I have a 240v espresso maker, 1300 watts. I'm in the 110v USA. Will a 0.5 kva AC voltage regulator work?

Question

The voltage regulator has a 110v output plug. The output total is labeled 0.5 kva. I do not have a "step-up, step-down" converter that goes to 1300 watts so I am wondering if this gadget can do the job.

Answer 1

Nope. But if you happen to have a 240V electric stove connection, you could get lucky there. You do have 240 split phase at the meter input (if your place is less than about 70 years old), and hopefully a 240 line into a convenient location.

All standard disclaimers apply.

Answer 2

UK is now 230, the European voltage. (Actually, power is transmitted under the Channel from France during the rush hour, which is possible because the Continent is on Central European Time; not relevant to your query but interesting.) Some electronics sold in the USA are marked 120˜240 and these can be used in the UK with just a plug adapter. Hair dryers and some other appliances have built in resister circuits and you can move a switch from 120 to 230/240. Otherwise you need a converter (not recommended by many electricians except as an emergency travel expedient) or a transformer. You need to match up the wattage or amperage or you will burn out the transformer. For camera battery chargers and the like, in the unlikely event they aren't dual voltage, you can put them in the 120 v. socket of a batheroom shaver outlet (these have circuit breakers in them for 1 amp or less). I have not seen any digital camera chargers recently that aren't dual voltage. But make sure. You can buy adapters to fit the unique British electrical outlets in drug and appliance stores all over Britain, and at airports.

Answer 3

Half the voltage means a quarter the power. (Half the voltage means half the current, Watts = volts x amps, half times a half = a quarter).

What is required is a step up transformer (110v to 240v) rated at 1300 Watts or Volt/Amps at the very least.

This will be a do it yourself hernia kit, i.e bulky and heavy.

Buy yourself an Espresso maker designed for 110v. Easier all round.

Answer 4

Yes that would make the coffee maker heater be satisfied because at half the voltage you get half the power.

There are two killer problems however. If the coffee maker has half the wattage it would take a very long time to make your coffee - maybe forever if the water can't boil. The other is that if there is a timer or other control that needs 240v to run then it will never operate OK on 110V.

You need a new machine.

Answer 5

Depending on the design of the appliance, you may be able to connect it with a single phase hookup - that is two hot leads with no neutral. That will give you the 240V instead of the 110V you get with one hot and a neutral. You'll need a 2-pole breaker and an appropriate receptacle. You did not state what type of cordset or plug the appliance has, but if it is a European type then you will have to replace it to match the receptacle.

Answer 6

For the purposes of this discussion a Watt is equivalent to a VA (volt-amp) so one half Kilo-Volt-Amp is 500 Watts. No, it won't work.

Wattage is power, so you cannot step it up or down, you can only step up voltage or amperage, which are inversely proportional at a given wattage.

Answer 7

NO. But it MIGHT be possible for someone who knows what they are doing to split the heating element into two elements, giving you two 650 watt 120V elements that if wired in parallel would give you 1300 watts at 120 V.

Answer 8

It will work if you plug it in to the mains as it is,but will take twice as long to boil.
The other way round would blow the device(ie 110v plugged into a 240v supply.

Answer 9

As long as your device is under the rated voltage it should work fine. i would worry if it was over.