110 or 240 Volt

[Carlnorwich]

I am about to buy myself a circular saw as I will be building a large deck.

The saw will mostly be used outside in the future.

Should I get 110 (and transformer) or 240 Volt, or doesn't it matter?

Many thanks,

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

If it's for outside use, get the 110v one as it will be carrying a voltage that is less likely to kill you, if a fault occurs.
You could use a 230v but i would strongly suggest that it was hooked up to some form of RCD protection, this should provent electric shocks. It maybe that the house socket circuits already have this, but that can not be a guarantee, you can also buy extension leads that have RCD protection incorperated.

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/98422...eads/Masterplug-Heavy-Duty-Extension-Lead-RCD

 

[Carlnorwich]

I'll get the 110v.

Thanks very much.

 

[RF Lighting]

Also you should get a 110V extention lead.

Using a 230V lead and then plugging in the tranny right next to where you're working defeats most of the object of using 110V in the first place.

 

[Hitachimad]

Also you should get a 110V extention lead.

Using a 230V lead and then plugging in the tranny right next to where you're working defeats most of the object of using 110V in the first place.

Not to mention its hard work dragging the box around every two mins

 

[studips]

most of my stuff is 110, but my sds and circular saw are 230.......

how relaxing not to have to lug that damn great transformer all over when i'm using these - and yes, i do use 110 ext leads

i'd go for 230 and get the rcd if i were you. oh, abd a decent set of ear defenders.......

 

[Paul Barker]

110 is 10 times safer than 230v with 230v the electical potential across you to earth or to neutral is 230v. the 110 transformer fixes the earth at midway between 0 and 110, so the maximum potential across you to earth is 55v and the max between what you think of as live and neutral (although they are not such as the transformer balances and isolates from the mains) is 110v.

RCD protection is very commendable but not a cure all. If you get a live to neutral shock it will not be triggered.

Do not take risks with your life, use 110v through an isolating transofrmer or battery equipemnt whenever you have the opportunity, but most certainly when working outside.

Secondly you are probably not professional, but as one working on site (which is anybody's home you are working in) you must use 110 or battery equipment. I bump into other people on site (people's homes )using 230v equipment all the time. What they are saying loud and clear is that they are wannabies, diyer's after the Yoser Hughes ilk "giuz a job?" shifty chancers. Their lack of repsect for safety inspires fear. I wouldn't want someone working unsafely in my house. what else are they up to? they have demonstarted their morals, how much that we can't see have they also neglected? Are they likely to have insurance? (which is probably invalidated)

 

[big-all]

i personally would choose 240v stuff as you will limit your choices to proffesional expensive tools as diy ranges don't come in 110v
all you need to do is not work in the rain or wet areas common sense really

 

[merlin50]

for home I always use 240v, 110v is elfe and safty gone mad, a shock from 240 will not allways kill, if it did I would have been killed tots of times

 

[JohnD]

survivor bias is the problem merlin.

All the people on websites are the ones who tell you that 240v didn't kill them.

You never hear a peep out of the others.

 

[merlin50]

the worst shock i have ever had was of 12 volt i thought that was the end of me

 

[OwainDIYer]

how relaxing not to have to lug that damn great transformer all over when i'm using these -

Why don't them make them with wheels and a pull-out handle so they could be dragged along like luggage?

Or would that be too girly???

 

[kevplumb]

when i was working in schools nursing homes etc i used to put mine in my wheeled toolbox

lot easier to get up 6 flights of stairs

 

[Carlnorwich]

Thanks to everyone for their replies, I've considered everything and I'm going for the 110v, and the 110v ext lead.

Many thanks.

 

[Paul Barker]

You chose well OB1

By the way you can get a light 1.5kw transformer which does a lot of work but is 1/3rd the weight of a 3Kw one I have a few 3's and a few 1.5's. Some jobs I use the 1.5 but overwork it, say I have to climb to 7th floor up stairs and my DD100 core drill hardly knows any loss in power, and the transformer has never overheated. So in your scenario a small transformer may be fine. It makes a huge differerence to your moralle not having to lug a 3kg up 7 flights of stares. It's bad enough having to carry a boiler up there on your own and an old one back down again. One less heavy carry and one less trip (because you can carry a lot more lighter things in one trip) is worth having.

The geting of tools and kit to and from the point of work is sometimes twice as much work as the job itself. Would be nioce if just the occasional householder would hold a door open or something, but most people these days have no manners. Only old men in my experience have a thought. Old women seem to have gone through life expecting doors to be held for them, young people have no concept whatsoever of other peoples' needs, from experience that is, not so much an opinion as an actual experience.

So in this impolite society we now work amongst we have to lighten our own load. but that wouldn't leed me to work unsafely like all the 230v chancers talking in this thread.