Thread: Small portable transformer to convert 220 v 50hz to 110 v 60hz

What are some high quality transformers, the smaller the better, that will convert 220 v 50hz to 110 v 60hz ?
This is to run power hand tools like rotary hammer drills, handheld grinders , reciprocating saw etc..

Need it to be as light and portable as possible so that it can packed in suitcase for international travel.

A transformer alone will not do that........

You need a bit of electronics (or a lot of spinning iron and copper) to convert frequency...

Most hand tools will not care if fed 50 or 60 hz. (at proper voltage, give or take a few volts)

Spent a few years in Germany running a few 110 v 60hz hand tools off of an old 220 to 110 transformer, worked fine... just ran a bit slower.

As to being light and portable, the transformer was not..

Sometimes it is cheaper to just buy needed power hand tools at job...

Reminds me of a trip to France with some friends.. They packed Pork and Beans and such.... I bought local French Baugettes, Wine, Cheese, instead of eating their US Pork and Beans...... (French version has more Pork )

I think they thought they would starve in Europe... Just go to (foreign) hardware store, and pick up what you need...

Something like this will work:

Power Bright Voltage Transformer 1500 Watt Step Up/Down 110 Volt - 220 Volt | eBay

Most of the hand tools are series wound motors and will work on DC. Not sure about the variable speed types. Most portable DC welders had a DC output so hand tools like grinders would work. Check your tools and see if they will run on DC if so a DC supply is about the easiest to make!

Frank

Power rating is going to be the key here. If your tools must operate more than one at a time or draw more than 300 watts you are looking at a transformer weighing upwards of 10#. The
3 KW transformer referenced above likely will be 25-35#, lighter if overrated, as it probably is, heavier if rated for continuous output at rated wattage. You would also have to look at the plug
and have adapters depending on where you go, there is only partial standardization in Europe and occasionally you run into older setups (like 2 prong plugs in older houses in US).
If 12V batteries are accessible an inverter would be significantly lighter for the same power rating.

Originally Posted by Spud

What are some high quality transformers, the smaller the better, that will convert 220 v 50hz to 110 v 60hz ?
This is to run power hand tools like rotary hammer drills, handheld grinders , reciprocating saw etc..

Need it to be as light and portable as possible so that it can packed in suitcase for international travel.

You may wish to re-think that whole equation.

A) NAFTA - or at least the US-Canadian border aside, crossing borders many places with significant technical tools WITH you nearly always flags one as 'must have business Visa'. Even 'must have work permit'. A virtual impossibility for Indonesia, to name one. Other times you will need to execute a Carnet and pay the fees ELSE pay full import duty (Switzerland and computer server components).

Tourist status and "visa-not-required for 'X' days" can go right off the menu.

B) Power tools and electric motors specifically, were, at one time 'contraband' for an individual traveler to even enter Mexico with. I needed an exemption for the equipment used in the election campaign of one Jose Lopez Portillo. As he was sitting Minister of the Interior prior to becoming President, that one was easy. Getting a Koumintang functionary on the line for a post 10 PM arrival when hung-up at Taipei was harder, even with the national telco as client, and their emergency, not mine.

Check the countries you plan to work in or even 'transit'.

Unless you are a NAFTA national IN NAFTA, or an EC citizen IN the EC, it is usually better to 'carry' only your skill, then use some combination of:

1) Have the host source the tools. Bought, borrowed, or rented. They will work fine with local power.

2) Rent them yourself, locally. Ditto.

3) BUY them locally, perhaps leaving them on-site, perhaps selling-on locally, or even making a gift.

4) HIRE local technicians or import them. For Brunei, one flies in Japanese technicians. The locals don't really work. They don't have to. But Jabatan TeleKom had plenty of money, and the Sultan wanted - and got - only the best.

For my travels, I normally got away with no more than one Fluke Scopemeter, a small Leatherman, and a stouter SOG tool. All else was sourced locally, and the Leatherman and SOG were left each trip as gifts.

YMMV, but do check in advance.

Whatever folks have 'had no problem with' for years and years .. and if you wait two minutes, they will be posted right here .... 'trust me'..

.... can rise up when you are lest prepared and put a serious hurt on your blood-pressure, your schedule, your cash, or even your personal freedom.

I've more than once been called on to pull the strings to get someone less aware out of custody.

If he hadn't pissed-me-off, I even did it same-day. Sometimes it didn't work anyway.

Their country. Their law. And wotever 'randomness' happens to smile or frown on a given trip.

Bill