How could you convert U.S. Clothes Washer and Dryer 220 voltage 60 Hz to 220 voltage 50 Hz for international use?

Answer 1

Unfortunately, this is probably not practical.

Though electric clothes dryers are made as wholly 240 volt 50Hz units - for use in Europe, Asia and elsewhere in the world - all the residential dryers I have been exposed to in the US are hybrid 120/240 volt units.

By this I mean that, though the heating elements are 240 volt, the motor and controls are all 120 volt.

You could probably use the dryer if you installed a 240 volt primary transformer that had a 240/120 volt secondary. As far as I know, the dryer components do not rely on the 60 cycle frequency for anything, so the fact that the target source is 50 cycles shouldn't matter. [ ... though it may impact the motors in other ways ... heating, etc.]

I suggest you contact the manufacturer of your dryer and ask if they can provide any input or guidance.

In any case, you would probably be better off selling your old dryer here and buying one there, as the costs of shipping and buying a transformer setup would cost more than buying a good condition secondhand dryer or even a new one! [I would think!]

For more information see the answers to the Related questions shown below. <><><>

As always, if you are in doubt about what to do, the best advice anyone should give you is to call a licensed electrician to advise what work is needed.

Before you do any work yourself,

on electrical circuits, equipment or appliances,

always use a test meter to ensure the circuit is, in fact, de-energized.

IF YOU ARE NOT ALREADY SURE YOU CAN DO THIS JOB

SAFELY AND COMPETENTLY

REFER THIS WORK TO QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS.

Answer 2

It's my understanding that a US-marketed clothes drier has a 240-V heating element but a 120-V motor (perhaps someone else can confirm this?). If so, then it would not be very practical to convert it to a single voltage for international use.