Cheapest way to go from 115V 60Hz to 220V 50Hz

[GWestphal]

Not sure if this exactly fits here, but I have a machine that uses the power frequency for timing so it actually needs to be at 50Hz. How do I go about doing that in a cost effective way? If it is >$300 that would be great.

 

[DanDaManJC]

Off hand I don't know -- but I'd look at mouser.com and digikey.com for discrete packages.

At least for DC->DC there are plenty of chips (say 5V to 3.3V for logic)... I'd imagine there may be some similar chips for low power use.

edit: My assumption here is that you'd be comfortable with building your own circuit.

 

[Mark R]

What sort of power level are you looking at?

These are specialist devices, so they will be expensive. I doubt that a 1000W device will be less than $1500.

Just to get you started, have a look at these

 

[silverpig]

Run an extension cord across the Atlantic?

 

[GWestphal]

It is for a precision slicing microtome. I can't imagine it would draw more than 1 A.

 

[PottedMeat]

if this is essentially a motor & switch you could take out the motor and see if there's a 120V/60Hz version.

 

[PsiStar]

maybe you can find something like this on ebay

 

[Modelworks]

For 1A you could buy a 220V 50hz inverter with sine wave output and feed it 12VDC off another supply. You could use anything for the 12VDC, wall adapter, battery , etc just needs to supply about 12VDC@20A
Something like this would work :
[http://www.amazon.com/Morningstar-S...Y&s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1276107505&sr=1-13

 

[davesaudio]

Cheap inverters are not very precise, they can be a few cycles off.
Read the specs carefully.

 

[Rubycon]

Run an extension cord across the Atlantic?

LOL a motor-generator would be used before that. 😉

A converter is the best bet. Should not cost more than a few hundred dollars at the most.

 

[bryanl]

Does the 50 Hz reference power a synchronous motor, or does it fed into some electronics? If a motor, look for a 60 Hz motor with the same RPM, or change gear or pulley ratios to acommodate 60 Hz. But if the 50 Hz feeds electronics and no phase lock is needed between mechanical devices, disconnect the 50 Hz reference and replace it with an electronic oscillator.

Web searching for "50Hz 60Hz conversion" yields many hits.