220 120 volt transformer

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Rufinus

Joined Apr 29, 2020
239
Hello. I got a vacuum pump from USA. I'm going to use it in Spain. It said can work 60 or 50 hz so the only difference is the voltage. So can I use it using a step down transformer from 220 to 120 volts?

It is 1/ HP

Thank you
 
Last edited:

Janis59

Joined Aug 21, 2017
1,834
Rather sure, if feed from 120V 50 Hz it will be mush more heating-up than fed by 60 Hz 120 V. I wold guess You ought use the 50/60*120=100 Volts from 50 Hz thus the motor power will become 1.44x smaller, thus probably insufficient. May make an experiment. Switch that motor on 120V 50 Hz, but measure the current. As far the current arent overstepped that speciefied on the panel, You are in the safe side. Sometimes may happen that motor producer provided surplus turns into coils them be universal. Most of cheap motors are not like that, thus the most of US machines We cannot use in Europe in-spite of any best transformer existence.
 

Ian0

Joined Aug 7, 2020
9,667
An autotransformer should only be used if the motor has insulation rated for 230V, because it cannot be guaranteed that live and neutral will not be reveresed.
 

Reloadron

Joined Jan 15, 2015
7,501
Hello. I got a vacuum pump from USA. I'm going to use it in Spain. It said can work 60 or 50 hz so the only difference is the voltage. So can I use it using a step down transformer from 220 to 120 volts?

It is 1/ HP

Thank you
Here you mention 1.0 HP.

Thank for your answer. Sorry I forgot to tell the power. It is 1/2 HP.
Then you mention 1/2 HP? Which is it?

I lived in Italy for several years. I got a great deal on a US Specification refrigerator (20 cubic foot) from a Navy family who was leaving. 240 / 120 VAC transformers were plentiful anywhere around a US facility. While the refrigerator was designed for 60 Hz it ran fine for 3 years on 50Hz. If you have a 1.0 HP vacuum pump a 1.0 KW transformer will work fine and if a 1/2 HP vacuum pump motor a 500 W transformer will work fine. In Spain anywhere around Rota transformers like this should be plentiful including used ones at inexpensive cost. A new 1 KW converter you are looking at about 81 Euros.

Ron
 
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