porter cable plug / socket

**peter richards** · 05-23-2006, 02:33 PM

hello , ive just got myself a pc , its come from the us , i live in wales uk ,
the plug on the end of the pc does not fit our sockets over here .
so would it be possible for one of you guys to maybe send me a socket that fits the pc , so i can make up an extension cable .
i will gladly pay for this to be mailed to me , as i dont want to cut off the original plug .
just me being fussy .
thanks peter

**BritOn2wheels** · 05-23-2006, 03:40 PM

Peter, you need to be careful! There's more to the story then just the plug.

Growing up in the UK I know that your Utility Power is 240V AC 50 Hz, while over here in the US it's 110V AC 60 Hz.

Did you specifically order an export 240V model?

**StarGazer** · 05-23-2006, 03:47 PM

Ya'll on 110/115 volts or 220/230 volts there?

If 220/230 you'll need a step down transformer. Check with a local electrical/electronics hobby shop if you don't know.

And whatever you do, don't plug it in until you KNOW for sure!!!

If you do and you're running on 220/230 volts, you'll let all the smoke out and electrical stuff stops working when it runs out of smoke.

Pat

**peter richards** · 05-23-2006, 04:24 PM

hi guys yes ive got a transformer to step down to 110, i just thaught if i could put a us socket on the extension .
the pc is 110

**BritOn2wheels** · 05-23-2006, 05:17 PM

A step down transformer is still not a recommended safe practise for a number of reasons:

A transformer will not alter the Frequency, 60 Hz in is still 60 Hz out. The PC is designed for only 50Hz. Therefore it's going to run about 20% faster/hotter than design and thus shorten it's life.

When a transformer steps down the voltage, (240 to 110/120) it steps up the available current. It's the volts that jolts but it's the mills (milliamps) that kills.

If the case/wiring/motor on the PC shorts out for any reason the danger is that the supply doesn't recognize the hazardous situation since it is isolated from the load by the transformer, thus you have litle or no protection if a short develops.

Since you would be using the PC out of doors with an extension lead and isolation transformer I strongly recommend you explore alternatives.

We don't want to see a fellow AG enthusiast doing the shaking and wobbling while connected to the AC main, that's best left for the machine.

Is there no similar device available over there, or an export model from PC?

**peter richards** · 05-23-2006, 05:44 PM

these machines are coming over now from the us , and first thing people are doing is changing the plug for a 110 the big yellow ones , and running them through the tranny .
they obviously dont know of the risk