‘ey Mates,
I’m down in Ausieland where we have friends and family and I want to find out if there is a way to connect an Australian duplex receptacle directly in to my house current home in Baltimore, MD. The receptacles are packaged as 240V AC 15A. Not that it matters insofar as compatability is concerned but most all receptacles down undah have an integral switch for each side of the receptacle. Of course this whole notion is for convenience only for when they come to visit us. Thanks.
Replies
Yes, you can. The use uses a 120 (not 110)/240 split supply.
So you can use the 2 hots to give you 240.
You will probably need to run a new circuit for this.
Or if you have an electric clothes dryer you can make a up a box with breakers to supply the Aussie receptacle. Don't know how handy this would be for you or them.
A couple of areas that might cause problems. They ground one side of the supply for an neutral while the US grounds the centertap. With modern designed devices that should not cause a problem. But in the US some of the cheap radio's and TV's from the 60's and early metal parts connected to the neutral and no separate ground connections. If they have any device of that kind then it would be hazardous to use on a US system.
Also Australia use 50 hz while the US 60. That means induction motors will run 6/5 faster and most timers will also be off.
And for things like TV they might us a PALS system while the US use NTSC.
What kind of equipment would they want to bring with them?
http://www.accesscomms.com.au/Reference/powerplug.htm
.
.
A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
Edited 1/8/2008 5:43 pm by BillHartmann
I don't think that we're talking about anything bigger that a hair dryer or a cell phone charger. Now when you talk about the grounding issues, are you simply saying that I need to know which prong is the ground and which prong is the neutral or are you getting at something all together different. I do understand about doubling up the 120 to get 240. I am not an electrician but I have done a considerable amount of house wiring. Thanks Bill.
Shipley Lucas
Go to radio shack and get an adaptor plug for the cell phone charger. Check the charger will work on 120volt. Most do.
Go to walmart and $20 gets you a fair hair dryer. Not worth installing sockets for basic stuff.
"Now when you talk about the grounding issues, are you simply saying that I need to know which prong is the ground and which prong is the neutral or are you getting at something all together different. "What I was getting at if any the Australain equipment was designed like some older US equipment with what is called the Neutral connected to parts of the case it would be OK on when used on an Austrailain system with one of the 240 legs grounded. But if used with 240 on a US system it would have 120 volts with respect to ground and danagerous.I doubt that is an issue as that type of equipment has not been made in the US for 40 years and most likely not in Austraila for a long time if ever.But I agree with USA that it is not worth the effort for that type of equipment.And they need to verify that there cell phone will work in the US. Completely different questions of frequencies and the different type of ways that they "communicate" with the tower.There cellphone company should be able to tell them and if so what comnpany(s) that they will work with in the USA and what cost are.It might be cheaper and simplier to just get a prepaid phone here..
.
A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.