115v unit - can i use it?

Ice Rich

Ice Rich

Ice Rich

Soldato
Joined
3 Dec 2004
Posts
2,637
Hi all,

I have a 115v device I need to get power to (here in the UK). It has the 3 power wires ready to connect to something but I have no idea how to go about doing it?
Any ideas?

Many thanks,
 
You need a step down transformer and the only ones I know of are quite costly, depending on what device it's for of course:)

See here
 
Sometimes these things have in-built transformers so you can plug them in just about anywhere in the world, so long as you have the right plug, and it'll work.

Give it a shot. At worst it'll catch fire and burn your house down.
 
I imported one of the first dvd players that could be made region free over 10 years ago ,uses the same USA to uk transformer that JohnnyG linked to :)
 
Stepdown

and lol this reminded me of when I was younger...
Pulled one of those little motors out of an el cheapo RC car, must have been tubular about the circumfrence of a 50p coin and maybe an inch or so long, cant remember what we attached to the end of it. Added some extra wires to the power cables on it an plugged it into the mains :( Poof lol
 
plugging domestic 230v into a 115v unit will damage the eqipment. as above get a step down transformer (Blue to yellow). more than likely though it'll have an industrial adapter (depending on what it is)

what is this mysterious object I've heard so much about :D
 
Lunatic Dreyfus said:
Ah, someone's getting curious about 115v in the UK...

Anybody try flicking to that setting on an old skool PC PSU? Then turn it on.

I did.
Click to expand...

I remember a guy at college did that. I'll never forget the look on the tutors face when she walked into a classroom full of smoke. Surprised it didn't set off the fire alarm now I think about it
 
is it definitely only 115 ? usually find that a lot of plugs/devices will say 110-240 on them


it will go POP if its only 115 though
 
bodybag said:
It also depends on the Wattage of the said item...
Click to expand...

why would it depend on the wattage?

as long as he isn't plugging in a arc welder then I doubt it's going to be anything obscenely high (then again I just said something stupid)
 
Most devices come with a switch mode power supply these days. See if you can find an equivalent power supply (save output voltage / current) - it's the cheapest solution IMO.

What I've done in the past is found the output that I've needed from a PSU, chopped the connector off, soldered the connector of the 115V device onto the new PSU output lead, and hey presto (make sure you get the polarity right ;)).

As long as the PSU gives the right voltage and enough current it'll work, if it's rated at a higher current, don't worry as the device will only draw the max it can. As long as that max is within the max that the PSU can supply you'll be fine.
 
I mixed the power packs for my xboxs up when i came back from the US once and plugged the UK kettle lead into a US power brick.
Plugged it in flicked the switch and made a horrible smell and knocked out all the power for my house as the main RCD went off. My US xbox now doesnt have a US brick that works, I can plug it inot one of my old UK bricks but that doesnt work in the US which was kinda the point in owning it.
 
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