110V Site Transformer 3.3kVA - 2 Outlet Portable 230V Step-Down

Site rules put 110V between your hand tools and the mains, and without a transformer on the floor none of your 110V kit runs. This 3.3kVA portable site transformer steps 230V mains down to 110V and gives you two weatherproof outlets to plug into, in a yellow steel case with a carry handle you can move between rooms one-handed. It is the intermittent-duty model, built for the way tools actually get used on site: bursts of cutting, drilling and grinding rather than hours of continuous full load.

Why it works

A step-down transformer is the boring part of a site power set-up, and also the part that stops work when it fails. This one is a steel-cased unit with the windings and components inside the case rather than a plastic housing, designed in accordance with IP44 so splashing water and site dust are accounted for. Both outlets sit behind hinged weatherproof flaps that drop shut when nothing is plugged in.

The duty rating is the specification that matters most and the one buyers most often get wrong. This unit is rated for intermittent running of power tools and continuous running of lighting products within its stated capacity. In practice that means it will happily feed a 110V drill, grinder or circular saw used the way a tradesperson uses one, and it will run a 110V festoon or work light continuously. What it is not built for is sitting at full rated load all day, every day. That is what a continuous-rated transformer is for, and continuous-rated units of the same nominal 3.3kVA size sell for several times this price precisely because of the extra iron and copper inside. Buying the intermittent model for intermittent work is the sensible choice; buying it for a permanently loaded application is not.

Where it is used

Construction sites and refurbishment jobs where 110V is mandated for hand tools, engineering and maintenance work in plant rooms and factories, first and second fix on housebuilding, and any workshop keeping a set of 110V corded tools. It is also a usual choice for hire fleets and site cabins running 110V task lighting.

Specifications

Choosing the right option

Two decisions, independent of each other. First, duty. If the transformer will spend its life feeding hand tools that run in bursts, or lighting inside its capacity, this intermittent model is the correct and far cheaper answer. If it will sit under near-full load for hours at a stretch, feeding a pump, a heater or a permanent installation, specify a continuous-rated unit and accept the higher cost.

Second, capacity. 3.3kVA at 110V works out at roughly 30A in total across both outlets, which comfortably covers a typical hand tool on one socket and a work light on the other. Add up the ratings of everything you intend to plug in at once rather than sizing on tool count. If you routinely run two large tools together, or a 110V site saw alongside anything else, step up to a larger kVA rating. If you only ever power one drill, a smaller unit will do.

Installation, use and care

Plug the fitted mains lead into a 230V supply, stand the unit on a firm level surface clear of standing water, and connect your 110V lead to one of the outlets. Keep the flap closed on any socket not in use. Do not cover the case or box it in while it is running, because a transformer sheds heat through its casing. Coil leads loosely rather than tightly around the handle. Inspect the case, lead and plug before each use, and have the unit PAT tested on your site's normal inspection cycle.

Frequently asked questions

Will it run two tools at once? Yes, provided the combined load stays inside the 3.3kVA rating. Two large tools drawing heavily together will overload it.

What is the difference between intermittent and continuous rated? Duty cycle. An intermittent unit is designed for tools that run in bursts; a continuous unit is built to hold its rated output indefinitely. This is the intermittent version.

Can it be used outdoors? It is designed in accordance with IP44, so it tolerates splashing and dust. Keep it off wet ground and under cover where you can.

Does it come with leads? It has a fitted mains input lead. The 110V trailing leads that run from the outlets to your tools are separate items.

Is it suitable for 110V lighting? Yes, and lighting is the one load it is rated to run continuously, provided you stay within its capacity.

Ordering and delivery

Supplied as a single unit at £126.90 including VAT. Stock units are dispatched for UK mainland delivery in a few working days. If you are kitting out a site or a hire fleet, or you want a larger kVA rating or the continuous-rated version, send us your requirement and we will quote.