Answer for Europe and other countries using similar 230 Volt, 50Hz household AC power - but excluding UK and Republic of Ireland
It has three round prongs for Live, Neutral and Earth. In some countries, it has two round prongs plus a socket for an Earth prong that is part of the socket outlet.
For some sample pictures see the Related Links shown below.
Answer for UK and Republic of Ireland and some other countries using similar 230 volt, 50 Hz household AC power It has three rectangular prongs and a cartridge fuse built-in. The fuse can be changed to suit the appliance the plug is feeding, either 3 Amp, 5 Amp or 13 Amp, so it is the right size to protect the appliance.
The Earth prong is larger and longer than the other two which are for the Live and Neutral connections.
The matching socket outlet has a spring-loaded shutter, made of a non-conducting material, which covers the holes for the Live and Neutral prongs as soon as a plug is unplugged.
When a plug is inserted into a socket outlet the longer Earth prong pushes the spring-loaded shutter out of the way to allow all the prongs to enter the socket outlet.
For a sample picture see the Related Link shown below.
Round plug, app. 2.5 inches in diameter with four prongs in a circle. One prong is "L" shaped to key the plug.
230 v appliances are made to work over a range of voltages and this includes 240 v. Usually the supply voltage can vary + or - 6% and the equipment must be designed for that. In the UK the nominal voltage is 230 v with a tolerance of -6% +10% because many or most of the outlets work at 240 v in practice.
First and foremost you should look at the nameplate. If the nameplate is unreadable then you will do no harm plugging it into a 115 volt supply. If the motor looks like it is running at full speed then it is a 115 volt motor. If you plug it in and it looks like the shaft is turning at about half speed then it is a 230 volt motor. If the motor is running slow don't leave it plugged in for more that 15 seconds. Find a 230 volt supply and plug it in, it should run at the right speed. If you have a shaft tachometer use it on the end of the shaft to get an accurate rotation speed. The above prompted comparison with another motor, with the same RPM rating, allowing a simple feel of the shafts for a close speed match. The help is appreciated.
Yes, 220 volts is in the same voltage classification as 230 volts.
Yes, but a fact has to be taken into account that when a 230 volt rated bulb is used on a 120 volt system the wattage output is half of what the 230 volt bulb is rated at when it operates on 230 volt. So the dimmer will only be used to control half of the bulbs wattage which could bring the bulb down to a dull glow in full dimming position.
230
Yes
There is no remedy but to plug it into a 230 circut.
No, if it says 230-240 .. 230 is the minimum..
no
The only way to do that is with a transformer. They make inline transformers that convert 230 to 115 and they simply plug in inline.
No. A household receptacle is 120V. It will not work.
No.
230 v appliances are made to work over a range of voltages and this includes 240 v. Usually the supply voltage can vary + or - 6% and the equipment must be designed for that. In the UK the nominal voltage is 230 v with a tolerance of -6% +10% because many or most of the outlets work at 240 v in practice.
First and foremost you should look at the nameplate. If the nameplate is unreadable then you will do no harm plugging it into a 115 volt supply. If the motor looks like it is running at full speed then it is a 115 volt motor. If you plug it in and it looks like the shaft is turning at about half speed then it is a 230 volt motor. If the motor is running slow don't leave it plugged in for more that 15 seconds. Find a 230 volt supply and plug it in, it should run at the right speed. If you have a shaft tachometer use it on the end of the shaft to get an accurate rotation speed. The above prompted comparison with another motor, with the same RPM rating, allowing a simple feel of the shafts for a close speed match. The help is appreciated.
no
No totally different
If you are talking about a 6 volt coil, yes, so long as the contacts are rated for the 230 volt circuit. If you are talking about 6 volt contacts, no, absolutely not.