USA toaster to work in uk (nearly there)

fl8sh · 12 Oct 2013

I have a USA toaster/hot dog machine that is a 110volts, 650watts power with a two pin plug.

I know it won't work the normal way buuuuutttt, I have a 230-240v to 110v transformer at work that is big and yellow. We use them to charge a big yellow ambulance at 110 volts.

At the end of the charger plug it has a usa plug outlet, the circle is the earth cable? The large hole is the live and the small hole is the neutral. Now is this the same as the USA and fits the toaster plug (but without the earth)

I have checked websites and the USA plugs sockets live is the small hole.

Now if I plug in the toaster/hot dog machine will it blow or do I have to swap the wires over to make the smaller hole on the charger plug the "live"?

Charger plug

fl8sh
12 Oct 2013
1

Charger plug

fl8sh
12 Oct 2013
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Charger plug

fl8sh
12 Oct 2013
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OwainDIYer · 12 Oct 2013

Are you sure the transformer is 110V, if it's a building site type transformer it's more likely to be 55-0-55 volts centre tapped to earth.

You cannot use a US appliance in a UK workplace unless it complies with UK safety standards, which it quite probably won't.

winston1 · 13 Oct 2013

fl8sh said:
I have a USA toaster/hot dog machine that is a 110volts, 650watts power with a two pin plug.

I know it won't work the normal way buuuuutttt, I have a 230-240v to 110v transformer at work that is big and yellow. We use them to charge a big yellow ambulance at 110 volts.

At the end of the charger plug it has a usa plug outlet, the circle is the earth cable? The large hole is the live and the small hole is the neutral. Now is this the same as the USA and fits the toaster plug (but without the earth)

I have checked websites and the USA plugs sockets live is the small hole.

Now if I plug in the toaster/hot dog machine will it blow or do I have to swap the wires over to make the smaller hole on the charger plug the "live"?

Charger plug

fl8sh

12 Oct 2013

1

Charger plug

fl8sh

12 Oct 2013

1

Charger plug

fl8sh

12 Oct 2013

1

The websites are right. The socket on your transformer is incorrectly wired.

fl8sh · 13 Oct 2013

I will take a picture later and show you, I am sure that no more than 110vots will come through it.

That's why I needed to know if my plug would fit and work in it. As for using it in the work place I would bring it home to try it to avoid safety laws

fl8sh · 14 Oct 2013

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fl8sh
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ban-all-sheds · 14 Oct 2013

fl8sh said:
I have a USA toaster/hot dog machine that is a 110volts, 650watts power with a two pin plug.

And you're absolutely sure it's not supposed to be earthed, and have a 3-pin plug?

Now if I plug in the toaster/hot dog machine will it blow or do I have to swap the wires over to make the smaller hole on the charger plug the "live"?

It will work either way round, but it should be the right way round in case there are internal fuses, single-pole switches etc, as those must be in the line, not the neutral.

fl8sh said:
As for using it in the work place I would bring it home to try it to avoid safety laws

So you're going to lug that site transformer back and forth?

Steal it?

Buy your own?

Wouldn't it be a lot simpler to buy a UK appliance?

ban-all-sheds · 14 Oct 2013

OwainDIYer said:
Are you sure the transformer is 110V, if it's a building site type transformer it's more likely to be 55-0-55 volts centre tapped to earth.

Indeed, but it's still 110V between the ends, and if the item isn't earthed it will be fine.

fl8sh · 14 Oct 2013

So here it is, the hot dog toaster. My wife purchased it from the states and I am determined to get it to work either at home or at work regardless of cost.

I know it would be cheaper to buy a toaster in the uk but where would be the sense of achievement and accomplishment by getting one from the USA to work.

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fl8sh
14 Oct 2013
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fl8sh
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ban-all-sheds · 14 Oct 2013

Looks as though it's meant to not be earthed. IHNI what standards US appliances have to be built to to not need an earth.

Interestingly, when I think of all the hot dogs I've eaten here, and in the USA, I've never had one where the bun was toasted.

bernardgreen · 14 Oct 2013

Some US devices use two 120 volt elements in parallel. For the UK market they are supplied with the elements wired in series for 230 operation.

Nostalgia are imported to the UK by Smart Worldwide Ltd Their technical people may be able to advise on whether it can be converted to 230 volt operation.

SMART Worldwide Ltd
SMA House
Homepark,
Langley Waters
Kings Langley,
Hertfordshire
WD4 8LZ
United Kingdom

Email: [email protected]
Tel: 01923 290 490
Fax: 01923 290 491

fl8sh · 14 Oct 2013

ban-all-sheds said:
Looks as though it's meant to not be earthed. IHNI what standards US appliances have to be built to to not need an earth.

Interestingly, when I think of all the hot dogs I've eaten here, and in the USA, I've never had one where the bun was toasted.

"as it is a two pin system would it matter which way round the plug went into the socket adaptor (regardless of pin sizes i know that they are two different sizes) would it matter which one would live and which one would be neutral?

as i dont know how the US electrical system works? wether the live has to go through the heating element or if it would matter if the neutral went through it as long as it made the circuit?

i may just plug the fecker in and hope it doesnt blow the toaster?

securespark · 14 Oct 2013

fl8sh said:
i may just plug the fecker in and hope it doesnt blow the toaster?

And if it does, your sense of achievement goes in the dustbin, sorry, trashcan, along with the toaster!

EFLImpudence · 14 Oct 2013

fl8sh said:
"as it is a two pin system would it matter which way round the plug went into the socket adaptor

Yes. The live should go to any controls first.

wether the live has to go through the heating element or if it would matter if the neutral went through it as long as it made the circuit?

Not possible.

The neutral is the return path after a load.

streetlighter · 14 Oct 2013

Try TLC direct electrical wholesalers online they have in there catalogue a range of step down transformers in a range of sizes for different loads and they come with the US 3 pin sockets on them.

I have seen on other forums people who have imported US powertools fitted a Yellow 16 amp plug and run them from a site transformer with no problems.
In the USA Black is the Live or "Hot" wire as they say and white is Neutral green is usually the Earth or "Ground" wire

fl8sh · 14 Oct 2013

EFLImpudence said:
fl8sh said:

"as it is a two pin system would it matter which way round the plug went into the socket adaptor

Click to expand...

Yes. The live should go to any controls first.

wether the live has to go through the heating element or if it would matter if the neutral went through it as long as it made the circuit?

Click to expand...

Not possible.

The neutral is the return path after a load.

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fl8sh
14 Oct 2013
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this shows the usa plug socket as the small hole being the LIVE or Hot Wire.

At the end of the charger plug i have at work it has a usa plug outlet, The large hole is the live and the small hole is the neutral.

would i be right in assuming i would have to make the english BROWN Live Wire the small hole in order for this to work?

then the brown live, powers the small usa "Hot hole" so when i plug the toaster into it press down on the toaster my Weener gets hot and it toasts my buns?

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USA toaster to work in uk (nearly there)

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