Espresso Machine Voltage 110-->220

Q: next time you go to the us, drop by Radio Shack and pick up a DC/DC converter. These convert between 220 and 110 and are quite cheap. You can build one yourself too... all you need is a transformer with suitable winding ratios. The frequency is not significant in this case (I assume that there is no digital clock on this espresso machine that needs the correct frequency too keep correct time etc..., if there is a timer, it most likely uses quartz crystals anyway.). My wife just returned from the US and brought me a DeLonghi Caffe Espresso pump driven espresso machine, Model CE-20F. She forgot, however, that units sold in the US run on 110 volts, while we have 220 volt house current here in Israel. I opened the cover and saw that the pump is connected directly to the line current. I copied the following from its label: EATON 110/120V 60Hz 130 VA 1 min ON 1.5 min OFF Tm25CTu60C MOD CP2 ?logo? 93/37 CL4 12424 1. Can anyone tell me exactly what I need to do to convert this machine to 220V? Must I replace the pump? The boiler? Do the Hz matter in this case? 2. Can anyone send me the fax number for DeLonghi America (or DeLonghi anywhere) customer service or technical service? The manual has a toll free service number, but we can't dial 800 numbers from Israel. Besides, the call would probably cost more than the machine. If someone would be kind enough to call their service number 1-800-322-3848 for me and ask them for their customer service FAX (please fax only) number, it would be a great help. 3. Any other advice would be greatly appreciated.

A: Assuming you really mean AC/AC, there are a couple of caveats here. First, some of the travel-type converters are actually *not* transformer-based, and they tend to react badly to very high currents. (I had this problem with some of my US equipment when I lived in England.) Double-check the VA rating, and make sure your converter can handle it. Second, some pumps *are* frequency-dependent, though in this case it will probably at most raise the noise level of the machine. Oh, do make sure your plug is fuse-protected; devices sold in this country assume wimpy US power at the power points, and Euro-level power (I don't know about Israel) can blow some devices.

Discuss It!

Most Popular Articles

More