current dream-spec stick site-welder

Miller Maxstar 150S

There is 110V available in the UK? I thought it was all 220?

Curt - all mains in UK is 240V (at 50Hz).

By law (?) on building sites you have to use 110V equipment. Classically you will see someone walking along with a big heavy yellow transformer (240V to 110V) in one hand and a power tool in the other.

The lead contractor may provide a 110V distribution system and you plug in wherever you find a socket which is near your place-of-work.

There is a tradition of yellow for anything 110V - transformers, cables, sockets and plugs, ...

The 110V systems really are a lot safer - the transformer is "centre-tapped" to Earth, with the two outlets "hot" but flying off in opposite voltage directions, so you see 110V if you connect across the two, but only see 55V if you cut through the cable exposing one conductor.

Some 110V sockets are bigger and will provide enough Amps to run a welding machine. Most portable welding machines with the company I work for are 110V.

Rich Smith

Very interesting. I never knew any of that. Thanks.

So what does the typical homeowner do for electric power tools? Do they make a line of 220 equipment for the consumer and only the pros buy the 110 stuff? Or do homeowners typically buy and use the transformers as well?

Curt

In a dwelling a householder will have power tools running on 240V. A tradesperson working in domestic properties will have 240V power tools.

But on a building site or in a workshop - it will all be 110V

Let me show you what I mean by "a transformer"

I'll ask Iggy or one of the other electrical bods about how to get this weight down...

Rich Smith