On Sun, 23 Feb 2020 10:23:06 -0500, Ralph Mowery
wrote:

In article ,
says...

I'm not questioning the safety rating of the outlet. I'm questioning
whether that outlet is supplying 120 or 220/240 volts. And you can't
tell just by examining what it is rated for.

The reason that type of outlet is rated for 250v is that it is commonly
used to supply power for electric dryers, ovens, ranges, and other high
wattage appliances that are engineered to use the 220/240 supply voltage
(yes, including use in countries that use 120v for almost all other
electrical equipment).

That is why NEMA standardizes these plugs.



Yes, there are NEMA standards.

With all the stuff coming into the US from China and sometimes other
countries you never know what they may send into the US.

Where I worked we had some big temperature controlled heaters. They ran
on 480 volts 3 phase and anywhere from 10 to 200 amps. There was a big
building project and another bank of heates were installed. While
setting they up we could not get the high end to reach anywhere the 480
volts. Come to find out the equipment was sent in as 380 volt devices.
I don't know what country uses that.

On another note everything that had the 480 volt disconnects green ment
that the breaker was supplying power and red ment it was not. Then the
European stuff came in and their idea was red ment the breaker was on
and it was dangerous to go in the box and green ment the breaker was off
and it was safe. Exectally backwards.

I don't remember the colors now,but even the 120 volt replacement cords
had blue and brown wires instead of the more normal black and white we
use in the US.


Ordering low bid stuff from offshore is always a crap shoot but you
should verify the voltage ratings are right. I agree Europe uses
different marking standards and it is not even standard across the EU.
They are trying but old habits are hard to break and it takes a long
time to replace all of the installed equipment.
The NEC does recognize the European cord color standards tho.

400.21 (C) Neutral identification ... For jacketed cords furnished
with appliances, one conductor
having its insulation colored light blue, with the other conductors
having their insulation of a readily distinguishable color
other than white or gray.