Running A 220v Euro-Washer with at 110v-220v Step-Up Converter?

[launderess]

Friends of ours are moving from Germany to the United States are are considering what must be replaced versus what can come over appliance wise. Someone told them it is possible to run a 220v Euro washer by using a step-up/step-down converter. FWIU this is impossible as the cycles are different (50hz in Germany vs 60hz in the US)and usually the neutral of German plugs requires not just a straight 220v power.

The building they are moving into does not have 220v serivce in apartments nor will permission be granted to upgrade the electrical system/install a 220v connection. As their company is paying for the relocation they would pay nothing to bring over their appliances, and would rather keep their current washer.

Thoughts?

 

[jetcone]

Oh yeah thoughts

Last year I was talking with the Engineers at Siemens in Germany about importing a NEF Induction Cooktop. They sent me a very nice video of the manufacturing process but told me it would never work over here due to our 60 cycle electrics. Anything built for the EU market today with electronics is very fussy about the cycle duty of the supply.

All the timers on the cooktop would be thrown off or not work at all they said. You would need a power converter that is called a cycloconverter and they cost $$$$ not to mention current configurations on the market today are the size of double door refrigerators!

My question is this: How do the Asians make thier components either 50 or 60 cycle compatible and why can't they be made to switch over to either automatically? Any takers?

Jet

 

[Designgeek]

One way to do the conversion is to turn your 120 vAC into DC, for example 12 volts DC at high current levels, as would be produced by a set of household photovoltaic (solar) panels. Then use a standard solar "inverter" that converts the DC back into AC, but instead of using a USA inverter for 60 Hz., use a European model that produces 50 Hz.

How practical this is depends on the current draw of the load, i.e. probably not practical for a stove or anything else with a heating element (high current load).

Also possibly a source of trouble where microprocessors are involved, since most inverters don't produce a pure sine wave but something more like a stepped wave that's made out of square waves. This I know from having dealt with the "PBX repair problem from Hell" where the client was on photovoltaics and the waveform seems to have screwed up the phone system.

 

[kenmore1978]

conversion

I imagine a lot depends on whether the controls are a standard timer or electronic. Standard mechanical timer would just run a little faster, as would the drive motor. If it has electronic controls, then there can be a problem, though, as was pointed out, I see a lot of electronic stuff that run off either 220/110 volts and 50/60 cycle, it just "knows" what's in use and adjusts accordingly, only thing you ahve to do is supply the correct adapter plug on the end of the cord. The power supply to my IBM laptop is that way. No changeover switches or anything.

 

[launderess]

Thanks for your input guys, think I'll advise them to buy a Miele here. FWIU lots of Europeans being transfered to the States buy "German" units here, only to have to sell them when they return. German appliances such as Miele that are sold in North America are 60hz so won't work with Europe's 50hz power supply.

Just for the record, have an ironer from Germany, which runs on 220v/50 hz, and it works fine. My guess is since the only moving part is the roller, the motor is not that affected by the change. This baby pulls 3.1 KW of power though!

L.