Sewing Machine

I just received a few items from America from my parents and one of the items is my Sewing Machine. Its a Viking Husqvarna 250 and I think it was made around 1993. On the bottom it says 120v- 60Hz 0,85amp. It dose use a two pronged plug (like some laptops use) but I don't want to just try plugging it in. After reading all of Paul's advise I am now pretty sure that I need a transformer (or whatever) but I'm not sure what kind I should use. Any help would be great. If you need pictures or whatever let me know.

You definitely need a transformer. I got one for my wife's sewing machine from Maplin for around £20 and it works perfectly. It's basically a big brick that plugs into the wall which you then plug the machine into (although we rotate our 120V American appliances with the same plug). Ours is rated up to 45W.

The motor rating suggests you will want to use a 100VA transformer as an absolute minimum.  Normally for motors you'd want to increase that rating to allow for switch-on surges, but as a sewing-machine motor is speed regulated by the pedal so it has a "soft" start, it's not such an issue.   If you might need the transformer to run other things though, get one large enough for any other possible use.  Examples:

http://www.newmarket-transformers.co.uk/step-down-transformers.asp

Whatever you do, do not use a cheap "transformerless" converter.  Motors do not like them and will run very inefficiently - Typically noisier and hotter.

Thanks to the both of you for your answers.

Paul, looking at the page it says how many watts. How do I know how many watts my electrical items use? I was very careful not to bring any electric items. And one of the items I brought over was my keyboard and Korg is already sending me a new plug for it. But I do have speakers for it would they also work with the transformer or would it just blow out the speakers (I'm not to worried about these so much I can just get new ones).  Then the last thing I have is my blow drier, I don't need a transformer since it already has a button to change into 220, but it would be nice to use the other options on it again ( I can only use high atm). Since those are all the items i need to plug in and I really do doubt I would ever be playing my piano, sewing, and blow drying my hair at once I am thinking the one at the top of the list you posted would suffice. Would I be correct in my assumption?  If not feel free to correct me! Thank you again for the help Paul.

How do I know how many watts my electrical items use?

There should be a tag (or an equivalent stamped into the molding) on the appliance.  It's typically on the back panel, or the underside, or for smaller handheld items like hair dryers  on the side of the casing or the handle. 

Sometimes the label won't specify the wattage directly, but will instead tell you the maximum current the appliance will draw (in amps).   For basic lighting and heating devices (hair curlers etc.) and electronics like radios and TVs, you can get the wattage by multiplying that current by the voltage.  So if it says 120V, 0.5A, it's 120 x 0.5 = 60 watts.

It gets a little more complex with things which include motors, since the product of the voltage and current can come to more than the actual wattage, which is why motors will typically give the current rating.  So in pure technical terms, your sewing machine motor is 120V x 0.85A = 102VA (Volt-Amps).  The actual wattage will be a little less, but it is the VA rating (the product of the voltage & current) you need to use when selecting a transformer anyway.

I was very careful not to bring any electric items. And one of the items I brought over was my keyboard and Korg is already sending me a new plug for it. But I do have speakers for it would they also work with the transformer

So long as the transformer is rated high enough to run them.  Again, there will be a tag on the amplifier/speaker combination indicating the power consumption, although unless we're talking about powerful speakers to fill a dance hall, it's likely to be a few tens of watts at most.

Then the last thing I have is my blow drier, I don't need a transformer since it already has a button to change into 220, but it would be nice to use the other options on it again ( I can only use high atm).

So the 220V option bypasses the ability to switch to low heat?   That sounds an odd arrangement, but then dual-voltage hair dryers are quite unusual anyway.

Since those are all the items i need to plug in and I really do doubt I would ever be playing my piano, sewing, and blow drying my hair at once

Well, you never know.......   

I am thinking the one at the top of the list you posted would suffice. Would I be correct in my assumption?

The 500VA unit?    What's the power rating of the 120V blow dryer?  That's going to be the one which is the most power hungry, possibly well in excess of 500 watts.

So long as the transformer is rated high enough to run them.  Again, there will be a tag on the amplifier/speaker combination indicating the power consumption, although unless we're talking about powerful speakers to fill a dance hall, it's likely to be a few tens of watts at most.

The speakers are 117v 60Hz and 0.3A which if i understand what you wrote they would be 35.1watt?

So the 220V option bypasses the ability to switch to low heat?   That sounds an odd arrangement, but then dual-voltage hair dryers are quite unusual anyway.

 I thought it was a strange thing to have on my hair dryer. I did word it wrong though It wont let me use high or cool. I can use low but its more like high then low. It is a 125/250v 60Hz and 1875 watt. I think I'll just live with my hair dryer on low , or just bite the bullet and buy a new one.
 

The 500VA unit?    What's the power rating of the 120V blow dryer?  That's going to be the one which is the most power hungry, possibly well in excess of 500 watts.

The I was looking at was part number 500WPlnUK. But since I know now what my power hungry hair dryer needs to feed it I think I will abandon my idea about it. It would be cheaper to buy a new one and the 500WPlnUK then to buy the one that will feed my hair dryer.  Also what is the difference between 500WBxUK (the 500w one with a case) and 500WPlnUK (well other then the obvious case ). Since the sew machine and speakers are both under 300w would the 300WBxUK work all right?

Thanks again for the help Paul

edited for spelling error

The speakers are 117v 60Hz and 0.3A which if i understand what you wrote they would be 35.1watt?

You've got it.

I thought it was a strange thing to have on my hair dryer. I did word it wrong though It wont let me use high or cool. I can use low but its more like high then low.

That makes more sense as to how the higher-voltage option has been implemented with only one heat setting available.  I would guess that on 120V there is series/parallel switching of the elements for low/high heat.

It is a 125/250v 60Hz and 1875 watt. I think I'll just live with my hair dryer on low, or just bite the bullet and buy a new one.

Yes, as you've just discovered, once you start getting to those sort of power levels the price of the transformer increases considerably.   A lot of hair dryers seem to be very high powered these days, compared to a few hundred watts which was common in the past.   I have to wonder whether the higher temperatures are good for the hair, but that's straying from the technical to the hairdressing field.

Also what is the difference between 500WBxUK (the 500w one with a case) and 500WPlnUK (well other then the obvious case ).

No significant difference, other than the case and the provision of two outlets instead of one.   The actual transformer looks something like this (only larger for 500W):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Transformer.filament.agr.jpg

With the cheaper unit they just use a specially shaped cover over each side to enclose the windings and connections, leaving enough room to fit the outlet.  So the top of the unit you see in the photo of the "plain" transformer is actually the core of the transformer itself.

The boxed version places the actual transformer inside a ventilated case to make it look "prettier" and provide space for extra outlets, etc.

Since the sew machine and speakers are both under 300w would the 300WBxUK work all right?

That one would be fine.  You could sew and play simultaneously if you can manage it!   

Thanks again for the help Paul

You're welcome.