Forum - European Vacs in the US?

mjstoy

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European Vacs in the US?
06/15/07 at 11:54am

This may be a very dumb question - but here goes - Is is possible to use European vacs in the US with a converter? Specifically, I have been looking at the Miele canisters (cylinders) available in the UK. There are more choices AND they are significantly cheaper but they have much higher watts listed.

I see there are "step down" and "step up" converters for travel, etc. Would something like that be appropriate for a vacuum cleaner?

Would a European vacuum function differently with the US 110 volt standard?

Thanks in advance for helping to satisfy my idle curiousity.

mjstoy

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Carmine_Difazio

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Re: European Vacs in the US?
Reply #1 - 06/15/07 at 12:47pm

mjsjoy:

Excellent question. And the first time to my knowledge in many years that it has come up on this Forum and others.

It is possible to use USA made vacuums with 110 volts in EU countries and vice versa. Using a converter as you said. These (voltage converters) are expensive to buy new, awkward and heavy. The problem is doing so for extended time and use. One and/or the other usually deteriorates and goes bad: The converter and/or the vacuum.

Carmine D.

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mjstoy Newbie Get a Mac! Posts: 12	Re: European Vacs in the US? Reply #2 - 06/15/07 at 3:35pm So that sounds like - yes in the short run but no in the long run. Oh well. I figured it couldn't be that simple. Thanks for the info!! mjstoy
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No Loss of Suction

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Re: European Vacs in the US?
Reply #3 - 06/15/07 at 7:26pm

Quote from mjstoy on 06/15/07 at 11:54am:

This may be a very dumb question - but here goes - Is is possible to use European vacs in the US with a converter? Specifically, I have been looking at the Miele canisters (cylinders) available in the UK. There are more choices AND they are significantly cheaper but they have much higher watts listed.

I see there are "step down" and "step up" converters for travel, etc. Would something like that be appropriate for a vacuum cleaner?

Would a European vacuum function differently with the US 110 volt standard?

Thanks in advance for helping to satisfy my idle curiousity.

mjstoy

Hello,

Yes, you can use the 220v. euro vacuum in your home providing you have access to 220v. (older homes sometimes have 220v. @ washer, cooktop or oven areas) I've imported from the UK a used Dyson DC05 Motorhead canister and I'm glad I did. In all it cost about $450-500.

To ship from UK (1yr. ago) was $150 (probably $200 or so today).

No Loss of Suction

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