220v vs 110v Skimmer Question for my 450 Tank Build!

[BILLYO382]

Hello guys and gals, I have the opportunity to purchase a skimmer from a guy that got the skimmer setup from europe. It looks to be like the deltec ap701 skimmer with a enhiem pump. The only problem is that the pump is 220v and not a 110v but there are converters for sale on the market that are only 20 bucks. I'll post a link below. But I called Deltec and they said that theyve had people try to convert the pump and the pump eventually fails sonner than later but just a matter of time. I dont know if there just trying to get me to buy there pump or what but either way I dont want a fire in my house under my tank. A local elcetrican told me that 220v in europe is also 50 hertz and its 60 hertz here in the states so there even on a diff. frequency I guess. Im just not sure to whether or not to get the skimmer or pass. Is there anyone here that have run a converter successfully for a long time with no problems. thanks in adavance.

ps-kinda need a answer like yesterday on this deal. thanks again

 

[stunreefer]

IMO, pass on it.

If something happens you'll never get replecement parts for it.

One of my good reefer buddies has a US spec Deltec and he cant even get parts for it within reasonable time within reasonable price.

 

[BILLYO382]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14246755#post14246755 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by stunreefer
IMO, pass on it.

If something happens you'll never get replecement parts for it.

One of my good reefer buddies has a US spec Deltec and he cant even get parts for it within reasonable time within reasonable price.

Ok thanks for your advice, please everyone else keep them coming with your own ideas, experiences or thougths. thanks

 

[mustang51js]

i would pass too, your not going to save much money on something that small with 220v, and i dont see how you could get 220v out of a 110v socket with out a transformer and thats not worth having under the tank

 

[Morpheous]

Hi, All you need is to purchase a step down transformer to 110V at 60Hz and you should be able to run the skimmer.
I am not sure about the converter that you are mentioning, but the transformer at my place don't come cheap.

 

[Morpheous]

Sorry, in your case, it should be a step up transformer to 220v

 

[Jim_S]

The 220-110v isn't the problem here. Its the frequency at which the motor spins. EU runs on 50Hz. We run on 60Hz. Motors spin faster on our frequency (the reason why US pinwheel pumps draw more air than EU pinwheel pumps). You cannot change the frequency at which the pump operates at. You can change the voltage, but not the frequency. The pump will fry and you will be out $500 (the cost of a replacement deltec eheim). Buy a US skimmer

 

[Heinz]

hmm, i am from germany and shipt all my 220v equipment from germany to canada when we moved, also eheim pumps, i run em on 220v-60hz with no problem , every house, at least here in canada, run there dryer-stove on 220v-60hz, thats what i use, all epuipment works now for 12 years with no problem, also use some 220v-50hz equipment, mostly from the kitchen, on a transformer 110-220, works also fine,

i guess everything runs a little faster, but i couldnt notice it, on anything

 

[buck50bmg]

A 10hz increase isn NOT going to fry your pump. For most motors (VFD Driven) you can go to 150% of the nameplate. It will spin faster, yes but not fry the pump. As you increase frequency the pump will loose power but at a 10HZ increase....no problem. Its almost a wash.

 

[buck50bmg]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14251964#post14251964 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Jim_S
The 220-110v isn't the problem here. Its the frequency at which the motor spins. EU runs on 50Hz. We run on 60Hz. Motors spin faster on our frequency (the reason why US pinwheel pumps draw more air than EU pinwheel pumps). You cannot change the frequency at which the pump operates at. You can change the voltage, but not the frequency. The pump will fry and you will be out $500 (the cost of a replacement deltec eheim). Buy a US skimmer

The only reason US pumps would spin faster than EU pumps is if you are using a EU pump in the US. If the pump is made in the US for say 100gph and you run it in the EU you will get about 85-90gph and vise versa for the EU made pump.

You could put 1khz to that pump and its not going to hurt it at all. The core and winding losses will not let it damage the motor.

 

[buck50bmg]

Get the skimmer, run 220vac to the pump (not hard) and run it, when it dies get a 120v 60hz motor. By the way 220vac will save on some energy usage too. (not alot but some)

 

[Fiziksgeek]

Regardless of all that. A deltec 701 is undersized for a 450. So I would skip it, unless you are planning to run multiple skimmers.

 

[Jim_S]

My mistake! I was just going off what I have read in the deltec forum over the years. They (Doug and now Marvin) have always stated that EU pumps won't work here due to the frequency jump. Good luck!

 

[Black Mammoth]

If you aren't worried about replacement parts or sizing (for the tank), go ahead and get it. You just need to buy a converter.

 

[BILLYO382]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14252548#post14252548 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by buck50bmg
Get the skimmer, run 220vac to the pump (not hard) and run it, when it dies get a 120v 60hz motor. By the way 220vac will save on some energy usage too. (not alot but some)

Yeah I understand it will work, but just worried about it failing and burning, and casuing a fire under my tank. I can better hadle the pump failing and having to order another one, but the fire issue is a big concern. lol. Thanks for all you advice though below i'll post a link to the converter its cheap too.

converter link for less than 20 bucks

 

[BILLYO382]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14253969#post14253969 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Fiziksgeek
Regardless of all that. A deltec 701 is undersized for a 450. So I would skip it, unless you are planning to run multiple skimmers.

Yes I was going to run the skimmer in conjuction with another one. thanks

 

[buck50bmg]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14255059#post14255059 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BILLYO382
Yeah I understand it will work, but just worried about it failing and burning, and casuing a fire under my tank. I can better hadle the pump failing and having to order another one, but the fire issue is a big concern. lol. Thanks for all you advice though below i'll post a link to the converter its cheap too.

converter link for less than 20 bucks

Now those "converters" transformers are junk, cheap made in china and not UL approved.

 

[BILLYO382]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14255536#post14255536 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by buck50bmg
Now those "converters" transformers are junk, cheap made in china and not UL approved.

Oh, well I guess I just dont want to go thru all the additional trouble for the skimmer and risk an electrical problem. Water and electricity dont mix well plus all my livestock, i dont want to spend another 500 on a pump for the skimmer american version, Id be better off buying a american skimmer so I think im going to go that route. However I really do appreciate your input and all the others, thanks. be on the lookout for my build coming shortly.

 

[KEEPERZ]

Looking forward to the build - saying that- I have an A300 external H&S on my 700g and maybe we can work something out, I need to upgrade sooner then later-check them out on finsreef.com and shoot me a PM if it's an option for you-