is it safe to change 110v plug from a power tool to a standard 230v plug?
August 27th, 2007 | by admin |ANGEL ICE asked:
i have a power tool it has a 110v 3 pin BAYONET PLUG at the end of it. would it be safe to take the bayonet plug off and exchange it for a standard uk 230v plug.
will it blow up, would it damage the tool or anything.
Question posted courtesy of: Dennis
i have a power tool it has a 110v 3 pin BAYONET PLUG at the end of it. would it be safe to take the bayonet plug off and exchange it for a standard uk 230v plug.
will it blow up, would it damage the tool or anything.
Question posted courtesy of: Dennis
12 Responses to “is it safe to change 110v plug from a power tool to a standard 230v plug?”
By penningtonuk2000 on Aug 28, 2007 | Reply
no do not did it
By Starlight on Aug 29, 2007 | Reply
No its not,!! check your tool if it can handle 230 V, if not you need a transformator
By usaf.primebeef on Aug 31, 2007 | Reply
You CAN NOT run a 110 volt tool on a 230 volt circuit. At first the tool will run very fast, but within a few seconds you’ll have smoke coming from the tool, which is from the windings burning up.
By Bandit600 on Sep 2, 2007 | Reply
NO. It isn’t safe. Unless you like the smell of burning plastic. Ever wondered why the plugs were so completely different?
By torskie on Sep 5, 2007 | Reply
Unless it supports dual voltage, like some computer do, it will overpower the tool and likey burn up the motor
By dinkydoo on Sep 5, 2007 | Reply
Take note of usaf’s answer-He’s spot on
By Just Me on Sep 6, 2007 | Reply
Of course it’s safe……. but just make sure the socket is on first. You can do this by licking the ends of you fingers and sticking them in the three holes of the socket!
By jayktee96 on Sep 10, 2007 | Reply
I really can’t believe that you actually asked that question, why the hell do you think its got a 110volt plug on it and a different shape from a normal one? It’s so that you cant plug it in to the wrong voltage and fry the tool and maybe yourself at the same time. No wonder they brought out Part P for wiring!
By Mike10613 on Sep 13, 2007 | Reply
It works on 110 volts - put 230 volts through it and you will se a big flash and bang at the very least.It will probably explode and catch fire too - very dangerous.
By Gary B on Sep 13, 2007 | Reply
You can buy 110v or 240v tools readily at most powertool reputable traders. The reason is safety in an extremely hard to control environment like a building site. Builders dont carry around 40lb of transformers for their muscles.
So if they wouldn’t change the plug, it must be for a good reason.
Changing voltage will also affect current, burning out your tool, and could cause electrical shock or burns.
By Digital Audio Video Servicing on Sep 15, 2007 | Reply
Being from Canada, I can tell you unequivocally: NO.
Power tools… like a circular saw or hammer drills or table saws… max out the mains capabilities current wise, being at 117v/ 15amps.
That is the maximum. (unless you up the wiring and then you have 20 amps to work with)
now Power= voltage times current…
p=117 X 15
p=1755watts.
ohm’s law is voltage = current X resistance
Ohm’s law is resistance = voltage / current
current = voltage / resistance.
resistance = 7.8 ohms
at 230v, current = 29.5 amps!
the power tools will have a maximum power rating, thus if you double the mains supply voltage you double the current it will try to use.
p=230 X 29.5
p=6782 watts!!!
doubling both voltage and current quadruples power.
and since the wiring inside the motor is able to dissipate the heat effectively only up to 1755watts, it gets too hot and melts the fine(or not so fine) copper windings within the armature and you smell the varnish being burned off. The same problem, but opposite results can be true of UK tools being used in 117v applications, although the tool can handle the voltage, due to insufficient current, the tool will rotate slowly, if at all. due to one quarter the power.
By Chariotmender on Sep 17, 2007 | Reply
No you can’t do that. 110V is a safety requirement on building sites. Go to a DIY store or Power Tool Merchants and buy a 230V>110 transformer. That is what they are for. They look like a yellow box, twice the size of a biscuit tin.