Hi All,
Has anyone confirmed this does work safely with a step up transformer? I am an apartment dweller in LA and, as far as I can tell, will never really be able to live somewhere that I can afford a house. So I need this thing. Even extract is too wonky on a gas apartment stove. But I doubt my current or future building managers will dig the idea of me screwing with 240 outlets and asking probing questions about the load my breakers can handle.
It would be great if there were an American equivalent. I need single vessel electric AG brewing. Sorry if this has been confirmed already. The 1800+ replies got hard to pick through.
If you search, there have been a few posts regarding "converters" (or as you properly stated "step-up transformer"). This will work, but be sure the converter/transformer is rated for continuous duty and/or rated for electric heater loads. The 20L model is rated 2023Watt (w/pump load). The 50L model is rated 3246Watt (w/2pump loads) and 230V. The wattage is the same on both sides of the transformer (not counting losses) so the Current = Wattage/Voltage. Since you are using this on a single phase residential circuit and the Braumeister is pretty much a resistive load, you don't have to get into complex calculations. The pump is rated 50/60Hz so that will also work fine on US system.
Using nominal voltage numbers:
20L -> 2023W/120V = 16.8Amps
-> 2023W/240V = 8.4Amps
The electrical theory is that if you double the voltage, the current divides in half while the power (watts) remains constant.
50L -> 3246Watt/120V = 27Amps
-> 3246Watt/240V = 13.5Amps
Be sure to measure your actual voltage and plug that actual voltage number into the calculation so you can size the wiring and breaker appropriately for the current. The wiring and breaker need to be sized for the current at 120Volts if you are plugging the transformer into a 120Volt outlet.
The key is to get a converter/transformer rated over the Wattage needed, make sure it's rated for this type of load, and properly size the wire and breaker - Don't just plug it in and assume the wire is sized correctly.
If you search the posts, the one some folks have successfully used is:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002ITZTNO/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20
Prost!