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== == YOU SHOULD NOT BE THINKING OF DOING THIS!
It may not harm them but they won't work!
For more information, please see the Related Questionsbelow. If the 240 volt appliance uses a lot of power, like a clothes dryer, kitchen range, etc. , the answer 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!
That is because of Ohms Law, which says:
Amps = Volts divided by Resistance (Ohms)
and the Power Law which says:
Power (Watts) = Volts multiplied by Amps
so it is also true to say:
Power = Volts x ( Volts / Ohms ) or V2/Ohms
If the appliance was designed to run on 240 Volts, with a certain number of Ohms of resistance, its Power is given by the formula as:
Power = 240 x 240 / Ohms = 57600 / Ohms.
So, if the Resistance of the appliance is 5 Ohms its power consumption is 57600 / 5
= 11,520 Watts = 11.52 KiloWatts
If we tried to use that same appliance on 120 Volts, which is half of 240 volts:
The appliance's resistance would stay the same so the resulting power taken at 120 volts is:
= 120 x 120 / Ohms = 14400 / 5 = 2880 Watts
Another way to see it is: if V = 240 volts, and if you are plugging into only half of V:
Power = (V/2)2 / Ohms = (V2/4) / Ohms
but as the appliance's resistance would still be the same, the resulting power
= 1/4 x (240 x 240 / Ohms) = 1/4 x 57600 / 5 = 2880 Watts.
Anyway, however you calculate it, 2880 Watts at 120 volts is only a quarter of the power which would be supplied at 240 Volts, 11520 Watts.
The story does not end here, however! If you want to supply 11,520 Watts of power at only 120 volts, the current required would be 11520 / 120 = 96 Amps.
To allow such a current to be carried safely to the appliance without catching on fire would require extremely thick wiring to be used from the main breaker panel to the appliance. Also, it would not be possible to use any standard 120 Volt breakers, plugs and socket outlets to carry such a current.
So no appliances for normal domestic home use are manufactured to operate at such high power outputs on 120 Volts.
However, to supply a power of 11,520 Watts at 240 volts, the current required would be 11520 / 240 = 48 Amps. This is well within the normal specifications for the standard wiring sizes and outlets used for 240 Volts supplies, to allow such a current to be carried safely to the appliance without catching on fire.
That is why high-powered appliances, such as clothes dryers and kitchen ranges, for normal domestic home use, are manufactured to operate at 240 Volts.
For more information please click on the Related Questions listed below. <><><>
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.
What else can I help you with?
What are the differences between electrical appliances operating at 120 volt vs 240 volt?
The main difference between electrical appliances operating at 120 volts and 240 volts is the amount of power they can handle. Appliances operating at 240 volts can handle more power and are often more efficient, but they require a different type of outlet and wiring compared to appliances operating at 120 volts.
Can 240 volt appliances be used in US?
120/240 volts is the working voltage in North America.
What type of connection is preferred in housing?
In North America the connection type is 120/240 volt single phase. This allows the use of 120 volts for smaller appliances and equipment along with 240 volts for larger appliances and equipment.
What voltage do most household appliances use?
Most household appliances use either 120 volts or 240 volts, depending on the country and the type of appliance. In the United States, most outlets provide 120 volts for small appliances and lighting, while larger appliances like stoves and dryers require 240 volts.
What are the differences in electrical power consumption between appliances operating at 120 volts versus 240 volts?
Appliances operating at 240 volts consume less electrical power compared to those operating at 120 volts because higher voltage allows for lower current to achieve the same power output.
How many volts does 12-2 wire carry?
12-2 wire typically carries 120 volts in residential settings and 240 volts in certain appliances or systems that require higher voltage.
What is the voltage of common electrical appliances?
115 volts <<>> In North America because of using a split secondary both 120/240 voltages are common. 120 volts used for smaller appliances and lighting systems. 240 volts used for larger appliances. Keeping in mind that the higher the voltage the lower the current, using higher voltage on larger current drawing appliances keeps the wire to a workable size.
What is the difference between 120 and 240 volts?
voltage is the PUSH on electrons seriously 120 volts is the difference of 240...Simply said 240 volts is 2 times as strong as 120 volts.
Can 240 volt appliances from NZ run on 240 Volts in the US?
No, 240 volt appliances from New Zealand cannot run on 240 volts in the US. The electrical systems in these countries are different. Appliances intended for use in New Zealand are designed to operate on 230-240 volts at 50 hertz, while in the US, the standard voltage is 120 volts at 60 hertz. Using a 240-volt appliance from New Zealand in the US without a voltage converter or transformer could damage the appliance or pose a safety hazard.
What are the frequency and supply of home appliances and what AC supply in our house?
Answer for USA, Canada and countries running a 60 Hertz supply service.The North American grid uses a frequency of 60 Hertz delivering 120/240 volts to the home. Most small appliances use a voltage of 120 volts where as larger appliance loads are 240 volts. On the larger loads it is a combination of 120/240, 120 volts for the controls and small motors and 240 for the resistive loads on the appliance.Different in different countries. Where is "our house"?****In lots of Europe the grid delivers 50 Hz 240V per phase.
What is the standard voltage conversion ratio from 240 volts to 120 volts?
The standard voltage conversion ratio from 240 volts to 120 volts is 2:1.
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.
