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Transformer for US Kitchen Appliance

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  • 04-01-2017 1:32pm
    #1
    Quin_Dub
    Moderators, Politics Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators Posts: 15,645 Mod ✭✭✭✭


    Hi,

    Looking for some advice please.

    Some US friends just bought us a lovely KitchenAid stand mixer.

    However as they purchased it in the US it's a 110v unit (350watt)

    Some quick research online is giving me mixed info.. Some suggest that you can simply buy a transformer but others say that the unit will overheat and damage the motor.

    Is is just a matter of getting the 'right' transformer with sufficient power to provide the correct volts/amps/wattage or should I just look to return the unit and get a UK/IE version?

    Thanks in advance..

    Mods - Please feel free to move this post of it's in the wrong place.


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    #2
    coylemj
    Registered Users Posts: 25,461 ✭✭✭✭coylemj


    Those transformers are available to buy - you need to make sure that the wattage is more than 350W so maybe go for a 500W model. Specs' may mention 'VA' - more less the same as watts.


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    #3
    Quin_Dub
    Moderators, Politics Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators Posts: 15,645 Mod ✭✭✭✭Quin_Dub


    coylemj wrote: »
    Those transformers are available to buy - you need to make sure that the wattage is more than 350W so maybe go for a 500W model. Specs' may mention 'VA' - more less the same as watts.

    Thanks, so as long as I buy an appropriately rated transformer there shouldn't be any problem?


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    #4
    Steve
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Entertainment Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 22,584 CMod ✭✭✭✭Steve


    If you have the option to return / exchange it for a EU spec one then I'd consider that before buying a transformer.

    US domestic is 100-120V AC / 60Hz, but it's also CTE which means its never more than 60V above earth and the appliances don't need as much insulation / shock protection as EU spec.

    The 60Hz (US) vs 50Hz (here) also means it will run at a slower speed and will possibly consume slightly more power than it is rated for - I don't think it would be an issue but that's where the 'overheating' issue stems from.


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    #5
    adrian92
    Registered Users Posts: 566 ✭✭✭adrian92


    I concur that if you want to use this item you need a 500 VA transformer (230 volt to 110 volt)

    You can source such a transformer on the net


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    #6
    Quin_Dub
    Moderators, Politics Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators Posts: 15,645 Mod ✭✭✭✭Quin_Dub


    adrian92 wrote: »
    I concur that if you want to use this item you need a 500 VA transformer (230 volt to 110 volt)

    You can source such a transformer on the net

    Thanks.. I've seen a few online with ratings of 500,750 and 1000 VA.

    If I go for a 750 rated unit, which costs about €60 on Amazon that should give me plenty of buffer right..

    I assume that having an even higher rated unit would further reduce the load on everything?


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    #7
    2011
    Moderators, Home & Garden Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators, Regional East Moderators Posts: 12,595 Mod ✭✭✭✭2011


    Steve wrote: »
    If you have the option to return / exchange it for a EU spec one then I'd consider that before buying a transformer.

    + 1
    US domestic is 100-120V AC / 60Hz, but it's also CTE which means its never more than 60V above earth and the appliances don't need as much insulation / shock protection as EU spec.

    Most of the 110V transformers are center tapped so not an issue, certainly all 110V site transformers are. I can't see insulation being reduced just because the supply is from a center tapped transformer. I would expect the insulation to be > 1 mega ohms at 1 kV.


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    #8
    Quin_Dub
    Moderators, Politics Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators Posts: 15,645 Mod ✭✭✭✭Quin_Dub


    Thanks for all the input..

    It looks like return/swap isn't really a viable option so the transformer route looks like my choice.

    Based on what I get from the comments and from some more extensive online research it would seem that the best option is to go for the biggest transformer I can get to minimise the load on the motor etc.

    The unit is rated at 325w max (misspoke earlier) and based on research the guidance seems to be to get a transformer that would be at no more than ~60℅ capacity when the unit is running full power..

    That would suggest that 500VA would be the minimum level but moving up to a 750 or 1000VA device seems to make sense to me.

    They look to cost around €80 delivered via Amazon..

    As I got the mixer as a gift, spending that much seems to be worth it I think...


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    #9
    Bruthal
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,422 ✭✭✭✭Bruthal


    Quin_Dub wrote: »
    Thanks for all the input..

    It looks like return/swap isn't really a viable option so the transformer route looks like my choice.

    Based on what I get from the comments and from some more extensive online research it would seem that the best option is to go for the biggest transformer I can get to minimise the load on the motor etc.

    The unit is rated at 325w max (misspoke earlier) and based on research the guidance seems to be to get a transformer that would be at no more than ~60℅ capacity when the unit is running full power..

    That would suggest that 500VA would be the minimum level but moving up to a 750 or 1000VA device seems to make sense to me.

    They look to cost around €80 delivered via Amazon..

    As I got the mixer as a gift, spending that much seems to be worth it I think...
    500va should be enough unless you think the mixer is going to be running for long periods continuous. 750 is more than enough even at that level of use.


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    #10
    coylemj
    Registered Users Posts: 25,461 ✭✭✭✭coylemj


    Bruthal wrote: »
    500va should be enough unless you think the mixer is going to be running for long periods continuous. 750 is more than enough even at that level of use.

    +1 consuming 325W (OP's revised rating) would represent only 65% of the capacity of a 500W transformer so would be perfectly fine. You'd hardly ever run a KitchenAid or any food mixer at full speed for more than a minute.


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