Hi all!

Not sure if this is the right place to ask this but no harm trying i guess.

I bought a vacuum cleaner made to be used on a 110v 400hz power supply from a defunct stock sale, hoping it could be used in the home.
Please could anyone tell me what would be needed to use this on UK domestic power supply?

Thanks for any help.

a transformer... what is the plug like can you take a photo?
http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/ ... index.html

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- Dave
http://www.pamperhouse.net
http://www.invertedcircle.co.uk

Thanks Dave

There's no plug on it, just blue/brown wiring.

Is the voltage frequency (400hz) not an issue?

Bob

400hz ??? are you sure , thats not a common frequency in any country .

Can you post a link to your hoover or post some pictures .

Nick

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If it isnt broke dont bloody touch it until it bloody well is and if it is broke then make drawing of the connections before you remove the broken one and replace with a new one LoL

Hi Nick

It's a numatic avq 250

It came from a Bae systems factory shutdown clearance sale so presumably for use on aircraft power.

Bob

I would have thought the only way you will be able to use this inm any building would be by changing the motor. Maybe contact Numatic they would be able to advise better .

Nick

_________________
If it isnt broke dont bloody touch it until it bloody well is and if it is broke then make drawing of the connections before you remove the broken one and replace with a new one LoL

http://www.greenandwhite.co.uk/product-p/833750.htm
yep aircraft supply

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we are all ------------------still learning

The 400Hz is common with aircraft. If the motor needs the 400Hz then the only way is to use an inverter which will likely cost more than you paid. However most vacuum cleaners use a brushed motor which really does not care what the frequency is and will even work with DC.

As to the voltage USA uses 110 volts to earth but UK we use 55 or 64 (when from three phase) to earth with 110 volt between the live wires. We don't use a neutral. This means both feeds are live and double pole switching and where needed double pole fusing is required. Although often a blue wire is used it is strictly speaking wrong it should be Brown and Black or Grey. In real terms the cable is just not available so brown and blue is always used.

However using a standard yellow brick transformer can cause fires due to lack of auto disconnection (fuse) on the second live wire.

Most the Numatic machines I have worked on have standard motors and will have 1, 2, or 3 units in each cleaner. With the 110 volt models the big problem is the 3 motor versions use more than 16A and it relies on the common practice of using one 20A MCB to feed to 16A sockets to get enough supply. On the building of Sizewell Nuclear Electric were very strict and we were not allowed to have 20A MCB's feeding 16A sockets so we had to re-wire and re-plug using either a 32A plug or a three phase 16A plug. These machines would not run from a standard yellow brick transformer.

So as well as the 400Hz problem you may also have a problem getting a big enough supply. I think the one you have is just 1200W which is no real problem at around 11 amp but not sure on aircraft spec.

If the vacuum runs from a standard yellow brick then likely it's a brushed motor and no problem. If it does have a AC only motor then the cheap option would be to change the motors to a 230v 50Hz type but I think you will find a brushed motor which will work both AC and DC and the frequency will be no problem.

But all the adds say:-

*This machine is designed for aircrafts 115v/400Hz power supply*

aircraft power supplys only

So maybe you just can't use without an inverter to give 400Hz. And the cost of inverter is likely more than cost of vacuum.