing id be wanting to do would be to have a transformer and extension leads purely for the radio.
  • Akom
    Akom Posts: 159 Forumite
    If you work on a building site then all tools must be 110V.

    Health and safety can ask you to leave the site if you dont comply, though usually they just ask you to take the offending item away.

    I had a 240v radio once that i rigged to work off of 110V (I was an electrician) and was asked not to use it by health and safety.

    Most workmen carry a 110v transformer anyway so i would opt for the 110v version. If you want to know if your OH has a transformer they're normally a big yellow box (very heavy) with a handle on the top and round plugs on the side.

    Hope this helps.
  • Akom
    Akom Posts: 159 Forumite

    Alternatively, you could buy the 240 with a step-down transfomer for use on site? I think that's what I would do. Best of both then.

    Not wanting to be picki but you would need a step up transformer to take it from 110v to 240v which unfortunatly is frowned upon by health and safety as well.;)
  • Bungarm2001
    Bungarm2001 Posts: 686 Forumite
    sorry...I meant step up...it's been that kinda day ;)
  • bigdoozer
    bigdoozer Posts: 135 Forumite
    110 volts on site YES, 110 won't kill ya but still hurts. But if he's on sites there will be transformers there anyway. Does he have any yellow boxes about 10" square with yellow sockets as he may already use 110v tools. I thought the Dewalt did a chargeable version ???? 240 v in domestic homes. So where does he work most
  • YorkshireBoy
    YorkshireBoy Posts: 31,541 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    bigdoozer wrote: »
    110 volts on site YES, 110 won't kill ya but still hurts.
    You'd need to be incredibly unlucky (or incredibly stupid!) to receive a 110V shock from such equipment because you'd need to get yourself across both phases.

    Far more likely is a 55V (CTE transformer remember) shock by getting yourself across phase and earth.
  • whatatwit
    whatatwit Posts: 5,424 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    The site my OH was on recently did not allow radios.
    Part of their elf and safety rules.
    Official DFW Nerd Club - Member no: 203.
  • Buy cheap generators, diesel and petrol at www.generatesomepower.co.uk
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