USA to UK Electrical Question

rort · 09/01/2016, 07:16 AM

Hey everybody! Its been a few years since I have been active on RC but after a big move to Ireland I am finally back in the hobby and set up with a great 30g nano. After some research found that the best skimmer for my Aquanano 60 is the Tunze 9002 but there are literally none available in the UK or Ireland... So found one back at home and is being sent to me with a care package from the parents but only realized after the fact that it will be a US plug...

Question is will the Tunze 1073.008 pump that comes with the Tunze 9002 skimmer be able to work just of a normal US to UK/Ireland adaptor or will the 3-8 watt pump need a full converter/transformer? Or are there any other options? https://www.tunze.com/en/products/de...id%5D=1073.008

I also, without realizing, picked up a small 6 watt LED light to add a small refugium to the back of the tank which will also be a US plug and will run in to the same problem. Again, is this ok to use a normal adaptor for or will a converter/transformer be needed? http://innovative-marine.com/auqa-gadget/magnafuge.html

Any help is HUGELY appreciated as I don't want this stuff shipped out here and then not able to work at all or ruin them by running them on an adaptor. THANKS for all the help guys!

JWClark · 09/02/2016, 06:50 AM

You need to find the input voltage for the pump. If stated as 110-240V then you will be fine with just a plug adapter. If only 110V--this would be my guess--then you will need a transformer. In addition the hertz is different between the US and UK. This could result in premature failure over time. Learned this when I lived in Kenya for a few years.

You'd be better off going to Germany to get it. Then it will be configured to EU standards.

JWClark · 09/02/2016, 06:53 AM

Same for the lights. The input voltage will be listed on the power bricks. If it states 50/60 hertz then you don't have to worry about premature failure or not functioning properly.

sleepydoc · 09/02/2016, 08:21 AM

Ditto. Most LED power supplies are dual voltage, and the Hz won't be an issue with them, but verify this on your fixture. You could probably just get a new plug from the hardware store & put it on the cord.

For the skimmer, I don't know what kind of motor it has, but I believe it has an AC motor, in which case you'll need to get both an adapter plug and a voltage adapter. If it's a DC pump you may get lucky.

You could also check to see if you can replace the pump. If you can get a new pump from Tunze in Germany, you may be able to just swap out the pump.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

sleepydoc · 09/03/2016, 07:12 AM

I just did a quick search on the 1073.008 pump - Tunze's web site confusingly lists the voltage supply as 230V / 50Hz (115 V / 60Hz). I'm not sure if that means it's a dual voltage pump, which would be very unusual for an AC pump, or if it is just an unclear way of saying it is shipped with either a 230V pump or a 115V pump. Regardless, check the labeling of pump when it arrives and/or talk to Tunze customer service. It appears you should be able to get a 230V replacement pump if the included pump is only rated for 110V

09/01/2016, 07:16 AM	#1
rort Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 1,934	USA to UK Electrical Question Hey everybody! Its been a few years since I have been active on RC but after a big move to Ireland I am finally back in the hobby and set up with a great 30g nano. After some research found that the best skimmer for my Aquanano 60 is the Tunze 9002 but there are literally none available in the UK or Ireland... So found one back at home and is being sent to me with a care package from the parents but only realized after the fact that it will be a US plug... Question is will the Tunze 1073.008 pump that comes with the Tunze 9002 skimmer be able to work just of a normal US to UK/Ireland adaptor or will the 3-8 watt pump need a full converter/transformer? Or are there any other options? https://www.tunze.com/en/products/de...id%5D=1073.008 I also, without realizing, picked up a small 6 watt LED light to add a small refugium to the back of the tank which will also be a US plug and will run in to the same problem. Again, is this ok to use a normal adaptor for or will a converter/transformer be needed? http://innovative-marine.com/auqa-gadget/magnafuge.html Any help is HUGELY appreciated as I don't want this stuff shipped out here and then not able to work at all or ruin them by running them on an adaptor. THANKS for all the help guys! __________________ Bobby Current Tank Info: Aquanano 60

09/02/2016, 06:50 AM	#2
JWClark Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: MD Posts: 576	You need to find the input voltage for the pump. If stated as 110-240V then you will be fine with just a plug adapter. If only 110V--this would be my guess--then you will need a transformer. In addition the hertz is different between the US and UK. This could result in premature failure over time. Learned this when I lived in Kenya for a few years. You'd be better off going to Germany to get it. Then it will be configured to EU standards. __________________ Back after a 13yr hiatus--much to my wife's dismay. Though she sure loves looking at the tank and feeding the fish! Current Tank Info: Reefer 450 seed tank for the retirement 315gal Reef Savvy build.

09/02/2016, 06:53 AM	#3
JWClark Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: MD Posts: 576	Same for the lights. The input voltage will be listed on the power bricks. If it states 50/60 hertz then you don't have to worry about premature failure or not functioning properly. __________________ Back after a 13yr hiatus--much to my wife's dismay. Though she sure loves looking at the tank and feeding the fish! Current Tank Info: Reefer 450 seed tank for the retirement 315gal Reef Savvy build.

09/02/2016, 08:21 AM	#4
sleepydoc Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 3,907	USA to UK Electrical Question Ditto. Most LED power supplies are dual voltage, and the Hz won't be an issue with them, but verify this on your fixture. You could probably just get a new plug from the hardware store & put it on the cord. For the skimmer, I don't know what kind of motor it has, but I believe it has an AC motor, in which case you'll need to get both an adapter plug and a voltage adapter. If it's a DC pump you may get lucky. You could also check to see if you can replace the pump. If you can get a new pump from Tunze in Germany, you may be able to just swap out the pump. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 120 gallon, coast to coast overflow w/beananimal overflow. Waveline DC 10000 II return pump, 40 gal sump, Octopus XS200 skimmer, T5 lighting

09/03/2016, 07:12 AM	#5
sleepydoc Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 3,907	I just did a quick search on the 1073.008 pump - Tunze's web site confusingly lists the voltage supply as 230V / 50Hz (115 V / 60Hz). I'm not sure if that means it's a dual voltage pump, which would be very unusual for an AC pump, or if it is just an unclear way of saying it is shipped with either a 230V pump or a 115V pump. Regardless, check the labeling of pump when it arrives and/or talk to Tunze customer service. It appears you should be able to get a 230V replacement pump if the included pump is only rated for 110V __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 120 gallon, coast to coast overflow w/beananimal overflow. Waveline DC 10000 II return pump, 40 gal sump, Octopus XS200 skimmer, T5 lighting