Client just moved and wants me to re-wire the dryer outlet in his new house with a standard 120V three-prong duplex receptacle AT 240V.
He says he had that setup at his previous residence for his European style washer and dryer, which he says both run on 240V but have 120V style 3-prong plugs.
I’m suggesting that we install 20A 240V horizontal blade receptacles and install suitable plugs on the machines so no one can mistakenly plug in the vacuum cleaner to a 240V outlet.
I’ve never heard of 240V devices with the same plug configuration as 120V receptacles, but when I googled 240V line cord I found this device with what looks like a 120V 3-prong plug:
http://www.trci.net/products/shockshield/cord-sets/inline-cords-240v-15a
Is this some strange exception to the rules?
Replies
It appears they are showing a std 120 volt plug just as a typical figure(I believe).
As far as the appliace goes, I would think you must install in accordance with manufacturers instructions. Is it a european product or an us product?
the picture shows a regular plug but the info box below it has the blade configuration.
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Sure enough; under "part numbers & features". I foolishly looked at "drawings & measurements" where 3-prong 120V plug is shown.BruceT
Edited 5/20/2009 7:13 pm by brucet9
25090-001 (2’)25090-006 (6’)25090-025 (25’)
View Image Volts/Amps: 240V/15AView Image Cord Gauge: 14/3View Image NEMA 6-15 P&R View Image Yellow receptacleView Image Trip Level: 4-6 mA
View Image
View Image View Image
Old news.
JimNever underestimate the value of a sharp pencil or good light.
the blade configuration is for 240v but I never saw one on the job...
in fact I think most portable equipment is NOT 240v rated except for welders and they're typically 3ø
seems an odd thing to try to sell too
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two horizontal straight blades plus ground...
used on 240V window A/C's....
http://www.passandseymour.com/
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Bruce,
Your instincts are correct - don't do it.
Use a NEMA 6-15R for a 15A 240V receptacle or 6-20R if 20A is required.
And then the corresponding "plugs" - 6-15P or 6-20P for the appliances.
Jim x 3
I have seen that before. They use generic pictures for several models.
William the Geezer, the sequel to Billy the Kid - Shoe
The submersable pump guy wired a standard outlet 240. Sis plugged in a shop vac. It really spun the motor but didnt last long.
Why not install a standard 240 recpt., then wire up a pigtail with standard 240 male plug on one end and a 3 prong female on the other end?
Did he bring his european appliance over with him?
Pick a style from the following and get the proper receptacle or get the proper pigtail to change his.
http://users.telenet.be/worldstandards/electricity.htm#plugs
As a general rule, I accept "the customer is always right" philosophy. "Why certainly Mrs. McGillicutty, that avacado green looks great."
I would not do this as requested. I would not put anything in the walls of the house which was "odd" --- you know when he moves out, these installations will not be changed to anything standard. A little surprise for the next owner......
Alternatives to suggest, I would do either one of these:
1) Change plugs on appliances cords to US standards. My first choice, combined with an amperage appropriate 240v receptacle in the wall.
2) Make pigtails to convert existing appliance plugs to US standards with amperage appropriate receptacle in wall.
I have never seem a 240v residential washing machine, I wonder if it gets the clothes twice as clean.
Jim
I believe HD carries an adapter that plugs into a 240 with a 120 v normal recepticle, I think they are for stoves but its been a while ..
I think those adapters are for campers. They allow 120V loads in the camper to run plugged into a 120V supply. Four prongs on one end, three on the other.
As I stood before the gates I realized that I never want to be as certain about anything as were the people who built this place. --Rabbi Sheila Peltz, on her visit to Auschwitz
The 240v washing machine generally plugs directly into the 240v dryer, and are stacking units. Such as the Bosch. They are European influenced.
That at least makes a little more sense.
JimNever underestimate the value of a sharp pencil or good light.
Thanks, everyone, for the answers to my questions. I just love it when illustrations and diagrams for products online show another product instead, like that 240V GFCI pigtail with the 120V plug.I have advised the client that I will not wire a 120V receptacle for 240, suggesting instead changing the pigtails on his appliances to appropriate sized 240V plugs. He's getting me the model number of the machines so I can look up their spec sheets. One poster's comment about confusion after my customer moves brings up the thought that someone at his old house is going to plug into that mis-wired outlet and burn something up.I did find a 240V pair (Axxis dryer 13A 240V, washer 10A 240V)on the Bosch website, but the users guide pdf did not show what type plugs they had. Bosch customer service told me that the dryer has a US standard 30A dryer plug and that the washer plugs into the dryer with a European standard two-prong plug. So far so good, but then he said that I could replace the washer's European plug with a standard US 120V plug and plug directly into a standard 120V receptacle. "How", I asked, "could a motor wired to run off a 240V from its European style plug work on 120V?" Answer, "Well, that's what they told us." Nothing like getting information directly from the horses mouth, or in this case perhaps from a different equine orifice. :)
BruceT
Edited 5/21/2009 1:19 pm by brucet9
It could be the motor (& timer) can be rewired to run on 120V, or it could be that the unit is really 120V and only uses one side of the 240V line.
As I stood before the gates I realized that I never want to be as certain about anything as were the people who built this place. --Rabbi Sheila Peltz, on her visit to Auschwitz
European plugs don't have a neutral, just hot and hot and sometimes ground.I suppose it's possible that they re-wired the European integrated outlet and plug to 120V on machines for sale in the US, but why not use US standard plug and outlet then?BruceT
First off, there's no such thing as a "European standard" plug/outlet -- there are 4-5 different ones.
As I stood before the gates I realized that I never want to be as certain about anything as were the people who built this place. --Rabbi Sheila Peltz, on her visit to Auschwitz
There are three types of outlets in use in continental Europe and all 3 European plug types (C,E and F) fit any of them. Only the UK is different but they don't consider themselves part of Europe per se.
BruceT
Well, it's been awhile. Back in the 70s I was working on a computer system that we were getting ready for Europe and I remember Italy in particular had a really funky plug. As to the others there may be some interchangeability but it isn't complete, as some outlets are designed to block plugs that aren't grounded, etc.
As I stood before the gates I realized that I never want to be as certain about anything as were the people who built this place. --Rabbi Sheila Peltz, on her visit to Auschwitz
You're right. I checked the installation manual of the washer and it says connect to 120V 15A, even though the product info elsewhere on the Bosch website says 240V 10A.So much for German precision and accuracy.
BruceT
I think it would be a very bad idea to wire 240V to a standard 120V outlet. Especially in Europe, where there multiple different plug standards, the appliance pigtail is designed to be replaced, so what's on there now should not be the determining factor.
The page you found carries a "typical" illustration -- fairly common to use the same image for several different products that are nominally (to the web artist) identical.
No exception. Those who made the ad used the wrong product picture (or didn't know any better).