Posted Thu Oct 4, 2007, 12:15pm Subject: 110V machine for a 220v country
My relative recently moved to Hong Kong and the voltage there is 220v (like in Europe) but she didn't want to part with her beloved espresso machine she bought here so what is the best way to use her machine and not burn it?
Woody Senior Member Joined: 26 Jan 2004 Posts: 484 Location: Hood River, OR Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: La Spaziale Vivaldi I Grinder: Mazzer SJ Vac Pot: Hoover Drip: yuck Roaster: SC/GG
Posted Thu Oct 4, 2007, 3:10pm Subject: Re: 110V machine for a 220v country
If the power there is in fact like Europe, I don't think she can simply rewire the plug or outlet. She might look at buying a converter to plug her machine into, but it would have to have the proper load rating. She should ask a knowledgable electrician there.
alsterling Senior Member Joined: 28 Dec 2005 Posts: 672 Location: Dana Point, CA Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: La Spaziale S1 (Had Expo) Grinder: Macap M4 & Gaggia MDF Vac Pot: Not yet... Drip: Capresso MT-500 & Melitta... Roaster: Hottop Digital
Posted Thu Oct 4, 2007, 6:34pm Subject: Re: 110V machine for a 220v country
I hope this info illuminates this issue. The info is worth remembering for other items that you move from one power standard to another. I've seen this question on the forum before; regarding the matching of available power to various espresso related machines. Don't mean to sound professorial, but here goes..........by the way, you never gave the machine make and model? My comments may be overkill, but this is an electrical issue, which can also become a safety issue if you don't deal with it a bit more seriously.
Hong Kong power is 220 VAC @ 50 cycle (number of times the power changes polarity per second). US standard is 110vac and 220vac, 60 cycle, single phase for residential. In US homes you also have a nuetral or center line on a 3 wire 220 line. By pulling power from the center and one of the legs, you've usually got a minimum 20 amp 110vac line to run something like a La Spaziale S1 in the mode that allows the brewing and steaming boilers to run concurrent. Unfortunately, and maybe you know this by now, this is not an issue of simply "transformer or electrician."
I suggest someone simply contact the manufacturer or a qualified warranty repair station for the item in question and find out what power options are available, if any, for the specific model. The high tech, low power consuming digital electronics in todays devices, like controllers, clocks and such, sometimes have a power interface that internally converts/massages/changes various incoming power types. But more conventional-traditional electro-mechanical components in something like an espresso machine may not be so forgiving, primarily because they are looking for way more energy to do their job; usually involving a heater or motor driven device. Even when voltages are the same, if there's a "time related component" that's built for a specific frequency, (50 cycles or 60 cycles per second), clocks and other similar timing devices will not operate properly. That's why you see so many machines that are "built to the European or US or whatever standard. Sure, you can get power converters/adapters for both voltage and frequency, but at 1.5 to 2 kilowatts (although we don't know the specific machine) your relative might be better off selling what they have and buying the right machine for the power standard available! The electrician should be contacted "after" the manufacturer or qualified machine tech explains the power options.
Posted Thu Oct 4, 2007, 6:38pm Subject: Re: 110V machine for a 220v country
The cheap way: search step down transformer on ebay and buy at one with a rating of at least 50% over the wattage of the heating on the 110 v espresso unit plus three times the grinders wattage. costs shipped to the US could be as little as about $70 for a 1500 watt unit. If you can get one out of singapore all the better (Do they Ebay there, or have a low-rent electronics district?) Does she have a honking 400 watt mazzer or a little Nemox lux. covering the start up surge on a big motor costs $$$
The expensive way: buy an american made unit at 50% over the wattage.....
Posted Thu Oct 4, 2007, 7:14pm Subject: Re: 110V machine for a 220v country
Thanks for all the great information! It sounds pretty complicated and I think contacting the manufacturer first is a good idea and if they say using a step down transformer would not hurt the machine, then that would be the simplest and cheapest way to go.
She has the Rocky grinder and altho there's ebay in Hong Kong, it's not popular like in the US so it's pretty useless.
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