While the British job site tools are 110V gronded centertap (ie 55V to ground), residential tools are all typically 240V.
Tools with induction motors will run at a faster speed, which may or may not be a problem. They usually work fine and will cool a little better, due to the highter internal fan speed. Brush universal motors; they are not usually too picky about frequency, many will even run on DC. There could be a problem with the variable speed controls though.
Additionally, many of the european tools are designed to treat both leads as hot. Remember Schuko plugs(continental Europe) are not polarized. (I know that BS1363 plugs are, but because most EU tools are marketed to the entire EU usually the manufacturers will simply market the exact same tool with different plugs.) Therefore they are usually made for nonpolarized applications. So while US 240V is hot to hot vs Hot to neutral it still should not make much difference.
Last edited by IanR; 11/06/08 01:06 PM. Reason: bad shpellin
