Ch!lledBudwei2e
New member
OK im going to order the PC in the next few days, would it be a a idea to ship the extensions with my order to keep cost down? I can then either send them all out individual or bulk post to who ever is in charge?
UK Question
- Thread starter Spook
- Start date
imported_vindaloo
New member
I believe it will be better to keep the weight down on your order as cost goes up dramtaically with more weight. Then you still have to pay postage at the UK end. The extensions are better sent out individually IMHO. Anyway I'm sure David knows what he's doing.
imported_pugoman
New member
Agree with vindaloo... If everyone's extension cords are shipped with your PC, this will put up the value and weight of your parcel, thus increasing the amount of duty/vat you may have to pay once it arrives in the UK, which we will all have to share the cost of on top of the cost of the extension cord. If they all get sent out separately, each package will have a low value, thus not attract our friends at C&E.
But nice thought all the same!
But nice thought all the same!
whilst going through the same pain re: transformers etc. I found this from a company over in the US link to convertor/transformer
Take a look at the Electrikit - 1040002F (3rd one down). Seems to me to be a more compact alternative to those great big yellow "site-grade" transformers weve all been linking to ??
cheers
will
Take a look at the Electrikit - 1040002F (3rd one down). Seems to me to be a more compact alternative to those great big yellow "site-grade" transformers weve all been linking to ??
cheers
will
imported_vindaloo
New member
I'm no electrical genius but I can't see that working
Alex Creasey
New member
It won't make any difference for us in the UK as it's a US domestic product and not for sale generally in the UK, even though it is in the Professional cataulogue.
Cheers
.
imported_vindaloo
New member
It says nothing about converting 50HZ to 60HZ & if all we need is this weedy little thing why do they make such large step-down transformers & if it was possible then you could adapt all 110V building site equipment with a simple little widget. I'm not convinced.
ok - here's my (rather crude) logic for my reasoning behind posting that transformer/convertor information.
the tech information on the PC states:
120 VAC, 50-60 HZ/120 VDC
3.7 amps
so, to deduce the voltage convertor needed find the total watts drawn by the tool:
voltage x current = wattage, therefore:
120 x 3.7 = 444 watts
So we need at a minimum, a 500w transformer/convertor.
The Dual Watt Converter (in the link), in high settting, is rated at 26-2000watts - thus technically well capable of handling the PC.
Can someone tell me where my logic is failing here ? Im only looking at this as I dont seem to understand why I need an industrial transformer.
cheers
will
the tech information on the PC states:
120 VAC, 50-60 HZ/120 VDC
3.7 amps
so, to deduce the voltage convertor needed find the total watts drawn by the tool:
voltage x current = wattage, therefore:
120 x 3.7 = 444 watts
So we need at a minimum, a 500w transformer/convertor.
The Dual Watt Converter (in the link), in high settting, is rated at 26-2000watts - thus technically well capable of handling the PC.
Can someone tell me where my logic is failing here ? Im only looking at this as I dont seem to understand why I need an industrial transformer.
cheers
will
imported_vindaloo
New member
Why do they make the larger transformers then as they seem to be superfluous if your logic is correct?
I was recommended a 1000watt tranny for the PC as 500watts doesn't have enough heardroom.
I was recommended a 1000watt tranny for the PC as 500watts doesn't have enough heardroom.
Lowejackson
New member
I cannot fault the logic and at 29 pounds, it is as cheap as chips. I suspect the higher wattage would be related to the amps pulled during the switch on phase when it is probably a lot more than 3.7 amps. I also read somewhere that most converters are designed to run between 60 & 75% only for continuous periods so the choice of a 1000w supply is a lot safer than a 500w.
Well Im just talking about the requirements for the PC. There are thousands of other usages for "industrial" sized transformers which come with dual sockets in order to run two tools at once (load in parallel) and over 3KVA of load potential. Many tools have more load requirement than the PC.
The transformer I showed in the link has a max load of 2KVA. Hardly weedy !
Considering I will at most, be running the PC continuously for 30mins at any time, I still fail to see a reason to buy an industrial sized transformer.
I posed the same question to CoastalTools earlier today, along with the link to the transformer in mind, and got a reply from Todd stating that the transformer in question would be fine for use with the PC.
As far as I can see, this transformer, combined with an american style extension cable seems to be all that would be required. :xyxthumbs
Lowejackson
New member
Time to order a PC!
Good research on the transformer.
Dont overlook buying a PC from Autopia.
Good research on the transformer.
Dont overlook buying a PC from Autopia.
okay, so if Im remembering my phsyics were talking about "paper amps" (saftey margins). Ok, hypothetically, lets say that for a split second, on startup, the PC draws TWICE the amount of watts that its rated for:
nominal = 444w
brief startup draw = 888w
So the math is 888/120 = 7.4 amps (double the 3.7amp nominal rating)
So the extension cable needs to be able to handle 7.4amps - well I cant think of a cable that doesnt. Plus, as were safe, weve put a circuit breaker on the extenstion, so the PC is never going to get hurt - and more importantly neither are we
What more is there to figure out ?
**Update**
Ok, I got the plug/converter that I linked to a few posts up. Took about 4-5 days to ship (distributor is in holland iirc).
Plugged it into the wall, plugged the PC into it, looked up at the sky saying a few "hail marys" and switched the PC on
It worked :bounce
the convertor comes in a pouch with several plug ends so that you can plug your appliance into it wherever you are in the world- so it will come in handy for holidays as well
hope it doesnt rain tomorrow :xyxthumbs
will
Ok, I got the plug/converter that I linked to a few posts up. Took about 4-5 days to ship (distributor is in holland iirc).
Plugged it into the wall, plugged the PC into it, looked up at the sky saying a few "hail marys" and switched the PC on
It worked :bounce
the convertor comes in a pouch with several plug ends so that you can plug your appliance into it wherever you are in the world- so it will come in handy for holidays as well
hope it doesnt rain tomorrow :xyxthumbs
will
Lowejackson
New member
Excellent news :xyxthumbs
That's an excellent find UK-will, I think I'm going to put my order in as well, bought my PC last month in the U.S. I've been waiting a while to buy the transformer due to cost.
Can anyone answer this: I also bought a U.S. 110 volt extension lead, and it has a 3rd prong for earth. Looking at the transformer from Sharper Image it has a socket for only two prongs. Therefore is it okay for me to remove the 3rd prong from the extension lead with pliers so I can plug it into the transformer? Also the PC doesn't use earth, so does it matter much?
Can anyone answer this: I also bought a U.S. 110 volt extension lead, and it has a 3rd prong for earth. Looking at the transformer from Sharper Image it has a socket for only two prongs. Therefore is it okay for me to remove the 3rd prong from the extension lead with pliers so I can plug it into the transformer? Also the PC doesn't use earth, so does it matter much?
uk-will said:**Update**
Ok, I got the plug/converter that I linked to a few posts up. Took about 4-5 days to ship (distributor is in holland iirc).
Plugged it into the wall, plugged the PC into it, looked up at the sky saying a few "hail marys" and switched the PC on
It worked :bounce
the convertor comes in a pouch with several plug ends so that you can plug your appliance into it wherever you are in the world- so it will come in handy for holidays as well
hope it doesnt rain tomorrow :xyxthumbs
will
hmm I know this isnt exactly answering the question, but I just went to B&Q and bought a standard 25M Extenstion Reel which had a circuit breaker attached, for £15. It has 2 UK sockets on the centre of the reel.
I plug the attached circuit breaker into the main wall socket, run the extension out to the car, and plug the convertor into one of the two sockets on the centre of the reel, and the PC into the converter. Job done
Like you said, the pc is a 2-pin device anyhow, so you could remove the 3rd prong if you wished.
cheers
will
Unless anyone else says otherwise I'm just going to pull off the earth prong on my extension lead.
I just placed my order for the dual watt converter. Anyway hope you do a full detail before I do, then you can let us know if anything goes pop!
Derek
I just placed my order for the dual watt converter. Anyway hope you do a full detail before I do, then you can let us know if anything goes pop!
Derek
uk-will said:hmm I know this isnt exactly answering the question, but I just went to B&Q and bought a standard 25M Extenstion Reel which had a circuit breaker attached, for £15. It has 2 UK sockets on the centre of the reel.
I plug the attached circuit breaker into the main wall socket, run the extension out to the car, and plug the convertor into one of the two sockets on the centre of the reel, and the PC into the converter. Job done
Like you said, the pc is a 2-pin device anyhow, so you could remove the 3rd prong if you wished.
cheers
will