Looking for Electrical Engineer/Electrician

Posted by Canucker (419 days ago)

Hi All,

My husband and I are looking for someone who can help us with an electrical problem. We have just renovated our flat and our contractor said we could bring an oven and clothes dryer over from North America and he would have no problem hooking them up to use here. Well - problem - and now he has just told us he can't do it and we are sitting with two applicances that don't work.

We need advice about what we can do to get these two applicances hooked up and working. If anyone has brought these appliances over from NA to HK and hooked them up PLEASE IM me or post a response. I was hoping an Eletrical Engineer might be able to tell us how to convert the power.

Please, please, please help!

Thanks,
Canucker

(I am based in Hong Kong)

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Posted by Nuts&Bolts (419 days ago)

Essentially - "No way Jose!" Not only is the FREQUENCY of the mains different - tho' that *might not* matter too much for your equipment.

But plugging in a 100/110 Volt device would mean it might function for 0.05 of a second before it burnt out / exploded!

Of course, you *might* be able to find a [very heavy] heavy duty transformer to turn 220Volts down to 110Volts. But if *that* gets overloaded, you have a serious fire-risk to contend with. And even if it is not "converting", it will still suck up power unless you switch off the input.

A little foresight, or even "Googling" would have saved you an ocean of interconnection problems now. <Wry smile>

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by Ed (419 days ago)

http://hongkong.asiaxpat.com/directory/all.asp?cat=8&id=352

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by Black-Virusss (419 days ago)

Easy to HELP u guys
Just need to buy a Power Converter 110v to 220v (5000w) that is all
If there two machine then can buy 2 of Power Converter 110v to 220v (5000w)
That wil be SUPER ENOUGH for not have any problem with burning home :)
and it's will be safe enough

Write me message with all information if u still need that!!!
Good Luck!

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by tmk (419 days ago)

FYI,
Most ovens and dryers in Canada are in fact 220VAC. They have special plugs requiring special outlets.

Canucker,
Don't go out and buy any (huge and fairly expensive) power converters. Do contact an electrician.

The frequency will be different, 50hz instead of 60Hz. As mentioned earlier, it may or may not matter, and may only matter in the long-term lifespan of the appliance.

I had North American appliances in Manila but they were use 220V 60hz. I believe my first house in HK had North American appliances running on 220VAC 50 Hz, but not absolutely sure they were from Canada.

tmk

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by Nuts&Bolts (419 days ago)

One thing that should be noted is that - all things being equal - putting a 60 Hz motor on a 50 Hz mains **WILL** inevitably "suck" more power out of the mains - and get hotter - solely because of the hysteresis effect of having less iron/steel in the motor to impede the flux changes ....(I'm trying to keep the answer simple).

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by Starlionblue (400 days ago)

This thread is making me nervous just thinking about it. We did bring some US electrical gizmos with us, but they run in the 600 mA range (baby monitors) so a tiny transformer does the trick. I would never even try a toaster, let alone a dryer.

Sorry about your trouble. You got bad advice.

(I am based in Hong Kong)