A 2.2kW load on 110v will need a 32A plug and socket.

When you hire a floor grinder from Speedy Hire, they recommend a 5kVA transformer:

https://www.speedyservices.com/hire/speedy/18_0302-h-SPE-DFG-280-5-255mm-Single-Head-Floor-Grinder-110v-49kg

Your biggest challenge might be preventing the 230v to the transformer from tripping when the motor is started. That may require a different curve on the supply breaker.

How do you intend to start and stop the motor?

The UK power supply is a nominal 240 volts, so applying that to a 110 volt motor will overload both the domestic supply (Presumably using a 13 Amp socket and plug, which cannot supply 22.7 Amps)

So in short   DON’T.  You will probably burn out the motor, if the fuses don’t blow, or circuit breakers trip, in time.

Using a 110 volt “contractor” type transformer, if the motor draws 22.7 Amps, together with the losses in the transformer, (22.7 /2 + ?) you will probably be close to fully loading the 13 Amp socket.

(The transformer is actually centre tapped to deliver 55 volts each side of earth).

Yes, but the transformer and it’s plug have to be rated for the job.  And be of the right type!  The first example I found (£90) has two 16A outputs, not a single 32A, and digging into the spec showed it’s not rated for continuous operation.  This one risks magic smoke!

A 110Vac transformer able to supply 32A continuously costs about £150.   And strictly speaking it shouldn’t be plugged into an ordinary 13A socket.

What’s needed depends on both amps and time.   A cheapo 16A transformer will run a lightly loaded 22.7A motor that’s more OFF than ON.  It won’t run a heavily loaded 2.5kW motor that’s more ON than OFF, not for long anyway! How much work is this motor is expected to do, and for how long?

It’s borderline.   Gut feel is a 110V motor is more trouble than it’s worth!  Is it a “bargain”? MachineMart sell a 3HP motor for £186, no need for a transformer, and it will run on an ordinary socket.

Briefly:

Watts is Amps times Volts

and, energy consumed takes time into account – kilowatt hours.  This determines how much you pay and how hot the equipment and wires get.   So a 2.5kW component rated with a 50% duty cycle will burn out if it’s left running for too long.   More to it than amps, though they are a good start.

Dave

Dove,

For AC power (Watts) in inductive circuit (motors and transformers) is not Volts times Amps it’s Volts times Amps times power factor. Volts times Amps is VA. When rating a transformer you must use VA not Watts. If you have a 1kW motor with a 0.9 power factor the transformer must be 1111VA (Watts / PF) so larger than expected.

OP Unless you have a “free” transformer don’t bother.
You could use a autotransformer which would be smaller, lighter and cheaper than a isolating “site” transformer but does provide the safety improvement.

Robert.

Whilst on this subject, transformers Etc, it is not uncommon for 110v transformers to drop trips due to the inrush current, normally nothing wrong, just a pain. The same is true for welders of the transformer type. Noel.