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In general the answer has to be: "120 volt appliances won't run on 230 volts in Europe if they have been designed to run only on the lower voltage, i.e. on 120 volts, and nothing else."
Some small appliances - such as electric shavers, chargers for cellphones and camera batteries, etc. - have been designed to run safely on different service voltages. If that is the case, the appliance's rating plate will state the range of voltages it was designed to accept.
A licensed electrician or professional electrical engineer would be able to consider whether or not a particular 120 volts-only appliance could be modified safely to run at the higher voltage, but it won't usually be worth the cost of doing the work. That's because, in many cases where the power needed is low, such as (say) less than 30 watts, a cheap and simple "International Travel Adapter" is all that is needed to make it work from the standard power socket outlets in the country your are visiting.
But bear in mind that the mains frequency in Europe and other 230 Volt areas is 50 Hz (cycles per second) compared to 60 Hz in US, Canada and other 120 volt areas. Some 60 Hz appliances will work fine but others with simple motors will run too slowly on the lower frequency of 50 Hz.
It is not possibe to use a standard kind of International Travel Adapter for high-powered appliances - such as electric kettles - because the current they take is much too high. 120 volt appliances having powers from (say) 100 watts to 2000 watts (2kW), or more, would need an expensive item called a "Transformer" or "Auto-transformer" to enable them to be used on a 230 volt supply.
Such Transformers are much bigger and heavier than an International Travel Adapter and also, it must be said, they are much more expensive: depending on the power to be converted, they can cost from US$100 upwards, even second-hand.
So most folks would just buy an appliance locally in the 230 volt 50 Hz area. After all, in Europe a cheap electric kettle can cost less than US$20 and a really fancy 230 volt, 3 kW kettle can be bought for under US$100.
Another answer
This is from a different user: SOME small low-wattage appliances or electronics items have built-in converter circuitry with semiconductors, transformers and resistors, etc. inside them. This is why you can plug such low-wattage appliances or electronics items into your wall and not have them "fry"... The built in converter circuitry converts the supply voltage to the right level.
What else can I help you with?
Would US appliance's like a clothes washer that run on 120 volts work on European 230 volts?
Definitely not !! it would be dangerous to use 120 volt equipment on a 230 volt supply, it would either blow the fuse or blow up . . You need a transformer to convert 230 volts to 120 volts, and you need one of the right rating. For a washing machine that might be quite a big transformer. We have 110 volt transformers for power tools but they are not big enough.
Are Household appliances AC or DC?
kettles generally run on alternating current (AC) as do most household appliances. although the heating element can run on either alternating or direct current (ac or dc) as long as the voltage is the same. for example if you were to plug your kettle into your car battery it wouldn't do very much if anything. however if you were to wire ten car batteries in series ( thus creating 120 volts dc) the kettle would heat up as it normally would.
Would 230 volt item applicance work on 220 volt in south Africa?
Yes, a 230-volt appliance should work fine on a 220-volt outlet in South Africa. The small difference in voltage is usually within the tolerance range of most appliances. However, it's always a good idea to check the appliance specifications to ensure compatibility and avoid any potential damage.
Do 115 volts and 120 volts work the same way?
Volts Alternating Current, range from a transformer and sometimes the distance of the transformer providing the volts may cause a range anywhere from 110vac to 130 volts alternating current. as long as you are within this range what ever you have should run with what voltage is provided. Yes it is all the same, it just varies.
Can you use 240v appliances on 110v current?
No, the pin configuration of the 240 volt receptacle is different from a 120 volt pin configuration. This is a safety factor to prevent the wrong voltage being applied to the wrong device. If the appliance is an electrical heater, then operating a 240 volt unit on 120 volts would give you a reduced wattage factor. By halving the rated operating voltage you will only receive one quarter of the rated wattage from the unit. A 3000 watt heater at 240 volts will be reduced to 750 watts on 120 volts.
Would 220 volts 60 hz appliances work on 110 volts 50 hz and vice versa?
No it would not.
Can hard wire appliances in US work in Europe?
Unlikely- European countries run on 240 volts which is about double the US standard.
Can 230 Volts rating TV operated on 150 Volts?
It would probably not work on 150 volts. Many televisions can be adjusted to work on 230 v (Europe) or 120 v (USA).
Will your Canadian appliances work in NamibiaWasherDryerFridgeStove and Dishwasher?
No, the voltage is 220 volts at a frequency of 50 Hertz.
Would US appliance's like a clothes washer that run on 120 volts work on European 230 volts?
Definitely not !! it would be dangerous to use 120 volt equipment on a 230 volt supply, it would either blow the fuse or blow up . . You need a transformer to convert 230 volts to 120 volts, and you need one of the right rating. For a washing machine that might be quite a big transformer. We have 110 volt transformers for power tools but they are not big enough.
Does us electrical appliances work in France?
Not without a step up transformer. The U.S is 120 volts at 60 Hz and France is 240 volts at 50 Hz.
Will Australian electrical appliances work in US?
No, not without a converter. Australia's current is 240 volts at 50 hertz.
If you buy a Wii in US will it work in Europe?
no because in Europe the PowerPoint is made differently and with an adapter your wii will blow up because in Europe they use more volts and with the wii from usa they use less volts
Is it true that all electrical appliances in US work on 110 volts?
No, appliances up to 1500 watts run on 120 v, while for larger equipment 240 v is available in most properties.
Will British electrical appliances work in US?
I was a US Government employee. Me and my family were sent to England where we resided for 7 years. We shipped all our household goods with us including all our US electrical appliances. Once there, we purchased transformers which come in various wattage ratings. The transformer actually converts the 220voltage down to the required 120 volts for US products. Anything with a motor would only be turning at 50 cycles a second vise the 60 cycles of US current. This would only affect the playing speed of say a record player (obselete now) but radios, toasters, coffee pots or anything of that nature would work fine. Hope this has helped. You need a transformer, as mentioned above. Note that for running UK appliances in the US that is not necissarily true, as the US has 120/240V service. You'd just need a special outlet for your 240V appliances. +++ Some, but by no means all, electronic appliances have 110/240V switches to allow use on either system.
Why is it better for some appliances to work from batteries?
Some appliances work better with batteries because they provide portable power, making it possible to use the appliance in locations where there is no access to a power outlet. This also makes them more versatile and convenient for outdoor activities or emergencies. Additionally, batteries can provide a more consistent power supply compared to fluctuating electrical grids.
Does an 180 volt appliance require 240 volt supply?
No, it requires a 180 Volt supply. Most appliances work +/- 10%, in this case 162 Volts to 198 Volts. I would question whether your appliance is really 180 Volt. No country uses this as domestic supply, it is usually 110V or 220-240V.
