230v european motorized pencil sharpener in 110v usa outlet bogs down

[devtinagub]

Have a 220v (wired for Sweden) motorized pencil sharpener (Boston X-acto model 41). Since its a motor it does not work right, bogs down in 120v usa power outlet. What do i need maybe a transformer?

 

[Megawatt]

Have a 220v (wired for Sweden) motorized pencil sharpener (Boston X-acto model 41). Since its a motor it does not work right, bogs down in 120v usa power outlet. What do i need maybe a transformer?

@devtinagub welcome to the forum I’m assuming you are in the US and it’s never going to work right plugged in a 120vac outlet when it’s internally wired for 240vac. Even if you had a transformer Sweden has 240vac on 1 wire with a neutral. If you want 240vac in the states it would be 2 wires which would burn the sharpener up. My advise is keep that one for your travels and just buy a new one.

 

[Kidsolo]

use a travel plug

 

[ElectroChem]

Even if you had a transformer Sweden has 240vac on 1 wire with a neutral. If you want 240vac in the states it would be 2 wires which would burn the sharpener up.

Care to elaborate on that one? If you can find a 120-240 Tx or a plug adapter for a US 240V outlet I see no reason the motor should care where its power comes from. I would double check that the neutral on the sharpener is not connected to the frame, though it should not be.

 

[Kidsolo]

I would double check that the neutral on the sharpener is not connected to the frame

It is not going to be on the frame if it is AC.

 

[Lucien Nunes]

A 120V - 240V step-up transformer is needed. Check the power consumption in watts and get a transformer of equal or higher rating in VA. Technically VA and watts are not the same thing but it will be immaterial for a small intermittent load like this. I expect the motor is a universal brush motor in which case the higher frequency in the US (60Hz rather than 50) won't make any noticeable difference. If it's an induction motor it will run 20% fast and may have slightly reduced torque.

Regarding connecting 230V European appliances to 240V US supplies, all modern products sold in the EU and compying with the regulations will function with two 120V hots rather than a 240V hot and a neutral. It is not permissible for them to require one wire to be a grounded neutral, since they must be compatible with outlets that do not have fixed polarity. However, their safety approvals may be invalidated by such usage so it might not be correct to recommend it.

 

[PEG]

....this thread,is crying out,for the simple suggestion of a penknife...

 

[Lucien Nunes]

A penknife will not function as a step-up transformer. Not even the 97-tool MegaSwissMaxiPocketBuster has a flip-out 100VA autotranny. It has a great selection of blades and countless other gadgets but won't help the OP sharpen any pencils

 

[Timbo]

A penknife will not function as a step-up transformer. Not even the 97-tool MegaSwissMaxiPocketBuster has a flip-out 100VA autotranny. It has a great selection of blades and countless other gadgets but won't help the OP sharpen any pencils

Beg to differ Lucien. Man was using a knife to sharpen pencils long before electric sharpeners were invented. ?

 

[westward10]

The term pen knife has lost its true meaning over the years. Originally made for the purpose of sharpening feather quill pens hence pen knife. Now any folding pocket knife is called a pen knife although no longer used for such a purpose.

 

[DPG]

Never knew that Westward.

 

[Kidsolo]

Not even the 97-tool MegaSwissMaxiPocketBuster has a flip-out 100VA autotranny.

what if we strap 100 ceiling fans together?

 

[dmxtothemax]

you can use a 240 > 120 backwards
to boost 120 up to 240
such transformers are readily availible

110/120V to 220/240V Step Down/Up Voltage Converter Travel Adapter Transformer | eBay

7X Wood 5 Flute HSS Countersink Drill Bit +Wrench Carpentry Set 3 4 5 6 7 8 10mm. Waffle Maker Silicon Mould Mold Bakeware Tray Bake Cake Muffin Chocolate Kitchen. Ignition Barrel & Switch 4 Lock Set Fr NISSAN PATROL GQ Y60 2x DOOR & BARN 88-98.

www.ebay.com.au

 

[devtinagub]

so much more response than i thought id get but for something id actually try just couldnt bring myself to any. probably because i had another solution to my actual problem (bought euro model hoping to be able to use since it was new) the gear on my us model was stripped. so just swapped gears. now we have spare parts when needed esp. sparpening blades will be useful when these get dull. afaik motor/wiring is the only different part. thanks though did learn quite a bit. mostly parts are good but motors arent swappable with foreign powers.