Thread: 220v / 240v Help??

Good for keeping you warm on a cold dark night.

I have a 2.8kw job and have run power tools through to fridges and tv with no problems.

Most designed for Australia are 240v.
220v would worry me that it was not designed for Au

Just check it is 50hz

We are technically a 230V country now, we changed to bring us in line internationally a few years ago. However there is a reasonable tolerance applicable (at least 5% each way). On that basis, equipment should operate OK between 230V plus or minus 15V so 215 to 245V.

At 220V the alternator (technically a generator produces DC) is toward the bottom end of the tolerance and will have a tolerance of its own. Provided that it is moderately loaded, it should be Ok but remember that motors can draw 5 to 10 times their rated current to get started, particularly if under some load. Starting could be extremely dodgy if the tool needs most of the alternators rated current to run. The small 850W style units for example would probably not start much at all, but might run a few lights, a 3 way fridge, and a small TV, because the individual starting currents are not huge relative to the units short peak rating of about 1000W

Don't use cheap generators with sensitive equipment. The sine waves they generate aren't very clean.

Fine for fridges and low powered tools but I'd not put a computer on one, nor probably a TV that was worth money.