Will my 110v power tools work on 240v?

Question

If I change the plug to fit 240v supply what will happen, and vice versa??
Not intrested in using transformers!

SCOTT C. what do you mean by split one leg and ground?

Answer 1

Not for long,there will be a bright flash and a smell of burning plastic etc and no more go.
you will either have to use a transformer or get the power tools that fit the voltage.

Answer 2

noooo.
a 240 volt circuit is using two hot legs, while a 120 volt circuit is using one hot leg and neutral. If you're in north america, you can reconfigure 240 volt wiring to supply 120 volts. (Though you need to have some knowledge and confidence in what you're doing.)
Here's how to do it:

Usually 240 circuits in north america have limited applications (at the residential level). Say your electric range and your clothes drier. Open up the box at the receptacle. You should see three (or four) wires, 1 black, 1 red (sometimes also black), 1 white and 1 bare or green. The black and red wires are hot legs, white is neutral and the other one is ground.
Get an 120 volt 20 amp receptacle with the same shape configuration as your tool. Then insert the black (or red) wire under the brass colored screw, the white wire under the brown colored screw and attach the bare/green wire under the green screw. Be sure to cover the end of the wire you're not going to be using so you don't create a shorted condition. By the way, you should have turned off the appropriate circuit breaker prior to doing any of this.

If this is a temporary usage, you could turn on the circuit breaker, then use your tool, and then immediately put everything back together as it was before you started.

If this is to be a permanent change, you need to replace the 240 volt circuit breaker with a 120 volt breaker that matches the amperage rating of the plug you installed. Install only one hot leg wire into the breaker, make sure you cap the unused hot leg that you are laying aside both inside the breaker box and in the receptacle box.

If this is too intimidating for you to do, then you should find a competant and informed person to help you or do these things for you.

If you live outside the US and Canada, these instructions probably won't apply to your electrical systems, please do not attempt to follow these directions.

Answer 3

I have read the answers. Most say no. Some give you a way to make it work.

I would like to point out that the fixes - that you test with a volt meter might work the way you set it up on one plug, but it may burn out the next time you try it. this is because the color coding may not be correct or might not be the same kind of circuit.

I have ruined some very good things because I didn't test each set up. Basically the working solutions are trying to tell you how to bypass the in place wiring with your own jury rig. If the wiring was always exactly the same in each situation, maybe it would be fine. But it only takes one screw up (yours or some other guy's) to ruin an expensive tool. I blew up 2 myself, one cuz I didn't know any better, and one cuz I thought I understood the set up and made a mistake. Luckily for me, I wasn't the guy who tried to bypass something - I don't know what he was doing, but he blew out the whole floor. :-0 and left town - literally - without being paid for that job-of course, and left behind money from another cuz he didn't dare wait around for the bill!

;-D I got a transformer and it is fine. It even has an volt meter on it so I can easily see what's what. But, I got 240 volt tools now! The transformer is sitting unused in a drawer. hahaha

Answer 4

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Will my 110v power tools work on 240v?
If I change the plug to fit 240v supply what will happen, and vice versa??
Not intrested in using transformers!

Answer 5

No. There are a couple of reasons::
1. The motor could be damaged and probably will be in short order.
2. Many of the aplliances tools personal items designed to run on 240V are usually ( not always) designed to run on 50Hz, 120V or 110V designs are normally designed to run on 60Hz, 10Hz doesnt sound like much but things can heat up quickly, the big problem is the motor however.

Answer 6

No. you cannot connect 110v power tools to work on 240v.

You have to use transformer otherwise it blows out due to excessive heat.

And impedance matching may not occur.

Answer 7

How could changing the plug change the power requirements? You MUST use a transformer. If the tool is a European tool to be used in an American/Canadian outlet, you must also see if the tool can work on a frequency of 60 Hz (USA/Canada), while European equipment uses 50 Hz. A transformer changes voltage and current but not frequency.

Answer 8

you can use them but you will need to get a 240v to 110v transformer can hire them for about £12 a day or buy one from machine mart £64.57 see source for link or buy 110v generator

Answer 9

They will not work.
In fact you'll probably burn out the motor if you try this, so that afterwards they also won't work on 110V anymore!

Answer 10

No, they might but for about 1 miute or so then they will be ruined beyond repair . Buit it iskid of funny to see if you have te moneyspend on tools .best be use te right tools withthev right power supply