Datavac Electric Air Duster from USA problem !

scotslad

scotslad

scotslad

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I got my family to send me one of these from the USA ,its an electric dust blaster for multi purpose use, I'll be using it for blasting dust and dirt from inside the pc as I'm tired of canned air although a lot of people are quite happy with canned air, I would prefer something like this as its something ive wanted for ages now.

It arrived yesterday and after speaking to a few friends that know a little bit about electronics (obviously they dont know that much :mad:) they said it should just work if I either cut the american plug off and attach a uk 3 pin plug or use one of those plug adaptor things that you plug an electric shaver into (two pin) it should be ok and work.

So I tried shoving the american plug attached to the thing into one of the UK electric plugs that you would use to plug your electric shaver in, I gave it a try, straight away I noticed that I kinda had to force the two pins of the plug on the wire into the shaver plug as the american plug on the cable has two pins that are not exactly like an electric shavers two pins, but I was able to shove the pins in anyway even though I could tell they didnt feel like they were fitting proper.

Anyway, I plugs it into the wall, switched the thing on and for a micro second I got a jolt off the machine as if it was going to work, but instantly it stopped in that fraction of a second and then it done nothing at all and thats the way it is now.

I personally think I have maybe done something to the unit, but I pray I havent as even though I got it a lot cheaper from the usa it was still a bit expensive and now I dont know what to do.

I cant get my phone camera to work at present to show you some photos so the only thing I can do is show you screenshot of the item if thats ok ?

I know overclockers dont sell it, so I thought it would be ok to post the image, if not then "please" just remove image and "please" dont give me a formal warning or anything as I really dont see that I'm doing any harm in letting you see it and the details, thanks.

This is the item and the power details etc, really hope someone can help me please as I think and pray I havent blown it :(

Says on it "120 VOLTS, 60Hz , 4 AMPS, 500 watt motor, .75 HP"
and of course it has a 2 pin american style Plug on the Cable.

I dont see any switch to switch voltage and it doesnt mention a volatage switch in the instructions either.

Heres a screenshot of the item >

datavacedited.png


Hope someone can help me or tell me a cheap way to get this to work in the UK, thanks very much ;)

p.s
I edited out the name on the machine etc incase its not allowed.
 
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AtaRo said:
Get a 240/220Volts to 120/110Volts stepdown transformer with minimum 500W rating.


Click to expand...

is that expensive though as that would take away the whole point of getting my device much cheaper from the USA ?

Thanks mate.;)

p.s
is there any chance ive blown the item as in "burned it out or blew some sort of electronics inside it" ?

p.p.s
it didnt blow the fuse in the plug adaptor, i checked that out and its fine, so dont know if that means anything ?
 
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horseunderwater said:
A quick Google says the price will be at least £20
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wow man, I would have been better buying the item here in the uk all ready to go, at least another £20 :(

I need to find out if anyone that know electronics thinks I might have damaged it before I do anything,

so thats what I'm hoping, hoping that overclockers forum has a good spark to give me best advice.

thanks for your post by the way mate.
 
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A 500watts stepdown is going to cost you in the area of £50, the one in the picture is not going to cut it, the picture is only for reference so that you know what it's like.

Plugging the unit which is rated at 120v only to 220v is a big mistake thats twice the voltage rating of the unit, hopefully its only the fuse that gave in.
 
AtaRo said:
Plugging the unit which is rated at 120v only to 220v is a big mistake thats twice the voltage rating of the unit, hopefully its only the fuse that gave in.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't hold out much hope personally. The fuse will protect from over-current, but not over-voltage. I'd expect that most of the power circuitry inside the device will be shot unfortunately.
 
Yeah, you should really have checked the voltage on the unit first, and give your mates a slap. They clearly don't even know the basics of electronics. There is a large chance you have totallly blown it, that said, sometimes you get lucky. Only way to find out is to plug it into a 120V transformer, or send it back.
 
230v 50Hz into something designed for 120v 60Hz?

You're lucky you didn't injure yourself. Your friends obviously don't know a thing.
 
All l bought was a electric air bed pump about £15P&P came with 3 nozzle sizes works a treat--> Air bed pump Sidewinder 220v-240v. ;)
 
jbloggs said:
I have one of these which I bought here in the UK, so works on 230v, works very well indeed...
Click to expand...

thanks guys :)

@ jbloggs, does your UK model come with a transformer to downgrade the power or is it all built into the hand held unit mate ?

@horseunderwater, I paid about 30-40 pounds cheaper (including shipping) than they cost to buy in the UK mate.
 
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scotslad said:
thanks guys :)

@ jbloggs, does your UK model come with a transformer to downgrade the power or is it all built into the hand held unit mate ?

@horseunderwater, I paid about 30-40 pounds cheaper (including shipping) than they cost to buy in the UK mate.
Click to expand...

Possibly good news , I tried the shaver plug again that I used to try the gadget and it looks like the fuse has blown on it, its only a 1 amp
fuse, so I dont have any those small fuses spare, so ive just ordered some from ebay, might come in handy at some point, until then I either
need to go about like the wolfwan (hairy face) or use bic razors or summit.

I really really do hope its just the fuse thats blown on plug and not the actual main gadget I bought (fingers crossed).

I know a guy who is professenional electrician, I think I will hand the gadget to him now and let him test it to see if its done
damage inside or what, best idea.

Strange though, because the shaver plug did work a couple of times even after I tested the gadget using it, but now its not working, very weird, hmmm

@ phillydee, they sell them here, exact same thing, 500 watt motor and all, but for use in UK with UK 3 pin plug etc, thats why I'm desperate for user "JBLOGGS"
to get back to me to tell me exactly more about his and what the voltages and wattages are etc.
 
Hi again, just priced the two items, just as a flow up, in these hard times everylittle helps. :)

Bestway Sidewinder - 2 Go 240v Air Pump - Price In UK: £14.49 includes p+p
Datavac Electric Duster ED-500 220-240V - Price In UK: £84.49
 
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