I have a few power tools, none of which are natively wired for 110-240v. In particular, a portable table saw, a router, and a mitre saw, all at 220v. Since the resale value of them are so low on auction sites, I was thinking of taking them with me when I shift home to the states. Would it be safe using those tools, for extended periods, whilst running them on a transformer?
You can do that. Just make sure the transformer is rated for the power they will draw. Keep this in mind: American homes are wired with 220 volts. Only, they split the voltage into two 110 volt legs. Each leg to ground (or neutral) is 110 volts (also commonly referred to as 120 volts). But from one leg to the other is where you get the 220 (or 240) volts. My garage is wired with two legs of 110, which means I have 220 out there. I also have an outlet for 220 volts. Because some of the power tools I run demand more current, and run them simultaneously, the standard 110 outlets struggle to meet the demand. So what I did was to take a dryer cord and wire it into a pony panel where I can draw 110 volts from one leg to ground to power a table saw while the other leg powers the dust collection system. To try and run both those pieces of equipment on a single 110 line means a trip to the breaker to reset it because each draws enough power that when used together they draw more current than the circuit is safely rated for. YOU can do something similar. Just make sure you use a 20 amp outlet meant for use with 220 volts and wire into the panel (if not already wired) and set up a 220 volt plug where you will be using these power tools. Using a transformer will work, but the more you couple the power magnetically the more inefficient your system becomes, and you waste power. Also consider just buying tools rated at 110 volts. They're plentiful and cheap enough that the cost may offset the cost of shipping these 220 v tools. Throw in the cost of a transformer and you're probably spending more money in the long run. Hope this helps. '')
