Taking Australian Machinery to USA

[Luke Maddux]

Hi,

I'm living in Australia but I'm originally from the United States. I'm looking at a new lathe which would be a considerable investment, and it's kind of one of those "last lathe I'll ever need to buy" situations. Notice how I said "need" and not "want"...

Anyway, I would like to think that one day I could take it home and use it in the US, but, as many of you know, our power outlets are 110v and not 240v.

So, generally speaking, what is involved in converting this machine from 240v to 110v. Is it as simple as modifying the plug? I doubt it... But is it as serious as replacing the entire spindle power mechanism?

The lathe is a 2hp Jet with Electronic Variable Speed.

Let me know if you need more information. Looking forward to hearing from someone.

Cheers,
Luke

[mark david]

I use and have used US appliances over here and simply use a step down transformer.
Presume you could obtain a step up transformer in the US cheaper than swapping out the motor and switches etc.

Hi,

I'm living in Australia but I'm originally from the United States. I'm looking at a new lathe which would be a considerable investment, and it's kind of one of those "last lathe I'll ever need to buy" situations. Notice how I said "need" and not "want"...

Anyway, I would like to think that one day I could take it home and use it in the US, but, as many of you know, our power outlets are 110v and not 240v.

So, generally speaking, what is involved in converting this machine from 240v to 110v. Is it as simple as modifying the plug? I doubt it... But is it as serious as replacing the entire spindle power mechanism?

The lathe is a 2hp Jet with Electronic Variable Speed.

Let me know if you need more information. Looking forward to hearing from someone.

Cheers,
Luke

[BobL]

If the lathe is q quality item then the simplest way is to swap the motor over from a 240 V to a 110 V motor.
Without knowing more about the variable speed mechanism/connections (they are not all the same) then changing over the motor and retaining the variable speed might not be so easy.

[BobL]

I use and have used US appliances over here and simply use a step down transformer.
Presume you could obtain a step up transformer in the US cheaper than swapping out the motor and switches etc.

Going from 240 to 110 should not need swapping of any switches.

With the motor being 2HP any step up transformer to drive this will have to be a fairly beefy one, I'd suggest at least a 2kW (preferably 2.5kW).
The price of such a big transformer will not be that much less than a 2HP motor in the US.
My experience with using transformer on machinery is that it's one more thing to go wrong, takes up space, and diminishes resale value.
A motor swap will avoid these probs even if costs $50 more it will be worth it.

However, we'll need to know more about the EVS before we can just say if a motor swap will be straightforward.

[Master Splinter]

I suspect you could probably sell the Jet here when you go back, and buy a new one in the US for pretty much the same-ish amount of cash you sold it for.

[ian]

[RoyG]

Hi,

I'm living in Australia but I'm originally from the United States. I'm looking at a new lathe which would be a considerable investment, and it's kind of one of those "last lathe I'll ever need to buy" situations. Notice how I said "need" and not "want"...

Anyway, I would like to think that one day I could take it home and use it in the US, but, as many of you know, our power outlets are 110v and not 240v.

So, generally speaking, what is involved in converting this machine from 240v to 110v. Is it as simple as modifying the plug? I doubt it... But is it as serious as replacing the entire spindle power mechanism?

The lathe is a 2hp Jet with Electronic Variable Speed.

Let me know if you need more information. Looking forward to hearing from someone.

Cheers,
Luke

Luke,

It's been over twenty years since I did a term living in Oregon and then in Alberta. From memory, most woodworkers (or anyone who operates machinery) have both 110 volt and 220 volt outlets in their workshops. They usually reserve the 110 volt outlets for powered hand tools and small machinery. For machinery with a motor bigger than about 2 HP (e.g. Table Saws, big Lathes, Jointers, Thicknessers, Bandsaws, etc) will have 220 volt 60 hertz motors. A little advice may be needed from Jet USA, but I think that a 240 volt 50 hertz motor sould work OK on a US 220 volt 60 hertz. An ordinary single speed squirrel cage motor designed for 50 hertz will run a bit faster when connected to a 60 hertz supply. But I don't believe that the lathe you're looking at uses an ordinary squirrel cage motor. It's a specialist motor that receives a variable frequency supply from the electronic speed controller to vary the motor speed.

The question arises with the Electronic Variable Speed Unit. If the specific lathe you are referring to is the Jet Midi with Variable Speed (http://www.carbatec.com.au/jet-midi-...e-speed_c22257), then that lathe is specified on Carbatec's web site as being "230 Volts 50 Hertz". It is designed for the European 230 volts electricity supply, so in Australia we run it at 10 volts above specification without problems. Running the Electronic Variable Speed Unit on a 220 volts (10 volts under specification) shouldn't be an issue. The more pertinent question is whether the Electronic Speed Control Unit will object to the higher supply frequency - 60 hertz instead of 50 hertz.

Contact Jet USA. Don't bother with the Australian agents for Jet as they won't have the answers re 220 volt 60 hertz in the USA. Jet USA should be able to advise you. Certainly a different Electronic Speed Control Unit, and maybe a different motor, would be required to run it on 115 Volts. But if you decide to get a 220 volt outlet or two in your workshop over there, then you might not need to change anything but the power plug. Check with Jet USA.

Roy

[FenceFurniture]

I suspect you could probably sell the Jet here when you go back, and buy a new one in the US for pretty much the same-ish amount of cash you sold it for.

Absolutely. The freight cost would be horrendous, although it may make no difference if your sending a container.

From Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/708360-JWL-164.../dp/B00064NGRO

USD2650

but note that it can't be gift wrapped......



First time I've heard of someone in Oz wanting to take tools to the USA........

[BobL]

Luke,

It's been over twenty years since I did a term living in Oregon and then in Alberta. From memory, most woodworkers (or anyone who operates machinery) have both 110 volt and 220 volt outlets in their workshops. They usually reserve the 110 volt outlets for powered hand tools and small machinery. For machinery with a motor bigger than about 2 HP (e.g. Table Saws, big Lathes, Jointers, Thicknessers, Bandsaws, etc) will have 220 volt 60 hertz motors.

I thought the 220V outlets in the US were 3 phase? if so a motor that runs on 240 SP won't work.

[Vernonv]

I thought the 220V outlets in the US were 3 phase?

Possibly, but they also have, I believe, 240V single phase (split phase), which is actually 2 x 120V @ 180º out of phase.

[malb]

American 220V is split phase, i.e. L1, N, L2 with L1 and L2 180 deg out of phase with each other and 110V Line to Neutral. For 220V they connect between L1 and L2. This is derived from centre tapped distribution transformers. Output is generally similar to the output from our rural SWER transformers except 110,0,110 instead of 230,0,230.
From information received from people in the US, the general distribution network is all three phase similar to ours, except that the final transformers outputs are wound with a centre tap and opposing windings for each phase. The 220V is generally used for hulk usage items like stoves and hot water services, but is also available for domestic recreational uses such as higher powered home machinery. Not sure about the regulatory status, but it seems that they try to limit output from individual sockets to 20A, and if a device needs more than the 2.2KW available that way, then 220V is used as a source.

Assuming that the speed control module is appropriately designed to allow safe operation with a floating supply, (N terminal in AUS is clamped to E at the meter box but would be floated at 110V relative to N in an US installation), the lathe should operate reliably and safely in the US with their 220V configuration. I am not sure, but think that a double insulated system should be safe in a floating environment. Otherwise the only two ways to find out whether the design can be safely floated would be suck and see, or consult the designers/manufacturers. Chances of getting access to the designers would not be good.

[Luke Maddux]

Ok this has gotten a bit over my head, although I certainly appreciate the well thought out responses.

Let's back up.

I'm getting this lathe for ~US$950. It retails currently for US$2650.

I'm hiring a shipping container regardless, so getting it home is included in a price I already intend to pay.

OK, SO... with that said...

Regardless of what it entails, is it worth it for me to consider this a long term investment? If the worst happens and I have to replace both the motor and the EVS module, could that potentially cost so much that it makes the savings I get on the front end pointless?

Cheers,
Luke

[ian]

perhaps ask Jet US what a replacement motor and EV unit would cost?