You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
Any electricians here?
- Thread starter mmouse
- Start date
- Status
- Not open for further replies.
FOr one thing, I don't think you'll be physically able to, the plug and the outlet are different configurations.
The best way is to buy a transformer designed for this purpose. I'll do some research and get back to you, unless Rubmeister gets here first lol. He knows everything.....or most things....
No, you won't be able to, the plugs ARE different...here's a chart for you....(I didn't know it but it depends on what country the unit was designed for, some are different than others).
http://www.vosh.org/documents/voltageguide.pdf
The best way is to buy a transformer designed for this purpose. I'll do some research and get back to you, unless Rubmeister gets here first lol. He knows everything.....or most things....
No, you won't be able to, the plugs ARE different...here's a chart for you....(I didn't know it but it depends on what country the unit was designed for, some are different than others).
http://www.vosh.org/documents/voltageguide.pdf
Tangwhich said:It won't work. A 240 outlet here is 2 phases of 120v, unlike a European outlet of a 240v phase plus a neutral
I was going to say the same thing, I was just about to say: sure, change the plug, and enjoy the puff of smoke that comes out the top of the hifi unit lol.
One thing I've learned in life: there is a reason they make adapters and why they have different configurations of plugs/outlets......that is so you don't start fires or blow stuff up...when you by pass the safety features, well, you're asking for trouble....DOH
Tangwhich said:It won't work. A 240 outlet here is 2 phases of 120v, unlike a European outlet of a 240v phase plus a neutral
Between 2 opposite phases of 120v the device will see 240v. I can't find any reference on the web that said it won't work, aside for devices like clocks that need 50 Hz exactly.
http://repairfaq.ece.drexel.edu/sam/pwrfaq.htm
It's not just that, here, our 220 is produced by 2 individual 110 feeds with a common, and a ground.
Just surmising here, I'd say that european 240 is produced by 1 240 feed, one common and one ground......(from the images from that info site I posted).
Dude: you asked a question, got an answer, now you're arguing that answer?
here's a suggestion: replace the plug on the end of the cord for the hifi, plug it in.....and see what happens......btw: when you cut the euro plug off, and you see 3 wires, and you buy a stove plug, and you see 4 connectors, where are you going to connect the wires to?
Just remember: 110 will give you a shock, 240 will fry your fucking ass faster than a bullet.
Just surmising here, I'd say that european 240 is produced by 1 240 feed, one common and one ground......(from the images from that info site I posted).
Dude: you asked a question, got an answer, now you're arguing that answer?
here's a suggestion: replace the plug on the end of the cord for the hifi, plug it in.....and see what happens......btw: when you cut the euro plug off, and you see 3 wires, and you buy a stove plug, and you see 4 connectors, where are you going to connect the wires to?
Just remember: 110 will give you a shock, 240 will fry your fucking ass faster than a bullet.
It'll work. 240 volts is 240 volts. the only difference is the freguency, 50Hz there and 60 Hz here. Being Hi Fi equipment it may effect the sound.
Make sure you get a plug and outlet rated for the amperage of the equipment.
Make sure you get a plug and outlet rated for the amperage of the equipment.
Actually, it's 120 / 208 due to the two phases being out of phase by 120 degrees I believe.
the voltages on a three phase 208Y/120 system are 120 between any phase and a grounded conductor, and 208 between any two phases. There is no 240 invloved.
The mathmatical relationship is the square root of three (1.73 x 120 = 208).
It will not work.
Your hifi will have only 2 wires plus a ground. (one hot, one neutral). To get the 208 volts in North America, we have 3 wires, 2 hot wires (a red and a black, each at 120 volts, but 120 degrees out of phase) and a neutral or white wire.
If you think you are just going to twist the red and the black wire together, you are in for a BIG SURPRISE. Go ahead and do it. Giggle.
The Europeans use a higher voltage because wires can be smaller. (Since Power = volts x amps, therefore, if power is the same, you reduce amperage (which dictates the gage of the wire) by increasing voltage.) In short, higer voltages mean you can do the same with thinner wires. Since everything costs more in Europe, it was considered smart to have a system that would reduce the amount of copper wire required.
Way back when, North Americans decided to use 120 Volts AC as the standard, perhaps owing to Edison crowing about the dangers of AC power verses his preferred DC power which he said was safer. 120 Volts AC generally, though not always, won't kill you. 240 is a different story.
You would be be best to buy a transformer that steps the voltage up to 240.
the voltages on a three phase 208Y/120 system are 120 between any phase and a grounded conductor, and 208 between any two phases. There is no 240 invloved.
The mathmatical relationship is the square root of three (1.73 x 120 = 208).
It will not work.
Your hifi will have only 2 wires plus a ground. (one hot, one neutral). To get the 208 volts in North America, we have 3 wires, 2 hot wires (a red and a black, each at 120 volts, but 120 degrees out of phase) and a neutral or white wire.
If you think you are just going to twist the red and the black wire together, you are in for a BIG SURPRISE. Go ahead and do it. Giggle.
The Europeans use a higher voltage because wires can be smaller. (Since Power = volts x amps, therefore, if power is the same, you reduce amperage (which dictates the gage of the wire) by increasing voltage.) In short, higer voltages mean you can do the same with thinner wires. Since everything costs more in Europe, it was considered smart to have a system that would reduce the amount of copper wire required.
Way back when, North Americans decided to use 120 Volts AC as the standard, perhaps owing to Edison crowing about the dangers of AC power verses his preferred DC power which he said was safer. 120 Volts AC generally, though not always, won't kill you. 240 is a different story.
You would be be best to buy a transformer that steps the voltage up to 240.
for residential it's 240 and some industrial transformers.james t kirk said:Actually, it's 120 / 208 due to the two phases being out of phase by 120 degrees I believe.
the voltages on a three phase 208Y/120 system are 120 between any phase and a grounded conductor, and 208 between any two phases. There is no 240 invloved.
The mathmatical relationship is the square root of three (1.73 x 120 = 208).
208v is only on 3 phase commercial applications. Homes are 120/240v single phase.
I really think squirrelly is wrong. Although I admit I've never tried doing what's being suggested here I'm quite certain that it's not going to work and in all likelihood will be quite dangerous. The device is going to expect 1 hot and 1 neutral, not 2 hots.
On top of that it's a violation of the electrical code, and therefore illegal. If it were to cause a fire for example, you could be prosecuted for it. It's possible it could also invalidate your home insurance.
While I think this would be an interesting experiment to try in a controlled environment, I would strongly urge you to forget about it.
I really think squirrelly is wrong. Although I admit I've never tried doing what's being suggested here I'm quite certain that it's not going to work and in all likelihood will be quite dangerous. The device is going to expect 1 hot and 1 neutral, not 2 hots.
On top of that it's a violation of the electrical code, and therefore illegal. If it were to cause a fire for example, you could be prosecuted for it. It's possible it could also invalidate your home insurance.
While I think this would be an interesting experiment to try in a controlled environment, I would strongly urge you to forget about it.
tboy said:btw: when you cut the euro plug off, and you see 3 wires, and you buy a stove plug, and you see 4 connectors, where are you going to connect the wires to?
You connect ground to ground and the other 2 to the 2 hot wires. Neutral in the stove plug will be left disconnected.
mmouse said:You connect ground to ground and the other 2 to the 2 hot wires. Neutral in the stove plug will be left disconnected.
LOL oh really? and where will the electrons go from the two 110 hots? Into space?
Dude, how it works is:
The electrons flow from the hot, through your equipment, to the neutral. If you don't connect the neutral, they won't go anywhere....the ground in Canada is to prevent shock by making sure the metal components of all appliance is connected to the box in the wall, which is connected to the service panel, which is, ahem, attached to the ground.
FYI: the neutral is also referred to as common, or return.
And people ask me why I say always leave electrical up to the pros?
alienencounters said:call a f*cking electrician.
and just an FYI to the confused - my plasma cutter is 220V - with TADA!!! 3 wires - ground, hot, neutral.
208V is a 3 phase voltage.
110 plus 110 equals 220
Last but not least the reason that europe is on 220 and not 110 is because its actually SAFER. Voltage doesn't kill CURRENT kills - the EMF to run a 1 hp motor is constant - but at 220V you need half the amperage. Total power is the same, but in the even of an accident the lower a breaker is set to trip at the easier it is to trip.
220 is not safer, the reason they use it is the current is lower and they can use smaller wire. smaller wire is cheaper. It only takes a fraction of an Amp to kill you, wether at 120 or 240.
Buying a transformer only changes the voltage, not the frequency.
Do not hook it up to a stove receptacle because it's rated for 40 Amps.
Hook it up to a 2 pole breaker for what it's rated for. It will not blow up!
I don't think you know what you a talking about, maybe you should call an electrician!tboy said:LOL oh really? and where will the electrons go from the two 110 hots? Into space?
Dude, how it works is:
The electrons flow from the hot, through your equipment, to the neutral. If you don't connect the neutral, they won't go anywhere....the ground in Canada is to prevent shock by making sure the metal components of all appliance is connected to the box in the wall, which is connected to the service panel, which is, ahem, attached to the ground.
FYI: the neutral is also referred to as common, or return.
And people ask me why I say always leave electrical up to the pros?
Air conditioners are 240 volts. They don't have a neutral. How do they work? Maybe the electrons go into space?
- Status
- Not open for further replies.
