230v to 110v converter?

[zelicx]

Any electricians here?
I've seen some websites that sells the 230-110 AC/AC converter, but nowhere to be found cheap.

See the thing is that I ordered my TX from usa, where they use 110v, and here in sweden i only get 220v from my outlet.

Is there any cheap way to build one converter? I know I can get a new charger for the TX/RX here not that expensive, but I'm just curius if one could build an own transformator?

Thankful for any reply.

[Andy W]

They're pretty common over here, and only $15 or so at the local RadioShack. I have a few, that I use on trips to the UK. Note there are high power and low power versions, and some that can support both.
..a

[fhhuber506771]

All you need is a step-down transformer to get form 230 to 110 (and the acceptable range of operation is 100V to 130V for most "110" rated stuff. All of my outlets read 128 volts)

MOST electronics stuff that uses AC, has an internal transformer and rectifier to change it to DC (A common computer power supply converst 10 or 230 AC to 12V and 5 V DC for example) Every battery charger has to do the step-down and rectification to get the useable output....

*******

You are correct that the transmitter does not care who's battery charger you use on the batteries, so you can get a locally sold charger which has the correct voltage output, then charge the batteries outside of the transmitter. It will work fine. (if you get the polarity right)

[vintage1]

You can get cheap autotransormers from various places, but frankly its probably easier to find a 230v wall wart off ebay that will do the job.

Or charge the TX pack on a fast charger.

[Mr.RC-CAM]

If the provided wall charger is rated at 60Hz only, then be aware that it will probably be overly stressed (run hotter than usual) on your 50Hz mains line frequency. If pushed, the internal thermal link will do its thing and convert the charger to paperweight status.

My best advice is to just purchase a wall charger that was designed to run on your local power. Or, if you can afford it, consider something like the Great Planes Triton charger.

RC-CAM

[lazy-b]

I guess, the cheapest way to convert 230 to 110 Volts is to use a grounded wire..........we use this in our home here in the Philippines......I have this 110 Volts Television, but our main power is 220 Volts......I just use one wire from one of terminal of the outlet and the other wire from a GROUND (can tapped on a Metal Pipes or Grounded Terminal post use in Telephone systems).....been using this for more than 10 years, our 29 Inch Television still working.

I am assuming you got extra Wire for tapping the GROUND, if GROUND terminal is too far , sometimes its better and safer to use a regular step down transformer.

It so happen that we have a GROUND terminal near our Television set.

Ellion

[zelicx]

Thanx for all the replys guys.

I've never heard of using the ground and one just one pin, never thought of it. But, if it works, then it's easy, as long as I'm careful. Perhaps it's the way our sockets in the toilets are connected, we only got 110v in the toilets. (not just in this appartment where I live now, but in my last one I had 110v in the toilet)

Still, I think I'll buy the charger that's ment to have 220v, it's only $15-18, but I assumed that one would get 110v easily somehow...

I'll measure the groundpin and one regular pin in an outlet just to be sure.

[AndyOne]

If your supply incorporates an RCD (Residual Current Device AKA earth leakage trip), connecting any return path to the ground will trip-out the supply. RCDs are used to prevent fatal electric shock and are common in domestic supplies in Europe. The mode of operation is that if someone accidentally makes a circuit where not all the return current flows back through the neutral wire , it is assumed to be flowing back to earth. The sensitivity of the trip is set at about 30mA and is quick enough acting to prevent electrocution.

Andy.

[vintage1]

Thanx for all the replys guys.

I've never heard of using the ground and one just one pin, never thought of it. But, if it works, then it's easy, as long as I'm careful. Perhaps it's the way our sockets in the toilets are connected, we only got 110v in the toilets. (not just in this appartment where I live now, but in my last one I had 110v in the toilet)

Still, I think I'll buy the charger that's ment to have 220v, it's only $15-18, but I assumed that one would get 110v easily somehow...

I'll measure the groundpin and one regular pin in an outlet just to be sure.

NO. This is not standard european practce: In the states they suply a split phase thing with each leg 110v or something and 230 across the teo lives. Or something.

European practice is to bond neutral to earth at some point. In the UK and many other countries using the earth for any sort of current will cause the RCD (residual current detector) to trip as it assumes there is a live to earth short - possibly a screaming human with one hand on the tap and another one stuck in a socket etc etc.


You can buy a shaver adapter box - that has a small transformer in it. But really its so much easier to buy a new wall wart.

[vintage1]

If your supply incorporates an RCD (Residual Current Device AKA earth leakage trip), connecting any return path to the ground will trip-out the supply. RCDs are used to prevent fatal electric shock and are common in domestic supplies in Europe. The mode of operation is that if someone accidentally makes a circuit where not all the return current flows back through the neutral wire , it is assumed to be flowing back to earth. The sensitivity of the trip is set at about 30mA and is quick enough acting to prevent electrocution.

Andy.
yeab but, no but, yeah but...

- you may or may not have one fitted everywhere. By law they should be fitted to any sockets intended for outside use. Thats all. Debate rages as to wheher a bit of damp in a washing machine that causes all the house lights to go out and you break your neck on the stairs...is safer than a mild bit of leakage to earth...

- I replaced mine with 100mA cops it trippped on leakage from all the electronics

- you can still die from 30mA.

[lazy-b]

Guys, its my first time to hear the RCD (Residual Current Device), Its such a nice feature if implemented here in Philippines, our old home use to have 220 and 110 Volts, use flat plug for 220 Volts and Round Plug for 110 Volts......the dis-advantage of having dual Voltage outlet, is plugging an appliances in a wrong outlet.......most old house have dual voltage here, I guess cause lots of appliance here is made in USA.....but somehow We are phasing out the 110 Volts.

[LT]

Thanx for all the replys guys.

I've never heard of using the ground and one just one pin, never thought of it. But, if it works, then it's easy, as long as I'm careful. Perhaps it's the way our sockets in the toilets are connected, we only got 110v in the toilets. (not just in this appartment where I live now, but in my last one I had 110v in the toilet)

Still, I think I'll buy the charger that's ment to have 220v, it's only $15-18, but I assumed that one would get 110v easily somehow...

I'll measure the groundpin and one regular pin in an outlet just to be sure.

Be carefull. I don't know how the Swedish houses are wired and protected, but here in Norway if a groundfault develops somewhere in the house (or even the nighbors hose) the live-gnd connection could go very low or even worse go to a full 230V. For a simple Tx charger you are better of just buying a new charger. If you have more equipment Elfa has what you need from a simple 20Watt unit costing SEK 266,-: http://www.elfa.se/se/index1.html to IP rated 1100W units at over SEK3000