Problem - Using USA Appliances in the UK - help needed!

ukcarper

rmg1 wrote: »

Like I said, it's a long time since I did any calculations like this.
Would you care to explain why?

Power is equal to Voltage squared divided by Resistance as the Resistance remains the same it you double Voltage you will quadruple the power.

Quiet_Spark

penrhyn wrote: »

Something like this:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/1kVA-SINGLE-OUTLET-PORTABLE-TRANSFORMER/dp/B00DSNWVWQ/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1386940968&sr=8-13&keywords=230v+to+110v

That's 150 Watts short of what the machine needs, and that's before you take in to account any losses during the step down process.

rmg1 wrote: »

The bigger problem will be the Hz. I haven't a clue what changing the Hz will do so can't comment on that bit.

The difference in frequency won't make any odds to a heating element.

forgotmyname

To run that reliably you want a transformer capable of handling at least 1500watts.

WTFH

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1500W-Step-Down-Voltage-Conver-Transformer-220V-to-110V/370237143240

penrhyn

Shirley Amazon UK or somebody stocks a bean to cup espresso machine to UK spec.

...................and I did say something like.

Of course should the Yankee machine fail you would have no warranty worth a dime to fall back on.

paddyrg

rmg1 wrote: »

If I've worked this out correctly (and it's a long time since I did any electrical calculations), running the appliance at 240V (assuming it's possible), it will only consume 575 watts to get the same effect.

The bigger problem will be the Hz. I haven't a clue what changing the Hz will do so can't comment on that bit.

No. With twice the voltage, twice the current will flow, if you're lucky there will be a bang, unlucky there will be molten plastic too.

The frequency is the least of the problems for a heating element.

paddyrg

forgotmyname wrote: »

To run that reliably you want a transformer capable of handling at least 1500watts.

Be aware they're expensive and inefficient, so will draw more than 1500W.

Frankly I'd look at getting another machine.

paddyrg

For anyone wanting to get their head around this all, here's a quick plumbing analogy for you.

Think of voltage as water pressure, and the width of a hosepipe as the resistance of the system. The higher the water pressure, the faster the water flow (similar to current, or amperage). The amount of water you get in a minute depends on the diameter of the pipe for a fixed pressure.

Now assuming the pipe is built for a low pressure system (nice and wide), but you put high pressure water down it, you'll get faster water than you want.

If the water flows too fast (really stretching the analogy here, but bear with me), the connector from the tap to the hosepipe can fail. That's kinda what would happen if the coffee machine was plugged in to our higher voltage (pressure) system. Messy.

That's either enlightened or confused everyone

mttylad

Look on ebay for 110v transformer, there are plenty like the yellow one linked to above.

Change the plug on the coffee machine or use a suitably marked up extension and put the transformer in a cupboard below and it should be OK.

However - can you get the coffee pods here too? It may just be better to get another machine.

closed

a lot of trouble for a cup of coffee