How do you plug a high-power 240V electric appliance into a 120V outlet?

Answer 1

For USA, Canada and other countries running a 60 Hz supply service.You cannot do this because high power household electrical appliances like dryers do not work like some low power electric razors, phone chargers, etc. which, nowadays, can be plugged into anything from 110 volts to 240 volts.

A 240 volt electric dryer or clothes washing machine always needs to have its own 240 volt socket outlet.

As you asked this question the best advice anyone can give you is to ask a licensed electrician to help you. He would be able to install the correct socket outlet for you to be able to use the 240V appliance - for example a dryer or a washer - by installing a new 240V branch circuit with correctly sized breakers and wiring.

Another answerSmall Transformers are available to power small appliances which draw only small currents. These are mostly consumer devices such as electric shavers; mp3 music players; battery chargers for cellphones, cameras, etc.

But if you are asking how to operate a large appliancethat needs 240 volts (such as a washing machine or dryer) on only 120 volts, it cannot be done.

Why? Because of the very good reason that the appliance was built to run on a 240 volts service and 120 volts is only half that voltage - much too low!

More technical details

If they are appliances that have to use a lot of power, like clothes dryers, kitchen ranges, etc., the answer to this question has to be No.

Apart from International voltage issues, there are good technical reasons why some things made for the US, Canada, or other countries using similar mains supplies, are designed to run on 220 to 240 volts instead of 110 to 120 volts.

The main reason is how much current is needed to get the required amount of power into such appliances that have to use a lot, like clothes dryers, kitchen ranges, etc., because if you double the voltage you only need to supply half the current (Amps) to produce the same amount of power. (Watts or kiloWatts.)

If you tried to use something that was designed for 240 volts on only 120 volts, the result is not that you would get half the power output: you would get only a quarter!

For more information, see the answers to the Related Questions shown below.

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As always, if you are in doubt about what to do, the best advice anyone should give you is to call a licensed electrician to advise what work is needed.

Before you do any work yourself,

on electrical circuits, equipment or appliances,

always use a test meter to ensure the circuit is, in fact, de-energized.

IF YOU ARE NOT ALREADY SURE YOU CAN DO THIS JOB

SAFELY AND COMPETENTLY

REFER THIS WORK TO QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS.

Answer 2

If it smoked or smelled bad and doesn't work at all If it were me I would'NT even try. Toss it and buy a new one. Most appliances today will probably cost to much to repair to be worth it.