Step Down Transformer

[Celtoid]

Hi All,

Made a Rookie mistake and ordered an electric knife sharpener from the US. Has multi-language instructions, covers warranty in different countries, ships to Australia, etc. Unfortunately it turns up in US format ... US plug and 120V requirements.

Does anybody know of a place in Brissy that I can purchase a Tx that can handle 125W ... other than the ridiculously priced Jaycar items?

There are good options available in other cities in AUS (around $40) but would like to walk into the shop and buy.

Appreciated.

Kev.

[roverrescue]

Electric knife sharpener says to me
Dumb electric motor

If it has brains and computers ignore my thoughts
But if it’s a dumb induction electric motor I’d pop the cover and look at the specs on the actual motor

Orrr plug it in and see what happens !!!
If the smoke comes out I think you can buy a can of smoke at Jaycar ;)

S

[trout1105]

Hi All,

Made a Rookie mistake and ordered an electric knife sharpener from the US. Has multi-language instructions, covers warranty in different countries, ships to Australia, etc. Unfortunately it turns up in US format ... US plug and 120V requirements.

Does anybody know of a place in Brissy that I can purchase a Tx that can handle 125W ... other than the ridiculously priced Jaycar items?

There are good options available in other cities in AUS (around $40) but would like to walk into the shop and buy.

Appreciated.

Kev.

Send it back and get one of these [thumbsupbig]
Victorinox Wetzstahl Oval Diamond Coated Sharpening Steel 23cm | 7.8313 7611160705051 | eBay (https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/273787942430?epid=2143793691&_trkparms=ispr%3D1&hash=item3fbf08761e:g:RvcAAOSwKEhcofh~&amdata=enc%3AAQAFAAACgBaobrjLl8XobRIiIML1V4Imu%252 Fn%252BzU5L90Z278x5ickkY3FSd4Ad8xn3oRtkVexxrJBdBU0 CYvyutXq1%252FW5O%252F7XYduGNq5purCNRkm2uLBAilVmfs z6TKR3yCoyN%252FgGOx2u2z%252F0m9fWnKZefzG%252FNnX2 iyBKB1Yq%252B7YSUfD7u8vg8KDVqmNLvzfrYx1b8RfE3SVj6a rh9geRH2v8oDnVJqZBujkpHHarMMGR2kJbl5Ouy%252FIKrwom 91dYjDdxy4z4QScnUNAu2Gh0JNocTFzHSGLfeg3vWhdrmmS32q 0%252F%252BWp3K5N5w56BI8U7MhONLcP7snOqB3v9PRyVCHXr sPONsy5tsdmnjX56EBPkgQ3BWYefa0Y3gMSic7RjYgicrCukzt FltbY%252BLIKkKx%252BxbnTh763zolYedfzDeJARSbLb0pB0 0CCfkqKc3r2Ai%252FyRo%252Bnuwwk8LU7E3IDyLc%252Fvyz VTuFtBpwTRp%252BbR5RLri80WXrQY3L7QKcfmrFUNcYrqpeNC RzXeBi2q7cxU7O87BdOAOY%252BHA3vUDOUDNYc3MeMzdLW9N% 252BzRam7%252FENi3a9671zlEuP0Yn%252B%252BiA7tHz7rO %252BwrUja09pL67aRyuiOD24MXl0UZdjSQlprhnoiSX%252By jHSY%252F4oRquKpzH1UL6wEUMU3X96KrUgRG5uXqvF%252B7I v6HLW5BG%252BLUIUorp%252BRqdPFqDv%252FkqXS4ocZRiqf tJSlIy5pfRGyvI3awq%252FWpXdUmDyjNvnCYk8ZDnDi991g0R Jr9zTVK4jTmXNUS47hN6RXmsEKIvU2fsnkvjpgZYz3jw%252B2 uks3jpbUN3rrQ2tmykWUNaoeoKFT8rtw6AQGIH3RMl5sLMDTlM %253D%7Ccksum%3A2737879424304203d7bbf109437eaba28f 86d45a0b61%7Campid%3APL_CLK%7Cclp%3A2334524)

Much easier on your knives, does a much better job of keeping a keen edge on your knives and NO need whatsoever to plug it in so you can even use it when you go bush [biggrin][thumbsupbig]

I have tried many differant types of knife sharpeners over the last 50 years and a whetstone and a GOOD steel is by far the most coveniant, easy and reliable option by Far [thumbsupbig]

I still have an older (at least 15 years old) Victrinox diamond steel in with my killing knives set and it still does the job and I haven't had to use a whetstone on any of them since I got the diamond steel. [biggrin][bigrolf]

[Blknight.aus]

dick smiths (if you can find one) altronics, would be my gotos, office works has been known to carry them.

but heres a google search result of a bunch of other aussie places and then theres ebay...

240v to 120v step down transformer brisbane - Google တွင် ရှာရန် (https://www.google.com/search?q=240v+to+120v+step+down+transformer+brisba ne&rlz=1C1CHBD_en-GBAU932AU932&sxsrf=ALeKk0040mcm4FgGdlNaMPOUmXcYEK-HGg%3A1622198490643&ei=2siwYNDkJoSO4-EP8PGj2AQ&oq=240v+to+120v+step+down+transformer+brisbane&gs_lcp=Cgdnd3Mtd2l6EAMyBQgAEM0CMgUIABDNAjIFCAAQzQI yBQgAEM0CMgUIABDNAjoHCAAQRxCwAzoCCAA6BggAEBYQHjoEC CEQFToHCCEQChCgAVDn3BBY9uUQYMfoEGgBcAJ4AIAB3gOIAbI UkgEJMC4xLjcuMS4xmAEAoAEBqgEHZ3dzLXdpesgBCMABAQ&sclient=gws-wiz&ved=0ahUKEwjQuaimmOzwAhUExzgGHfD4CEsQ4dUDCA4&uact=5)

Fair warning....

check what your appliance is and if you need an isolating or non isolating transformer, the isolation ones are dearer the non isolating ones about half the price for the same number of watts.

[Celtoid]

dick smiths (if you can find one) altronics, would be my gotos, office works has been known to carry them.

but heres a google search result of a bunch of other aussie places and then theres ebay...

240v to 120v step down transformer brisbane - Google တွင် ရှာရန် (https://www.google.com/search?q=240v+to+120v+step+down+transformer+brisba ne&rlz=1C1CHBD_en-GBAU932AU932&sxsrf=ALeKk0040mcm4FgGdlNaMPOUmXcYEK-HGg%3A1622198490643&ei=2siwYNDkJoSO4-EP8PGj2AQ&oq=240v+to+120v+step+down+transformer+brisbane&gs_lcp=Cgdnd3Mtd2l6EAMyBQgAEM0CMgUIABDNAjIFCAAQzQI yBQgAEM0CMgUIABDNAjoHCAAQRxCwAzoCCAA6BggAEBYQHjoEC CEQFToHCCEQChCgAVDn3BBY9uUQYMfoEGgBcAJ4AIAB3gOIAbI UkgEJMC4xLjcuMS4xmAEAoAEBqgEHZ3dzLXdpesgBCMABAQ&sclient=gws-wiz&ved=0ahUKEwjQuaimmOzwAhUExzgGHfD4CEsQ4dUDCA4&uact=5)

Fair warning....

check what your appliance is and if you need an isolating or non isolating transformer, the isolation ones are dearer the non isolating ones about half the price for the same number of watts.

Hi Dave,

Thanks for the input.

Dicky Smith is online only these days I believe. There is an Altronics in Virginia but they are asking $169 for a 250w. I'm sure their's and Jaycar's are good bits of kit that will probably go all day, but I only need something that will run off and on for 10 minutes every week or so. However, If I have to pay the bucks I will.

Fortunately there are a few online options in Aus, but having a new shiny thing, was wanting to play straight away .... you know how it is [bigrolf]

The important thing in your post for me is the question around isolating and non-isolating. What does that mean? How do I tell? Is it when the device has no earth pin on the plug or are you referring to some sort of built in ELCB (or something similar)?

Thanks again.

Cheers,

Kev.

[p38arover]

I think you'd be wasting money getting a transformer. Treat this as a learning exercise.

I assume from isolating and non-isolating, Dave means one has a transformer with separate 240v and 120v windings whereas a non-isolating might mean it's an autotransformer with a single winding, tapped at 120v, e.g., below pic.

171261

[Old Farang]

To be strictly legal, and safe, an autotransformer has to be an integral part of an appliance or other equipment. In other words, not something with an outlet on it that other things can be plugged into.
You need a double wound transformer which can be checked with a simple ohmmeter to show that there is no connection between the input and output.

[Blknight.aus]

171261
Whats here are both auto transformers and are what you need if you are going to be using an earthed appliance (caveats apply) and expect to have your RCD's work

Hi Dave,

Thanks for the input.

Dicky Smith is online only these days I believe. There is an Altronics in Virginia but they are asking $169 for a 250w. I'm sure their's and Jaycar's are good bits of kit that will probably go all day, but I only need something that will run off and on for 10 minutes every week or so. However, If I have to pay the bucks I will.

Fortunately there are a few online options in Aus, but having a new shiny thing, was wanting to play straight away .... you know how it is [bigrolf]

The important thing in your post for me is the question around isolating and non-isolating. What does that mean? How do I tell? Is it when the device has no earth pin on the plug or are you referring to some sort of built in ELCB (or something similar)?

Thanks again.

Cheers,

Kev.

171265

thats the schematic for an isolating transformer, and with it come restritions, you cant use it for earthed appliances, it has to be double insulated from the wall to the end device, it cant have earth pins on the output side, the input side can only have an earth pin if its there to act as a safety interlock (some industrial sockets will not allow a plug into them unless there is an earth pin present) or as a noise suppresion ground and probably a bunch I've forgotten

[Geedublya]

Compare & Buy Step Down Transformers & Voltage Converters (https://wallcann.com.au/step-down-transformers)

[Celtoid]

Whats here are both auto transformers and are what you need if you are going to be using an earthed appliance (caveats apply) and expect to have your RCD's work


171265

thats the schematic for an isolating transformer, and with it come restritions, you cant use it for earthed appliances, it has to be double insulated from the wall to the end device, it cant have earth pins on the output side, the input side can only have an earth pin if its there to act as a safety interlock (some industrial sockets will not allow a plug into them unless there is an earth pin present) or as a noise suppresion ground and probably a bunch I've forgotten

Thanks Dave and Ron,

Went to Altronics in Brisbane with knife sharpener and its instructions in tow.

I now have an isolated transformer which is working perfectly.

Whilst I've spent more than I intended, the sharpener is awesome and I'm still roughly $100 ahead than I would have been had I bought it in Australia. I'd much prefer to walk into a store and buy something .... but so much is online now ... you surf the net .... don't quite pay attention to which Amazon site you are using .... and you're in my shoes [bighmmm].

Cheers guys.

Kev.