ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN PORTUGAL?

Hello Max & Lana,

My mother had a professional serger and sewing machine and took them back to Portugal from Canada. My father took a transformer that was adequate for the power of the sewing machines. You are best to confirm with an electronic store in you area to see if the adapter is adequate to handle the conversion of the voltage difference so you don't burn the motor.

If you are not sure where to find these stores, I was looking for a part for my organ Canadian wattage and the people at Worten and Fnac were kind enough to give me the name of the best places to look in the Coimbra area.

Hope this helps.

@maxwmitchell1997  what country are you coming from?

You just need to check on the label of the machines you want to plug here in Portugal.

Electrical system is 230V/50Hz when it is, usually, 110V/60Hz in the US.

Most of recent electrical appliance are capable of working with large range of voltage like 90-250V, but for those with a strict 110V on their sticker, yes you must absolutely use an adapted transformer 220-110 able to handle the designed power (.....W, also on some place of the label)

220V, 50hz.

For me, there are two basic categories of electrical appliance.

• AC
• DC

Computers etc. are DC.  They have a "power supply" (internal) or a "charger" (external) that converts AC house current into a low voltage DC.  If manufactured in recent decades, these transformers will work with both voltages, and since the output not AC, the cycle frequency is immaterial.  Anything with a battery, which also can include power tools, vacuums, etc.;  if the battery charger appears to be 120V only, maybe you can replace it.

AC appliances are the problem.  Very often if not always, they are built for the national voltage standard.  In most cases I can think of they have AC motors, which means they will run at a different speed in 50Hz Europe.  I don't know for sure that's only a matter of speed, or if there could be some harm in running at 80% of the design frequency.  You can get voltage transformers,  from wimpy things that you buy on Amazon to run your electric shaver during a week long vacation, to durable but hefty units that can handle their rated current indefinitely.  I have seen one that claims to also be able to convert cycles from 50hz to 60hz, advertised for use with refrigerators;  don't know how that works, I'm sure it's technically possible but I would double check that it's really what they're claiming.

Hi, just take a look at amazon or aliexpress, you'll find a lot of 230/110 v adapters. Just pay attention to the shape and size of the socket and the connector of the sewing machine.

@Rob Evans

We are coming from the USA

Sir or Modem,

Hi and welcome,

PT is 230vAC and 50Hz. Find your machines and post pic of the specification plate here that is maker n model n serial number etc.  If they are  US of A then contact them and ask the machines retailers/manufactures if they are be compatible with PT 230AC 50Hz. A lot of volts going up the operators arm whilst using them because you took advice saftey from some interwebs forum (even this one) is maybe not the best decision.

@Strontium

Thank you very much.

Max & Lana, soon to be Caldas da Rainha residents

@maxwmitchell1997

warmly welcome to the Silver coast

you will see, it's nice and a bit warmer than the cold seaside

@boutdechou39

Thank you.  We bought a nice apartment in Caldas this past January and are now working to pack the things we want to ship and sell those items we do not want to ship.  Also getting our documents ready for our visa interview in Washington DC.  We hope to be in Caldas in July.  Maybe we will see you there sometime.

Max & Lana

Hi Max & Lana

we are closer to Peniche than Caldas but not that far.

If we can help, you are welcome to ask, just send a private message

good luck for moving and the paperwork