Can a 220 plug into a 110 outlet?

Answer 1

Maybe, but probably not. 120v and 240v plug ends are designed differently on purpose to prevent this. If the appliance or item in question is designed to operate on 240 volts, you will have to provide it with a 240 volt receptacle. If you look at the item's nameplate (where model number, wattage, etc is found) it may list more than one voltage i.e. 120/240. This means you would be able to operate the unit on either voltage, provided you are using the proper plug.

Answer 2

Answer for USA, Canada and countries running a 60 Hz supply service.

Your appliance plug end should not fit in a receptacle with an improper voltage.

However, damage is done when you apply voltage HIGHER than the appliance is designed to use. So plugging a 110v appliance into a 220v outlet would cause damage. Plugging a 220v appliance into a 110v outlet should get you nothing: no operation, no damage, no work, etc.

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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.

Note: Some older houses in the US that were wired in the 1940s or 1950s may have two prong ungrounded "double-T" outlets installed that allow both 110V 15A "double-vertical" and 220V 8A "double-horizontal" plugs to plug into them!! If any of this type outlet is installed on a 220V circuit it is a serious safety hazard as 110V appliances CAN be plugged into it and will be destroyed! If you have "double-T" outlets in an old house have an electrician inspect them and remove any connected to 220V (the ones connected to 110V are OK to keep, unless new work is done on their circuit at which time all such outlets on that circuit MUST be replaced to meet code).

Outlets with "one-T one-vertical" are 110V 20A outlets designed to allow both 110V 20A "one-horizontal one-vertical" and 110V 15A "double-vertical" plugs to plug into them. This is perfectly safe as the voltage is the same and most such outlets are three prong grounded outlets.