Posted Mon Feb 2, 2004, 1:47pm Subject: Rocky and Silvia travel to the Continent
I am wondering if any body can comment on whether and how one would go about converting a North American 120v AC Rocky and Silvia for use in Europe 240V (?)
Posted Mon Feb 2, 2004, 2:55pm Subject: Re: Rocky and Silvia travel to the Continent
I would think a converter plug available at most travel stores should do the trick . I believe these have the necessary converting transformers as part of the unit . Since these work with 1200watt hairdryers they should work fine with your appliance . Hope this was helpful.
Posted Mon Feb 2, 2004, 5:49pm Subject: Re: Rocky and Silvia travel to the Continent
I have to advise caution here. The plug mounted converters which are sold at the travel stores work in one of two ways. For small electronic loads < 50watts they use transformers. For heavy loads they use devices such as triacs in a phase control arraingment. Either they are seperate units or they have a switch to change from the heavy load to the light load.
The small transformer will not be sufficient for the motor in the Rocky or for the heater in the Silvia. I don't think the the motor in the Rocky or the solonoid valves and pump in Silvia will do real well with the non-sinosidal waveform from the phase control adapter.
The cleanest approach will be to get a transformer which will handle more than 800 watts.
They are available. They are however expensive and large.
Phil
wahoo3 Said:
I would think a converter plug available at most travel stores should do the trick . I believe these have the necessary converting transformers as part of the unit . Since these work with 1200watt hairdryers they should work fine with your appliance . Hope this was helpful.
I lived overseas for a few years and brought some small U.S. appliances over. I bought a 1500W transformer (coffeemaker, waffle iron, iron, vacuum), a couple 300W's (stereo, CD player), and some odd-and-ends smaller ones (radios, boom box, electric razor). The big hulking 1500W transformer would get really hot under load and the vacuum would sometimes blow the transformer's internal fuse. I shopped around and found the big boy for around $60. In retrospect, I can't say that the 1500W transformer was worth the trouble.
If you do bring a bunch of transformers, you'll have no trouble reselling them to incoming expats before you leave. You may find it easier and less expensive to buy used stuff from outgoing expats when you arrive. There are magazine and newpaper sections dedicated to the incoming/outgoing crowd.
Posted Mon Feb 2, 2004, 7:13pm Subject: Re: Rocky and Silvia travel to the Continent
You might be able to buy a transformer in Europe more easily than here. Some parts of europe have 120 volts available. (In Rome, both places I lived had wall outlets for 120 and 240v). The 120 v outlets were ungrounded (two round pins), the 240 v were three inline round pins. There is no real standardization, you can find almost any type of socket anywhere. - so beware.
For conversion - don't trust expensive things to the cheap converters. The cheapest of the cheap is the half-wave rectifier found in some hairdryer converters. These chop off half the sine wave, giving you -0 to +240 volts vs. -120 to +120 v.
Another less than ideal solution is the autotransformer- a single coil tapped in the middle to get 120 out of the 240. The disadvantage here is that the windings do double duty - handling power in and power out. You also get none of the electrical isolation that a real transformer provides.
rt60 Senior Member Joined: 25 Jan 2004 Posts: 29 Location: Lyon, France Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Izzo Alex Duetto MkII Grinder: Mazzer Mini Electronic B Drip: ... Aeropress Roaster: Behmor 1600; iRoast V2
Posted Mon Feb 2, 2004, 8:27pm Subject: Re: Rocky and Silvia travel to the Continent
If you decide not to sell it here and buy an Italian speaking machine over there (which is an option, n'est pas?) transformers for stepping down (and stepping up) can be found at:
I would strongly suggest to oversize the transformer to keep the transformer temperature at a reasonable level. Most northern european outlets are 16A - 240V so, Wattage should not be a problem (it doesn't draw the full power rating of the transformer anyway with just the espresso machine connected).
Oh jah, I heard that transformers and water = not a good idea...
Posted Tue Feb 3, 2004, 7:24am Subject: Re: Rocky and Silvia travel to the Continent
Thanks to all for the replies, I was thinking more of a rewiring? What is the difference between the Euro Silvia and Rocky and the North American. BTW Dan you mentioned an expat exchange (paper, site, ?) could you drop me the details.
Posted Tue Feb 3, 2004, 8:49am Subject: Re: Rocky and Silvia travel to the Continent
A simple rewiring won't help. The thickness / resistance of the heating element is different, the pump is different, the indicator lamps are different. You could presumably get the 220V parts and swap the 110V ones out but I doubt it would be cost-effective. As for expat connections, in France go to the France U.S.A. Connection (FUSAC). You'll see ads for reselling appliances all the time and the prices are very good (since locals generally have little interest in buying used). Of course, this assumes you're going to France (you never mentioned your destination).
rsnidjik Senior Member Joined: 23 Oct 2003 Posts: 66 Location: Dislocated Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: PID'd Silvia 230v, 110°... Grinder: Baratza Vario Vac Pot: nope Drip: nope Roaster: West Bend Poppery 1500W; am...
Posted Tue Feb 3, 2004, 10:27am Subject: Re: Rocky and Silvia travel to the Continent
Given the time, hassle, expense and risk of "converting" R&S and shipping them to Europe, I think I'd sell my 110V R&S and replace them in Europe. Then reverse the deal if and when you return to North America. The resell value is high enough that you won't lose much--probably no more that it would cost you to do some sort of conversion or even to buy a good-quality transformer.
delta_v Senior Member Joined: 6 Jan 2004 Posts: 31 Location: Toronto Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Bezzera Magica Grinder: Rocky
Posted Tue Feb 3, 2004, 10:44am Subject: Re: Rocky and Silvia travel to the Continent
I was thinking of buying a 220V machine here in Canada and buying a transformer for it. In the end, I decided a used Silvia was much better/easier. If you'd like, I can see if I still have the number of the guy I was going to buy the Euro machine from. It's a Faema Family machine and grinder with base and he's just east of Toronto. He says it's around 10 years old, but all he was asking was $300 (Canadian). If he still hasn't sold it, you may be able to get it even cheaper. This might be a good option if you're not going to be in Europe that long and don't want to sell your machines. Please keep in mind that I haven't seen the machines, so I can't vouch for their condition.
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