Replies

1. 
   Bolts | May 29, 2006 11:48am | #1

   We are in Australia porter cable make some 240v tools but more exspensive than therir 110v cousins try Woodcraft.They can probably supply.ps we are on240v as well

   You can make it fool proof but not idiot proof 

1. 
   Ragnar17 | Jun 03, 2006 10:04am | #2

   I've often wondered about the 220V standard in Europe and Australia (and other places, too, I imagine). 

   In the US, the typical house has three lines coming in from the utility company -- two lines are at 110V each, and the third line is the neutral.  Each of the two hot lines gets connected to one of the two main bars at the service panel.  If you put a multimeter on one bar and the neutral, you'll read 110V.  However, if you read across the two bars, you'll get 220V, since the two hot lines are out of phase with one another.

   Can either of you tell me how a typical service panel in Europe is configured?

    

    

1. 
   Bolts | Jun 04, 2006 02:52am | #3

   I am not an electrician so this is only a rough outline of the Australian 240v 50hertz system,it is a two wire configuration one active or as you call it live 240v and a Neutral the system works on neutral earth return with the neutral .connected to an earth  link on the panel.Depending on power requirements of the house two or sometimes three 240v actives are used to share the load.Try posting this in Breaktime you might get an Aussie eletrician who can explain it all better than I can .

   Regards John Bolton

   You can make it fool proof but not idiot proof 

   Edited 6/3/2006 10:15 pm ET by Bolts

1. 
   Ragnar17 | Jun 04, 2006 07:43am | #4

   Thanks for the reply, John.  No need for me to ask an electrian -- you've already answered the question I was looking for. 

    

1. 
   Bolts | Jun 04, 2006 10:57am | #5

   Glad I could help .

      JohnYou can make it fool proof but not idiot proof