What voltage power tool is the best for trades persons in Ireland?

What voltage power tool is the best for trades

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240volt, 110volt, or Cordless

How to pick the correct power tool voltage for you — 240volt, 110volt, or cordless tools (12, 18, 36, 40, 54volt) for the Irish market

Correct power tool volt advice for people who use power tools as part of their daily work. We regularly get asked at our trade counter “What is the best power tool voltage, 240volt, 110volt, or cordless?”

I will try to stay away from the technical side of the differences, and focus on the day-to-day issues customers mention to us. There’s no simple answer, but hopefully, it will help you pick the right tools for you. It’s important to get this right, as mixing and matching voltages, or going with the wrong voltage for you, can be a very expensive mistake.

dewalt range tools

In this blog, I’ll provide some pros and cons of the different systems, as well as some tips and solutions to help you when buying tools, or looking to set up a compatible tool system.

Why does this matter?

In Ireland (and the UK) building sites, factories and workshops have a choice of 4 main power supplies, to run tools from.

240volt (single-phase) which is your 3-pin plug that we all use at home

110volt is a yellow round plug, mainly seen on building sites, and some workshops.

380volt (3 phase) which is for large machinery in factories and workshops only (not building sites)

12/18/24/28/36/40/54volt cordless batteries that run power tools, and vary from brand to brand.

milwaukee range

It matters because most industrial-quality power tools are not cheap. If you buy the wrong one, you can easily waste €100 to €1000 per tool, so if you need 5-10 power tools for work, that can add up to a lot of money.

The place where you are working might not allow you to use it or might not have any power outlets suitable for your tools. You can bypass this sometimes with “transformers” or “generators” but this frequently leads to different problems, which I will explain now.

240volt Power tools

Many people think that 240volt power tools (3pin plugs) can only be used in DIY situations around the home, but this is not the case. They can be used in many industrial cases.

what voltage power tools

Indoors and fed from mains plugs on the walls of the premises, installed correctly by a registered electrician, and connected to trip switches in the fuse board for safety cut-off. The tools must also be kept dry and away from rain, damp conditions, and condensation.

Advantages of 240volt tools

  • Mains 240volt (from the wall) doesn’t fluctuate much and provides a steady stream of electricity to the tool, meaning less chance of motor burnout.
  • With larger power tools over 1600watt, 240volt power usually is a bit stronger than a 110volt, as the full power feed is getting to the tool, whereas there are more power drop-offs if using a transformer or generator with a 110volt version.
  • While almost exclusively used indoors, off mains power from the wall (without extension leads) any cut in the cable cord should result in the trip switch preventing any electric shock at all (providing wiring up to standard).
  • If working with the tools in domestic and industrial indoor areas, you don’t need to lug any heavy transformers or generators.
  • If using them in an employer’s workshop or customers’ own home, your electricity is not paid for by you.

Disadvantages of 240volt tools

  • 240volt cannot be used on build sites… so a tradesman with a full set of these, cannot use them on building sites, and now has to purchase a second set of tools if he has an onsite job.
  • The temptation to use them in places they shouldn’t and/or with extension leads sometimes leads to workplace accidents that can be life-changing and very dangerous for you and your work colleagues.
  • As this type becomes less popular, fewer shops stock the wide ranges of this voltage, meaning if you need to buy a tool in a hurry to add to your system of all the same voltage, it may not be available quickly.
  • Power tool manufacturers seem to be making less.

Festool Range

Advantages of 110volt tools

  • 110volt is the usual power supply on building sites, through generators or transformers, and meets their health and safety requirements.
  • If you purchase or hire a transformer, you can use these tools in domestic and workshop areas and building sites, so it saves buying a 2nd batch of tools for different areas.
  • If powered by a generator or transformer, the power is halved from the normal 240volt. Should a cable be cut, it would result in less of an electric shock than a 240volt tool off generator or transformer.
  • If your power supply is strong enough (generators/transformers/leads etc), then you should get some power out of a 110volt version of the tool, as a 240volt.
  • As 110volt is much more popular the availability of the range of different models is greater, and sometimes the 110volt version might be cheaper than 240volt due to larger volume pricing.

Disadvantages of 110volt tools

  • Insufficient power input from generators and transformers (as well as incorrect thickness of cable and length of cable on extension reels) often cause motor burnouts on power tools, through power starvation.
  • In the larger wattage power tools (table saws, chop saws, diamond core drills, wall chasers, etc) and especially if using dust extraction with them, even the best input of power on the building site is sometimes not strong enough to run the tools correctly, again causing motor burnouts and expensive repairs.
  • 110volt still gives you a reduced electric shock, if a cable is cut. Whereas a 240volt tool plugged into the wall will trip at the fuse board, or a cordless tool hasn’t got a cable, both giving you No electric shock at all.
  • 110volt (and 240volt) tools in the workplace vs cordless tools, can cause a trip hazard for other workers
  • Generators are heavy, dirty, noisy, and use a lot of fuel. They are also expensive.  Transformers can be heavy and expensive, especially 5kva and 10kva which are recommended for most 110volt tools.
  • 110volt tools often need regular “Pat Testing” to ensure they are up to standard for health and safety on building sites. This can be expensive. This can also lead to nonadmission to a site until your paperwork is in order.
  • Many building sites don’t have enough generators and transformers. This often leads to waiting times, or disagreements in queues to use the power.

Makita range

Advantages of Cordless tools

  • As cordless tools have no lead, you can’t get electrocuted unless you get the tool wet.
  • If it doesn’t have a lead, there’s no hazard for co-workers.

cordless tools

  • You can use cordless tools at home, on-site, or in the workshop. Also, some building sites are now going “Cordless tools only” for their sub-contractors.
  • Changing batteries from tool to tool is much quicker than plugging in leads to a transformer or generator.
  • Without cables in the way, it’s much easier to use tools overhead, in awkward areas, and at heights.

Cordless Power Tools

  • With cordless tools, you don’t have the expense. Or to find the room in your van for extension leads, transformers, and generators.
  • Cordless tools don’t need to be Pat tested for building site access
  • Due to the popularity of cordless, many of the latest innovations are being prioritized for cordless power. The range in shops is much bigger now too, vs corded.
  • As the cordless versions are smaller without the leads, they can be stored more easily in vans or tool boxes. This leaves more space in the van. They’re also easier to carry or move to the site from your transport.
  • Technology has come so far with cordless tools in both strength and battery life. There are very few tools in the market now, that are not made in a cordless version.

Disadvantages of Cordless tools

  • Unless you’re clever and keep all the tools working off the same battery system. (Dewalt’s is currently the best). You may end up having a mix of different brands of batteries, chargers, and tools, that are not compatible.
  • The average tradesman works with 6-8 tools each day and should expect to pay approx €400 – €500 per year in battery costs. This means you pay for the electricity all term. Whereas if working away from your home or workshop and using corded tools, the customer or builder pays for the electricity.
  • Cordless tools are great for light jobs. But if you need to use them for heavy applications, you have to pay for the heavier-duty batteries. This can be very expensive. If you want to work uninterrupted for hours on end, corded tools may be better suited.
  • If you don’t fully charge your batteries for the day’s work ahead,  you could run out during the day. You may not have access to mains power to charge your batteries. The same applied if you don’t own enough batteries, or don’t own the newer longer life ones
  • While the batteries are small and light, they can sometimes be misplaced. Accidentally used by co-workers, or even stolen easily on a busy building site.
  • While the newer models are much better made than many of those around 4-5 years ago. I’d say that cordless tools probably don’t last as long as corded ones. In general, they are a bit more expensive.

Still not sure which option to go with? … Here’s a summary

240volt is generally the cheapest. 240volt usually suits someone who works in their workshop or uses the tools in their own home. Also, people who work in other people’s homes or indoor workplaces like offices, bars, restaurants, hotels, etc. Not suitable for building sites.

110volt can be used on building sites and will do all of the above. You’ll have to use a transformer if you want to use them in indoor workshops, domestic, hotels, etc.

Cordless work out the most expensive as the tools, and power (your batteries) are paid for by you. However, it’s by far the most convenient to use, saving much day-to-day downtime. It can be used anywhere, even without power.

Want more information?

Learn more about power tools.

If you’d like any recommendations for power tools that would suit your needs. Please send us a list of the tools you are considering. Also a detailed description of the type of jobs you’d like them to do. Finally, how often do you expect to use the tools, and we’ll get back to you on it? (only available to people based in rep. of Ireland). https://toolequip.ie/contact-us/

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