"Martin Brown" wrote in message
...
On 15/04/2014 23:53, Uncle Peter wrote:
On Tue, 15 Apr 2014 23:24:28 +0100, Uncle Peter wrote:

Plus.... I've found a few websites saying 220V American appliances can't
operate in the UK, because they have two phase power over there? WTF?
Surely all their big appliances see is 220V, connected from L1 to L2.
Over here they get the same, but L to N.

It can be true of US inductive loads like motors built down to a price.
The difference in current between a 60Hz design and 50Hz operation can be
a nearly 20% increase in current draw. Running hot = shorter life.

A lot of stuff sold in the USA comes with a US only wallwart PSU. Japanese
kit comes with the ability to run on either since half the country has US
installed 60Hz generators and the rest British 50Hz.

Japan uses 100 volts mind,

America, the houses have 2 phases at 110 volts coming in, the breaker box is
split in half, and half the house wired on one 110 volt phase, the other
half wired to the 2nd phase, they need to balance the loads a bit to avoid
overloading the common neutral.

When they put in a 220 volt appliance (tumble drier, cooker/range, big
welder, RV power, big air conditioners etc) they use both 110 volt phases
and not the neutral wire,
if the neutral is used it will be for 110 volt parts in the appliance... the
motor in the tumble drier, clock on the cooker etc.