Run Weller W61 for 110V on 220V?

[donescamillo]

Hi,

Can I run Weller W61 bought from UK (and specified for 110V) on 220V?
If no, what conversions do I need to do in order to run it?

Thank you

[mahi]

Either you need a 220V to 110V step down transformer, or you must replace the heating element with the 230V version (part 5 61 206 99, still available through distributors like Farnell).

[donescamillo]

Thank you for your reply.
Yes, the heating element is available and I may go this way.
Just out of curiosity, will fitting a rectifying  diode work?

[Ian.M]

No.  A diode cuts half the waveform so 50% power, but a US 110V element is one quarter of the (hot) resistance of an equivalent rest of world 220V element (for double the current at half the voltage to get the same power), and at 220V would be overrun by a factor of four, so even with the diode would still be overrun by a factor of two.  Also that would put DC across the magnastat switch which is likely to shorten its life