Chile Forum

We're planning our electric renovation with my maestro and I'm researching to what extent I can reduce the UPS/extensions/converters/wall warts hell that is my current home. We have a bunch of computers, video consoles, music appliances and so forth, with a mix of 110v US appliances, dual 110/220v appliances but with a US plug, 220v appliances and so forth. Once we're in the new place I don't want to keep the mess I currently have behind my desk or TV.

I'm thinking of installing strips of 9 or 12 plugs (i.e. 3 or 4 modules) instead of your usual 3-plug module. I'd also like to have 110v and possibly 12v and/or 5v from some of these plugs. Finally I'd like these to be behind UPS'es.

First question, does anyone have experience with turning 220v into 110v *without* a step down converter? I've found this:
- http://www.handymanwire.com/questions/e ... 110vq.html
- http://www.electrical-online.com/convert220to110.htm
- http://www.marisio.cl/web/productos.php?id=45 (see US-type plugs somewhere in the middle of the page)
- infinity-cable.com/icp_home_wiring_dc_power_supply.htm

I'd love to find the content above in spanish because my spanish and understanding of things electric are limited, while my maestro is a trained electrician but doesn't speak English and he's unsure about the whole 220v to 110v deal. And then my US appliances need 110v/60Hz, not 110v/50Hz.

Second, does anyone have experience in getting rid of all those small power supplies that come with electronic devices and found a way to plug them directly "in the wall"?

Otravers, it's important to understand how 220V is achieved in the US. Basically the power company supplies two "hot" 110V (+/-) legs to the panel. Most of the house is powered from one side or other of the panel, in 110V. In special applications, like a 220v range or dryer, a breaker is used that draws power from both sides of the panel (both "bus bars"). So, in the US, to convert a 220v outlet to 110v, (simplified) one only need take a hot and a neutral, leaving the other "leg" capped off.
In Chile, it's not so easy.

I'm in the process of rebuilding my Region 5 house and plan to have a separate 110v system, US plugs and all. I just received a 4000watt transformer via E Bay (heavy, 30 plus pounds) that will be under the house, activated by a heavy duty on/off switch. Last month while I was heading South, I brought 12 US electrical boxes, along with a box of US outlets, wire nuts and a couple of 20Amp switches. I had to explain to the nice customs lady what they were for.
I was in doubt at first as to whether I'd be able to get "Romex" wire but a quick trip to Sodimac handled that.
The plan is to have a 110V outlet in every room, in "most useful" locations, completely independent of the 240V system. There will be a "switch leg" in 240V from a central location to the transformer downstairs, so that I can switch the 120V system off when not needed. I wanted a transformer big enough to run 110V power tools in the garage too, the 50Hz results in a bit more arcing so that's not optimal but for most applications it'll be OK I think.
I'm only having my Chilean electrical sub wire the 220V system, I'll handle the 110V part.

(Late edit) After looking at pretty much the same unit on an advertiser's site, http://www.220converters.com/store/p/45 ... 110v.html#
I realize the E Bay vendor understated the weight of the transformer! It's (by my bathroom scale) 43lbs. This of course is going to cause me a problem at check in. What are the chances I can get this through in my roller bag?

Thanks very much for these helpful clarifications, MikieO. That's a pretty beefy step-down converter you've got there. I guess I could do something at a smaller scale in a couple rooms (office, living room) where we got most of our US appliances.

Where are you on the coast, and are you currently in Chile? I'd love to compare notes on what materials to use, where to find them and so forth.

A 750-1000 Watt transformer will cover a room's worth of stuff, and these are available in Chile. The Chinese ones commonly seen overstate their ratings, so compare the physical size and weight - bigger is generally better in this situation. Electrical wholesalers stock decent units.

For 110volt appliances, use good quality US-style plugs and sockets, preferably of US origin, otherwise you WILL blow stuff up by misplugging 110volt appliances into 220 outlets.

If you need a UPS, buy a 220 volt one, and plug the stepdown transformer into the output. Decent APC UPSs are locally available

Not so much as a problem as it used to be, but still something to be aware of: some 60 cycle equipment does do not like 50 cycle current. Symptoms: overheating, transformers and motors burning up.

OTV, I am in the US right now but may get out for 4-5 days at the end of the month, work permitting. My place in in El Tabo, between Algarrobo and San Antonio.
At the coast, getting recognizable materials can be tough, I usually spend my 1st day in Chile at the casa de cambio, bank and Sodimac, in that order.

Thanks, I'm going to look for a 1000-1500W converter locally (which presumably will do 50Hz to 60Hz too) and get my maestro to install it behind a 220v UPS and wire to US plugs in the rooms where we'll need them. I don't have US power tools so I don't need a behemoth converter, I just want to get rid of all those extra boxes and cables cluttering our space and collecting dust.

(which presumably will do 50Hz to 60Hz too

I wouldn't presume too much OTV. That's a much more complicated scenario than a straight step down transformer. Not to say they aren't available but I can imagine MOSFETS and such being introduced to an otherwise simple scenario. Tombrad will be your "go to" guy in this regard.
Nice to have resources eh?

When using transformers 220=>115 VAC you have to watch not only the rated amperage of some of the cheaper transformer devices, but also the voltage drop effects as power draw increases. I brought along a 4000 watt transformer to convert 220 VAC for my 115 VAC devices, only to discover that as I approached 50 percent of the rated continuous capacity, the voltage had dropped below 108 VAC and was getting dangerously close to the point at which damage could occur to some of my devices. Also I think that some folks have noticed that Chile used 50 Hz power and North America uses 60 Hz, and very few transformers will do frequency conversions.

I have found only a few competent electrical folks where I live in XII Región but the everyday maestro for most work is often sadly untrained in electrical theory and related effects on residential wiring. There is a lot of "make do" attitude and improvisation that would drive an inspector from the civilized countries completely insane.

We shipped all of our US appliances to Thailand when we moved here and had to deal with the same 220 only electrical system that you have down there in Chile. Everything we brought over worked just fine on 110v 50hz coming out of the 1000 watt step down transformers we used. No overheating or electronics issues even for the 50" wide screen TV. I even figured out a way to combine 110 and 220 into a single US multi-voltage plug to run a clothes drier that used both 110 and 220 voltages together. Most electronics run off of DC rather than AC. The AC once it enters the electronic appliance is immediately converted to DC and at that point the 50hz vs 60hz problem is no longer relevant.

Say, I am curious. I have seen people do these 110 / 220 conversions, but what appliances are you really bringing that it would not simply be cheaper and easier to replace in Chile rather than rewire an entire house to do it?

By the time you ship it, pay the taxes, move it in the country, rewire your house to 110, you could have replaced everything in your house with 220 several times over.

Once you step in to the land of big expensive appliances say like a stove don't they go 220 anyway in the States?

Even all my computer systems and such I order from the States, and they are almost always 220 auto switching now. I think I have a couple of phones I bought with only 110 external PS that I simply replaced with a 220.

The funny thing is even buying in the States, the only thing I have recently not been able to find with a 220 auto switch in it is a good UPS.

It's small specialized appliances as far as I'm concerned. Say, my Squeezebox networked mp3 player. That sort of gadget is either not available in Chile, or costs twice the price. Dual power supplies are becoming more prevalent, but are far from universal.

otravers wrote:It's small specialized appliances as far as I'm concerned. Say, my Squeezebox networked mp3 player.

I have a Squeezebox here with a 220v adaptor. You can (or at least could) buy a different power supply from the manufacturer (for I think something like $20). They used to come in US, British and European styles. Alternatively, you should be able to get a DC power supply here that will work. Maybe it would be just as easy to replace the power bricks on a dozen electronics as to rewire the house?

I do have a couple of electronic things plugged into small transformers, which are also pretty easy to get from somewhere like Sodimac.

Cheers,

James.