Everything You Need to Know About 110V

The standard voltage for UK domestic households is 230 Volts. Due to working and environmental conditions on typical building sites risk of injury is deemed higher. Therefore health and safety for building sites stipulates that power tools must operate at a lower power to minimise risk to operators.

What is 110V?

110V is a professional site voltage, specifically designed for high workload areas, such as extensive building sites. A transformer converts the incoming domestic 230V electricity supply to a safer 110V.

110V site transformers are ‘centre tapped to earth’ which means that the voltage is split in two so that the actual output is 2x 55V. This means that the voltage is far lower and, in an area where cables can easily be damaged and accidents occur, the risk to the user is greatly reduced. Should there be a short circuit, the ‘path of least resistance’ (fastest route for the electricity to follow) will be through the transformer’s earth and not through the body of the operator.

110V Transformer Schematic

NB: Diagram of the internal wiring of a transformer. One of the most important points to note is how the metal core is directly earthed. This is the reason why transformers are far safer for use on building sites.

110V equipment is essential on many building sites for health and safety reasons as the risk of injury in the event of a power tool related accident, such as with a demolition hammer, is higher due to working conditions and the frequency of use. As a result, 110V is now the accepted standard for building sites and may be enforced by insurance companies who insure the site.

Can I Use The Same Cables for 110V That I Use for 230V?

It is strongly advised to not use standard 230V cabling for 110V as the transformer automatically halves the input. As 110v is halving the voltage it effectively doubles the current depending on the load, it may overload a domestic cable or extension so a normal 230V household extension lead is not suitable. Most 110V cable is called arctic cable and is designed to insulate the power from the elements to prevent a large voltage drop. Visually, the plugs are coloured differently for simple identification. Yellow for 110V and Blue for 230V, with the earth pin fitted in a different place to prevent them being used incorrectly.

Machine Mart stock a huge range of 110V power tools and equipment perfect for "on-site" use.

Do I Need 110V?

Is it illegal to use 230V tools on site? No, there are no specific laws which govern the voltage of tools used on building sites but health and safety recommend its use. It is for this reason, that despite no specific laws existing, health and safety inspectors insist upon the use of 110V appliances on all large site operations. Although there is no legal reason why you shouldn’t use an RCD with 230V power supply, it would always be recommended to do so.

Large sites typically have multiple agencies working side by side. Electricians, joiners, builders and plumbers operating in the same space. This can lead to lots of trailing cables for 110V lighting, 110V power tools etc. The safest way to protect these workers is to use 110V equipment.

The Health & Safety Executive advises that tools, plugs and cables designed for domestic use are not suitable for on-site conditions, and that cordless or 110V tools are preferred.

How Can You Ensure 110V On-Site?

The majority of very large sites will have their own on-site generator. These have 110V sockets attached to them. If that isn’t the case for your site, a 110V transformer is an essential purchase.

Units are available in different sizes. Your choice of model will ultimately come down to the number of sockets that you require and the amount of power needed for your tool.

How Do I Calculate Which 110V Transformer to Use?

A simple calculation will help you decide which transformer you need:

VOLTAGE X CURRENT = POWER x 20% for power tools

VOLTAGE X CURRENT =POWER X 3 for Compressors

A 1500W drill would need a 2000VA transformer 2kVA Suitable Transformer

A 2hp Compressor would be 4500VA transformer 5kVA Suitable Transformer

Where Can I Buy 110V Tools?

At Machine Mart we have over 300 products in our 110V Range. Check out our full range of site-safe tools and protect your workforce today.

Shop All 110V Tools & Machinery

Air Compressors
Cleaning Equipment - Vacuums, Carpet Cleaners, Scrubbers & Polishers
Construction Equipment
Electrical & Electronic Equipment such as Work lights, Flood Lights, Cables, Transformers, Sockets and more
Engines, Electric Motors
Fans, Air Conditioners & Ventilation
Generators
Heaters - Electric, Gas, Diesel
Lifting & Pulling - 110V Hoists
Metalworking Tools
Power Tools
Pressure Washers
Water Pumps
Welding, Brazing and Soldering
Woodworking equipment