110V Appliances Plugged Into 220V Outlet With Transformer

Consumption of energy depends on its KW or HP and not on voltage at all.

By plugging 110v appliance into 220 v sstem thru transfomer in the only way to run it.

When you do this you are consuming energy for Transformer and the equipt too.

I think the matter is more clear now.

Generally not true. Half the voltage at twice the current is the same watts = the same power = the same energy over time. (The transformer might entail a loss of 2-3%, which is pretty insignificant.)

That's a two sided answer. While you are correct that half the voltage means twice the current you then correctly point out that there will be power loss in the transformer; that will increase electric consumption. Which is what the question was.

So is it quite true that using a transformer will increase your electric bill.

The question then becomes, is 2-3% an acceptable loss? (assuming that this efficiency estimate is correct) If the plan is to either buy a transformer or buy a new appliance then, in the short term, the transformer is probably less expensive than new appliances. How much time passes before buying new appliances is less expensive depends on the price of electricity projected into the future and typical consumption rates. At some point in time there will be a crossover where buying new appliances makes more sense.

Yes it is true as transformer does have energy loss,the efficiency of the transformer is about 80 to 90% depend on transformer and power another word by using transformer you are losing at best 10% power consumption because of the transformer efficiency

Then use a better quality transformer....

Yeah, a 10-20% power dissipation, that transformer will be on fire.

True.

There are losses through the transformer: Resistance of the windings and eddy current losses in the core.

A motor running on 110VAC is less efficient than a motor running on 220VAC. The windings loose less at a higher voltage. Depending on the core, the eddy current losses can also be higher at 110VAC.

It is not just 110v or 220v system. Generally the US and some countries have 110V and 60 Hz system, while in many parts of the world, it is 220V and 50 Hz. In India it is 240V and 50Hz. So Indian transformers are designed to operate at 50 Hz and hence will have lower losses- while a system designed originally for 60 Hz will have higher losses when operated on lower 50 Hz frequency - at same voltage levels. So the refrigerator motor will run hotter !!!!

GA for a great answer.

The losses will usually be less than 10% in total, assuming a transformer that matches the load correctly (could then be around 5%). If it is not well matched, the losses could be even higher....

Many US Military personnel for example, have a large transformer in their quarters for their US compatible products. This transformer even with no load, still takes a reasonable chunk of power just to idle......

As we have no infos as to the relative size of the transformer to the load, it is difficult to be accurate but it is true to say " the amount of power used is higher than if running on 110volts"........

Yes technically it is true. Marginal increase in consumption due to frequency change. US uses 60 cycles, while India uses 50 cycle. You imagine this as a speed.

Also electrical appliances will run slower due to change in the frequency, for example you buy blender 110V and run it using step down transfer in 220V, the speed of the motor will be slow and the blender will not have sufficient speed to grind.

This does not apply to electronics gadgets as they use only DC votls and cycles affect only AC.

Reduced speed is not the only effect. The inductive reactance of the motor coil is directly proportional to the applied frequency. Applying 50 Hz to a motor designed for 60 Hz reduces the reactance by 16.7%. The lower reactance produces higher winding current. Since the copper resistance has not changed, the losses will be higher. And because the losses vary with the SQUARE of the current, the increase will be significant. The motors will run hotter. In the case of the blower fans for both the refrigerator and the air conditioner, the slower rotation will also reduce the available cooling for the motor, making a bad situation even worse.

Although it is possible to run a 60 Hz motor on 50 Hz, it WILL damage the motor in a relatively short period of use.

Although you could be right with your statement:-

Although it is possible to run a 60 Hz motor on 50 Hz, it WILL damage the motor in a relatively short period of use.

There is actually a high chance that you are wrong as many of those small motors are actually marked 50/60Hz and are sold all over!! Obviously voltage must be correct.....

But without actually sighting each motor individually and making sure of that point, I tend to go with your answer on the grounds of safety......but we could therefore BOTH be wrong!!

Generally speaking, a small 50Hz motor will run on 60Hz with as good as no problems whatsoever.....but the reverse is not always completely true....as you correctly pointed out!!!

Efficiency of transformers is very high,>>95%. However, the transformer must be sized appropriately for the load of your appliances. If the transformer is marginal, or undersized you will have a host of problems including risk of fire.

Because you are including an additional load, that of the transformer, into your circuit, therefore you are spending into energy losses in the transformation. in addition to that your equipment is running less efficiently. But you know what? On an appliance like a fridge- never mind. Maybe over two to three years it will cost you the same as to buy a plug and a 240 V Circuit breaker and install them right now...

I think you have gotten allot of good answers here, the only thing I would ad is how converting 220 AC @ 50 HZ to 110 @50 Hz (frequency is not converted) effects rotating equipment.

While sailing in the Caribbean, this was a common problem with many US and Canadian yachts. In some cases the owners would decide to stay in some of the islands like Grenada that had 220 AC 50 HZ, permanently. They were then faced with how this affected machinery and what would be a permanent fix. Due to the high cost off all of this marine equipment attrition was the logical choice for most of these owners. They would run air conditioners and microwave and other equipment with a transformer until they would eventually fail and then replace them with equipment that was designed for 50 HZ and convert the boats electrical systems at this time.

Compressors in A/C and refrigeration systems will run hotter and fail after a year or so. Microwave ovens would also quit as would AC driven water makers and other rotating equipment. (Some equipment will last more or less time depending on the condition and age at the beginning).

Poewr consumed is same weather is is 220v or 110v, so there should not be any difference atall.

Well, now consider that %10 loss over a year...

what you are following is the easy method. It will include loss of transformer (additional power what your friends are worried about)

even if you connect the equipment to 110v there will be a transformer inside the electronic equipments to step down the voltage to electronic voltage level. So you can go for the replacement the adapters got inside the devices. I will be a wise choice while you consider which one is more economic. You can go for this for devices of continues use (like TV). For other devices of short time use follow what you are doing because transformers got good efficiency (above 95%).

For electric equipment(fridge,motor etc..) what you are following is the most suitable one.