220V to 110V Conversion

You may Do you have a 3 wire service or a 2 wire service to the house. In the US the service is 3 wire. you have 120 volts between each of the hot conductors and the neutral and 240 volts between the 2 hot conductors. I do not know what the norm is for your location.

Your problem would be current. If you cut the voltage in half, your wire size will be too small in most cases. I = P/E. Usually not a problem with light but could be with motor loads. Of course your refrigerator and a/c unit, etc. would have to be rated for 110 volts (not going to work on 220v)

there are step down transformrs with different wattages with different input plugs and with 120 v output plugs available easily on the inteernet and they are not expensive, Choose the circuit breakers that you would use for your apliances and feed the 120 v output to them and you are all set. Only exception is using a microwave oven because of thee frequency difference in the US and other countries. All other things would work fine. While choosing a transformer look for ones with automatic shut off regulators for over/under voltage stabilizers.

Good luck

vshwn7@aol.com

t

Guest,

Only exception is using a microwave oven because of thee frequency difference in the US and other countries.

Explain please

Jon

Not a good idea really.

The big basic difference between the 220 volt system and the 110 volt system is the current carrying capacity of the wiring.

In other words, houses wired for 110volt appliances have twice the current to carry and the wires are all rated as such.

In a 220volt house, all the wiring is only carrying half as much current and is also rated as such.

Unless you want to risk your wiring overheating and potentially causing a fire which burns your house down and more than likely invalidates your house insurance?

My recommendation, sell your appliances in the US and buy a new set when you retire in the Philippines.

Ron,

Most of my small appliances can be used on 115V and 230V 50 and 60 cycles because we travel. Some have an input Voltage select switch.

The larger 230V appliances typically can't be used unless you can find a way to provide 115V for the control circuits.

As you know the power in homes in that area is 230V 60 Hz and you would have to get the power people to install a step down transformer like the ones we use for the center tapped 230V that we use in America and have your house electrical system made to comply with the codes for the higher current and service load balancing on the split system.

An advantage of having a 115V electrical system and single voltage appliances there is that your neighbors would be dissapointed when they take your stuff when you are out for a stroll and plug it in at their home and see it smoke.

Jon

Regards.

The cheapest solution is a Step-down Auto-Transformer.

Warning

But be very careful not to forget to change-over your gadgets; switched to 110V; back to 220V settings.

Haajee?

How much would a 20kW 230 to 115Vac 60 Hz stepdown Auto-Transformer cost?

An Isolation transformer is preferred for transforming high voltage to household Voltage.

The power company doesn't charge for the transformers that provide our homes with electricity. However they may charge him something for the non standard installation

"careful not to forget to change-over your gadgets; switched to 110V; back to 220V settings. of the HV to 230V center tapped transformer.

Why would there be a need to switch them to since they are already 115V and the home will be 115V?

I don't use the switchable ones when I travel. The ones I use are designed to provide the proper output for an input from 100V to 240V. The places I stay in 230V countries have 115V in the bathrooms. If not a local store usually has what I need.

Jon

Regards.

In Pakistan well assembled one may cost not more than 20,000 Pak Ruppes

[ 80 Pak Rupees = 1 $ ]

In your country i can't say.

Ron,

I dont think that this would be a good idea, there is several reasons for why I say this:

1. Depending on your load demand you could need up to a 10 kW transformer.

2. The Philippines I belive is 50Hz most probally your appilances having motors were for 60Hz Systems, they would run slightly hotter when run at 50Hz and slightly slower.

3. Service, repair and testing and replacment parts would be difficult to source in the Philippines.

4. Light bulb replacment, you probally find 110 v light bulbs hard to find in the supermarket.

5. All appilance outlets will have to be rewired, along with replacment of the switch board to cater for the higher currents.

6. I dont suppose you would need hot water over there? I have never had a hot shower over there, but you may require hot water for washing and would need to replace the element.

7. I suppose you will have an electric stove, this would also be 110v, again difficult to find spares.

8. The power outlets would also have to be changed so that 110 volt appilances cant be pluged into 230 Volt and Visa Versa.

9. I dont think it would be legal, even in the Philippines to have a dual voltage supply.

10. I dont think it is a good idea to enven consider changing over, also dont forget that the colour codes of conductors are different in the Philippines Black in Netural, in the US, I think Black can be Phase and White Netural.

Cheers Joe

Joe,

The standard voltage of electricity used by most business centers and residents in the Philippines is 220 Volts AC, 60 cycles. There is no Neutral in 220Volt service.

They use the same type of wall outlets that are used in the US. Most are the two prongers though. You may also find the type used in France and Germany in some places.

The power company would have to provide the approved equipment to provide the split 220 to the home and an electrical contractor would provide for the 110V Neutral and ground wire requirements.

A fancy electric stove or clothes dryer operates on 220V except for the 110 Volt control circuits.

No need to rewire the 220Volt service for larger appliances as they make simpler ones in that part of the world that don't need the 110V control circuit because they are manually operated like ours were in the old days.

"I suppose you will have an electric stove, this would also be 110v, again difficult to find spares."

Stoves are 220V. The controls on most American Stoves and Dryers use the 110V to run the automatic functions, timers and clocks.

If he took a US water heater it would still work the same because water heaters are 220Volt.

"The power outlets would also have to be changed so that 110 volt appilances cant be pluged into 220 Volt and Visa Versa."

The small appliances don't need plug adapters because the outlets are the same as ours in the US.

Stoves and Dryers use their own unique 220 Volt outlets.

Washers and refridgerators use the US type of outlets and may need an adapter and separate ground wire to a pipe. The washer would need bigger wire.

The refridgerator may also need larger wire.

The lamps don't have to be changed. They use the same lamp sockets used in the US and are rated for 220V and could use 220V lamps.

Jon

Kudukdweller9,

I go there twice a year and i have realy not thought, about their supply, you may be right. But I have just employed a Phippino today, i will check out what you have said, but it sounds as though you could be right, will respond tomorro.

Cheers Joe

Joe,

Okay.

Jon

Jon

From what i can understand, the system in use over there is single phase 220 volt, 3 phase 400 volt, Most domestic outlets are 2 pin outlets, which makes me wonder if if they use an MEN system over there.

When you say that the 220v service has no Neutral, that would have to mean that it is across 2 phases and would require fusing on both phases, IE 2 fuses per circuit, and if this was true how do they then have 400v between phases?

I think it most likely that they dont have an MEN system, so i wonder what system they are using.

Cheers

Joe

Jon

I refer you to what you said in #10 paragraphs 1,2 and 3, you said there was no neutral on the 220v system. This is why i raised the question about the 2 phases. Please explain change in opinion or have i just misunderstood you.

Cheers

Joe

Joe,

There was a time when the 220V single phase was floating - not grounded. That has changed.

A single distribution transformer in a neighborhood can have a three phase input and three phase Y output - a separate phase of 220V for each of 3 homes. The neutral is the junction of the Y and can be insulated or bare wire and grounded.

It can also be an individual phase input and individual output for one home.

Jon

GA from me.

It would appear that in the Philippines, the system is similar to that used in the outback in Australia, or should I say, when I used to visit Aussie in the 60's and 70's.....

Andy,

Jon

Hi Jon,

may I ask where you are located on this planet exactly? Would it be somewhere where Kangeroos are a native species?

regards

AG

Andy,

My hat hangs in Western Washington.

Jon

...and where do you hang?

Thanks.....I was just wondering......

Andy,

When a person says their hat hangs somewhere it is where they hang too.

Western Washington. (Even though, coincidentaly, my hat was purchased in Australia this spring.)

I have friends in Australia and New Zealand.

Jon

Jon

You now have another friend in New Zealand, Next time you are over look me up.

Cheers Joe

Joe,

Ok will do.

Jon

I had guessed that!!

I was (to use an Americanism) just Funning you.......no more no less...

Does your Aussie hat complain about "hanging around in the good ol' USA?"

G'day Cobber!

Hi Andy,

I can use 220 or 115 V to give my hat an attitude adjustment if it complains.

My hat made from the skin of a "cheeky bull" doesn't seem to mind it here but it has not had a taste of our wet chilly winter yet.

You sound like one from the "OLD" school. Aussies get a laugh when American tourists use slang that has gone by the wayside. No self-respecting Aussie has used that for at least 40 years. You can pick a Yank tourist in Oz 'coz they'll say 'cobber' when they come up to you.

I remember using old terminology as a kid because some of the old folks talked funny having been influenced by my old country ancestors that carried it from Essex England through a few generations of Canadian pioneers that made their way to western Canada and here in western Washington.

I have forgotten most of it as it was like baby talk.

Looking into the slang I find few words or phrases that are unusual.

Jon

Most of my family (around 80%) live and were born (3rd generation) in Australlia. The Eurpoean side is dying out rapidly....

Believe me, in Australia they (my family at least) STILL say G'day.....maybe not Cobber.....

We meet every few years somewhere......

Andy,

Frankfurt is far from Oz!

Jon

Luckily for us, we have long distance aircraft.......

Andy,

With short vacations and travel by ship we would have to turn around as soon as we get somewhere.

Jon

Funnily enough, the village where I actually live is just outside of the photo, by a close shot!!!!

I do believe I did not post the exact Lat and log.......but if you wish, I will up the accuracy for you.

You can actually see the roof of our Caravan in the backyard on Google earth then!!

Cool!

the Philippines is using 220VAC/60Hz

international hotels in the country have 2 types of outlets. one for 110V and also for 220V. so the idea should be workable for a home, with the right tools and methods.

Never seen 110 volt outlets, mind you i have never looked for them, I doubt that they exist!

Been traveling to the Philippines for the last 12 years, up to twice a year, never seen a 110v outlet, if they are availiable then they are not so much as a third world country as we judge them, I will confirm details tomorro.

Cheers Joe

major hotel brands should have them. I'm 100% sure about that - I should know 'cause I'm a Filipino.

for example, please check these out:

• Century Park Hotel
• This article, specifically the paragraph under "Utilities"
  

OP's goal is doable, but whether it is practical, is another question.

Definitely not a good idea. As stated earlier the wire gauge down there is probably less than that used here. To lower the voltage will require a higher amp draw and quite possibly fry more than just a few wires. Hope your insurance will cover it when you burn the place down. (Probably wont). New appliances would be considerably less expensive.

Another option; If you have some gadget thats so extremely important to you that your willing to pay more to ship it than what it would cost to replace it. Buy a generator. "Do not tie it into your new house". Run your special gadget off of that. Just remember to leave the generator outside so you don't asphyxiate.

Crimich13,

A big 220 Volt motor driving a split 230V 60Hz 15 to 20 kW alternator would work.

Not very efficient though.

Probably noisey too.

Jon

A totally pointless and exceedingly expensive (if done correctly) exercise that does not bring any positive results.....

Andy,

If all of his stuff is transported for free and the utility company provides a good deal and parts and labor for refitting the house are excedingly affordable there is some point to it.

Many retired Americans live in the Philippines because it is VERY affordable.

Jon

Lets not forget that the fequency is different and will have a slight effect on rotating machines....

A stepdown Transformer will not change the frequency...

This is not a problem for 90 % of household items, but your machines with motors will have less torque and rotate slower...

Regards

Guest,

The Frequency is the same.

Jon

GA from me.

To the OP:-

In Germany, the US forces personel, when living "Off Base", get supplied with a respectable sized 220 to 110 volt transformer to use some of their private electrical goods, that are unaffected by the reduced frequency.....

.....thats the way to go as bobf correctly said!

Really simple!

You can use a stepdown transformer if the frequency is the same - i.e. 60 Hz vs 50Hz - otherwise use a simple converter.

If you have plenty of money to rewire your house and replace all of the appliances, lights, a/c units, receptacles, etc. By the way, more people are killed by 110 volts every year than any other voltage! Why, the muscles contract and you can't let go!

If you have a big enough transformer(s).