Convert from 220v or not

[Sand crab]

Originally Posted by hellosailor

The OP needs to come up with more details.
" (it presently doesn’t have A/C), "
OK, but right now, what is the AC power being used for?

Does he mean air conditioning?. In the states we call this A/C elsewhere it's known as aircon. In the states aircon is that shitty movie with Nicolas Cage.
If he's in South Carolina he'll want A/C for sure.

[OldMan]

Originally Posted by boatpoker

220 conductors are much thinner than 120. You can't just change outlets and/or appliances. Running 120 through conductors sized from 220 is not wise.

The wires are not 'thinner'. Conductor size has nothing to do with voltage. Typical EU wiring for receptacles are protected with 16A or 10A breakers and the correct size wire. You can run 120V on either of these with no loss of protection.

[OldMan]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

Depending on your loads, you might get away with using the existing wire, replacing breakers and de rating your amperage. Remember, these wire runs are quite short too. Measure or observe the wire gauge, see what it actually is. Let's say you are 30 amp at 230 V. Can you live with 15 amp at 120 volt? My guess is most users can.
How much AC do you really need?

The existing breakers will protect the existing wire at both 230v or 120v, no need to change the breakers.


230V 30A can support 120V 30A.

[Cadence]

Just out of curiosity? Is European 220V single or three phase?

[CatNewBee]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

Depending on your loads, you might get away with using the existing wire, replacing breakers and de rating your amperage. Remember, these wire runs are quite short too. Measure or observe the wire gauge, see what it actually is. Let's say you are 30 amp at 230 V. Can you live with 15 amp at 120 volt? My guess is most users can.
How much AC do you really need?

wire is dimensioned by Amps only, 220V 16A wiring can be used for 110V 16A with no issues, it is the same amperage, but the power is half (220V x 16A vs 110V x 16A).

60Hz vs 50Hx may be an issue with transformars, AC motors are usually asynchronous, so the frequency is a non issue. there.

[Sail4ever]

I want to thank all that responded, it will help me decide my route.

[Sand crab]

I think all euro standard residential wiring is not 3 phase just like the US. Most boaty bits would use the standard stuff unless you got a super yacht.
I don't think you can get US 110v out of euro 220 because the US uses two 110v legs which can be combined for 220v. In Europe it's just the one single 220v leg so I don't think you can split in half without gadgets.

.

[sailormed]

Originally Posted by Sand crab

I think all euro standard residential wiring is not 3 phase just like the US. Most boaty bits would use the standard stuff unless you got a super yacht.
.

European house 220V is one phase of the 380V 3 phase that gets delivered to the house. The other conductor is the neutral
You need 3 conductors for the 3 phases. For big consumers you can get a 3 phase 380V plug installed in your house.
Electricians typically spread the 3 phases of the incoming current over the different electrical systems of the house to equalize the load on the different phases.

[CatNewBee]

That is true, in Europe houses are wired typically 3 phases (black) plus ground (blue) and earth wire (yellow/green) to the main distribution, than split to three circuits on the fuse panel. Using the full 3 wires you get three phase 380V (120° phase shift) for power tools, single phase to ground is 220V.
(380V because of the phase shift of 120°, a 180° shift would output 440V, but is not what is used in Europe)

Kittchen hobs use often 2 phases of the three and the third goes to the oven to distribute the load, you can configure the hobs by bridges on the installation panel, integrated hob / oven units use all three phases usually.

In the US you can buy plain transformers to create 220V of 110V or vice versa. We use one at home to run 110V US xmas stuff on 220V, 50Hz. There are also electronic inverters thas can transform 220V 50Hz to 110V 60Hz, but too complicated and usually not necessary and working only one way.

AFAIK, US has 2 phase 110V (180° phase shift), so you can use the two phases as a single phase 220V directly if you dont mind the 60Hz.

[Sand crab]

The best thing about this forum is what one can learn and I have been corrected. I was getting my info from my English friend and after research it appears that most residences in the UK are still single phase 230v although the voltage there can vary slightly in different locations. I see that Europe is mostly 3 phase but because of Brexit the UK won't be considered Europe any more.
So are most euro boat gensets 3 phase? And where would be the trade off from single phase to 3?

[OldMan]

Originally Posted by Sand crab

The best thing about this forum is what one can learn and I have been corrected. I was getting my info from my English friend and after research it appears that most residences in the UK are still single phase 230v although the voltage there can vary slightly in different locations. I see that Europe is mostly 3 phase but because of Brexit the UK won't be considered Europe any more.
So are most euro boat gensets 3 phase? And where would be the trade off from single phase to 3?

I believe most EU recreational boats are single phase 230V

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by Sand crab

I think all euro standard residential wiring is not 3 phase just like the US. Most boaty bits would use the standard stuff unless you got a super yacht.
I don't think you can get US 110v out of euro 220 because the US uses two 110v legs which can be combined for 220v. In Europe it's just the one single 220v leg so I don't think you can split in half without gadgets.

.

A transformer will do it.

[OldMan]

Originally Posted by CatNewBee

That is true, in Europe houses are wired typically 3 phases (black) plus ground (blue) and earth wire (yellow/green) to the main distribution, than split to three circuits on the fuse panel. Using the full 3 wires you get three phase 380V (120° phase shift) for power tools, single phase to ground is 220V.
(380V because of the phase shift of 120°, a 180° shift would output 440V, but is not what is used in Europe)

Kittchen hobs use often 2 phases of the three and the third goes to the oven to distribute the load, you can configure the hobs by bridges on the installation panel, integrated hob / oven units use all three phases usually.

In the US you can buy plain transformers to create 220V of 110V or vice versa. We use one at home to run 110V US xmas stuff on 220V, 50Hz. There are also electronic inverters thas can transform 220V 50Hz to 110V 60Hz, but too complicated and usually not necessary and working only one way.

AFAIK, US has 2 phase 110V (180° phase shift), so you can use the two phases as a single phase 220V directly if you dont mind the 60Hz.

The US calls it 'split-phase' as it's created at the transformer on the pole in front of the house vs. multiple phases all the way from the generator station. The transformer secondary winding (240V) is center tapped (hence 'split') and that becomes the neutral, hence (2) 120V legs while still supporting 240V. So neither leg of the US 240V is neutral, unlike EU 230V which one leg is neutral.

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by OldMan

The US calls it 'split-phase' as it's created at the transformer on the pole in front of the house vs. multiple phases all the way from the generator station. The transformer secondary winding (240V) is center tapped (hence 'split') and that becomes the neutral, hence (2) 120V legs while still supporting 240V. So neither leg of the US 240V is neutral, unlike EU 230V which one leg is neutral.

Once on the secondary side the center tap is the neutral.

[OldMan]

Originally Posted by Cadence

Once on the secondary side the center tap is the neutral.

It become neutral because it's bonded with ground outside of the transformer.