what do i need to use usa bought sewing machine in the uk

oldagetraveller

victor2 wrote: »

Electric motors can be affected by the mains frequency as well. Our friends across the pond use 60Hz and here we have 50Hz. No transformer can rectify that, but if the sewing machine's specs say 50/60Hz, then no problem. Even if it doesn't, it may still work, just run a little slower.

It's usually fine to run a 60Hz machine at 50Hz. It's when running a 50Hz machine at 60Hz that problems arise.
Back in the day when this country had a Merchant Fleet, British ship's running on a.c. were usually 60Hz. This was used because if for any reason the ship had to go onto "shore power" it caused no problems when connected to 50Hz, as in this country. Electric motors just ran a bit slower as in your last sentence.:)

Notmyrealname

Many American devices are dual voltage. In an American home is both 120V and 240V. The 240V gets used for the heavy duty stuff such as aircon with the 120V being used for appliances.

A._Badger

!!!!!! wrote: »

I was commenting about dual voltage devices. American devices do not tend to be dual voltage,

Why should we have dual voltage devices? UK & Europe use 220-240V but devices are still dual voltage

It is not a bizzare comment but reflects the US attitude to commerce outside their borders.

No it doesn't. You clearly have a large chip on your shoulder. The North American market is gigantic - it includes Canada, don't forget.

Adding the capability of running on European voltages would simply inflate the costs of products for something only a tiny handful of customers would use. It's a sensible, cost-saving, strategy that benefits the majority of buyers..

yangptangkipperbang

!!!!!! wrote: »

I was commenting about dual voltage devices. American devices do not tend to be dual voltage,

Why should we have dual voltage devices? UK & Europe use 220-240V but devices are still dual voltage

It is not a bizzare comment but reflects the US attitude to commerce outside their borders.

Dual voltage machines are as rare in Europe as they are in the USA. I cannot remember the last time I saw a dual voltage machine other than low voltage output devices for cameras, phones etc.The reason being that it increases the cost - everything is built to a price.
If it is 115V it carries more current than the equivalent 240V machine, it therefore requires heavier cable.
If it is 240V it requires heavier duty insulation than the equivalent 115V item.
Why build something with heavier cable and more insulation for the odd person who wants to buy something in Europe and use it in the States or vice-versa.
As I said: bizarre !

I suppose you are blaming the Yanks for our lousy summer as well ...............

alanrowell

yangptangkipperbang wrote: »

Dual voltage machines are as rare in Europe as they are in the USA. I cannot remember the last time I saw a dual voltage machine other than low voltage output devices for cameras, phones etc.The reason being that it increases the cost - everything is built to a price.

Many modern appliances - even high wattage - use power supplies that can handle anything from 100 to 250V and everything inbetween. They AREN'T dual-voltage machines, they are MULTI-voltage. It's too expensive to supply different power supplies for different markets unless there isn't any choice. Even 20 years ago the primitive power supplies of the time could often be changed for different voltages by simply moving a dial or changing an internal plug

As for the OP - perhaps they could start by giving details of the sewing machine (eg model number) as otherwise we are just guessing as to what may or may not be needed.

Guardsman

This thread has had me in stitches.

Richie-from-the-Boro

Guardsman wrote: »

This thread has had me in stitches.

- as did your old 'housewife' .. .. once upon a time !
- that pic is a posh one ours were waterproofed [ ish ]

ChiefGrasscutter

!!!!!! wrote: »

It is not a bizzare comment but reflects the US attitude to commerce outside their borders.

Including 'till recently their refusal to have anything to do with the metric system despite the rest of the world working to it.
I can still remember one messup when we quoted the mass of an item in metric tonne, the numerical figure of which was then used in subsequent calculations as an imperial ton by the Americans main contractor for a non USA end destination/customer.

victor2

ChiefGrasscutter wrote: »

Including 'till recently their refusal to have anything to do with the metric system despite the rest of the world working to it.
I can still remember one messup when we quoted the mass of an item in metric tonne, the numerical figure of which was then used in subsequent calculations as an imperial ton by the Americans main contractor for a non USA end destination/customer.

We can hardly criticise though. We buy petrol in litres and travel in miles, looking at miles per gallon as we go!

buglawton

You will probably need a step down transformer. Read the documents carefully first just to ensure that your machine is not multi voltage already (might have a switch for this like an old shaver I had).

Next get someone techie to check how many watts the machine consumes. I would then add a 30% margin of error to that. From http://www.absak.com/library/power-consumption-table it looks like it's going to be 100W.

Finally go to Amazon or Ebay and find either a 100W or 300W unit depending on the figures from above. Unfortunately the 300 W (or 300 VA as sometimes referred to) ones are bulky, heavy and start at around £70.

Also I would make sure that the unit given a 5A fuse only so that the fuse will blow before the unit does if there's a fault!

And unplug the transformer whenever not in use.