Question
Is there any real gain to be made by switching a table saw from 110 volt to 220 volt?
Forum Responses
(WOODnetWORK Forum)
From Gene Wengert, Sawing and Drying forum technical advisor:
You should think about using a 240 volt motor, as it will work on 220 and 230, but the reverse is not true. I suggest that 120 v motors are easier to replace and typically have less heat. There is a very slight power saving advantage in a 240 motor. The 240 will also work better when you are a long distance from the power supply and have line losses, compared to 120.
The real benefit in changing motors is if you can change to 3-phase. There is no question about it - 3-phase motors are better than identical horsepower single phase motors. 3-phase motors are smaller, less expensive, have higher starting torque, are more efficient, use less current per phase, do not require a starting capacitor, and are easier to repair.
But here is the main concern - do you have 3-phase available? If available, then everything is positive for 3-phase motors, with no negative concerns. However, if 3-phase is not available on the lines outside your plant, it will often be extremely expensive to have the electric company bring 3-phase to your facility. It can be so expensive that it will be 10 years or longer before you can recover the costs through the savings of 3-phase motors. It is not easy to make 3-phase yourself from single phase line, although converters are available.
