I've recently purchased a large american tumble dryer, which
unfortunately comes without installation instructions etc.

As will become clear, I don't have a clue about electrics, and I just
want to make sure everything is safe.

The instructions on the back of the machine state "Use a new UL
approved 30 amp power supply cord or 10 gauge solid copper wire".

However, the machine has a normal 3 pin 13 amp plug on it just now.

Question: is it safe to plug this into a normal socket and use? Or do
I need to run a new 30 amp cable from the consumer unit? (when I say
"I", a proper electrician will be doing the work if needed,
thankfully!!)

wrote:

The instructions on the back of the machine state "Use a new UL
approved 30 amp power supply cord or 10 gauge solid copper wire".


I suspect that label. 30A at US 110V is a tad over 3kW - as is 13A at 240V.

OTOH, it might not have been reset to UK voltages...

Andy

Andy Champ wrote:

I suspect that label. 30A at US 110V is a tad over 3kW - as is 13A at
240V.

That is possible, however note that most US houses have a 110-0-110
connection to the mains. Hence for large fixed appliances they can run
them from 220V. So it may be possible that it needs that much power.

Does it have a power rating anywhere?



--
Cheers,

John.

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On Mon, 24 Sep 2007 12:29:23 -0700, wrote:

I've recently purchased a large american tumble dryer, which
unfortunately comes without installation instructions etc.

Where from ? :-)


As will become clear, I don't have a clue about electrics, and I just
want to make sure everything is safe.

The instructions on the back of the machine state "Use a new UL
approved 30 amp power supply cord or 10 gauge solid copper wire".

However, the machine has a normal 3 pin 13 amp plug on it just now.

What's it's origin? Some machines brought in by American Forces or
Embassy personnel had a transformer installed within the appliance by
a local electrican over here, alternatively some electricians
preferred to install a central transformer in the house and run 110v
radial circuits out to the appliances.

Then again American appliances can be 110v-0-110v


Question: is it safe to plug this into a normal socket and use? Or do
I need to run a new 30 amp cable from the consumer unit?

I think that is unlikely

(when I say "I", a proper electrician will be doing the work if needed,
thankfully!!)

You might need to look out for one with experience in the field of
installing US appliances over here.

The 30 amp configuration will presumably be at 110v single phase. The
presence of the 13amp plug could indicate that it has been fitted with
a transformer and draws less (probably not much less) than 13 amps at
240 volts. It really has to be determined for sure.

Was it previously working without problems wherever it came from ?

DG

John Rumm wrote:

Andy Champ wrote:

I suspect that label. 30A at US 110V is a tad over 3kW - as is 13A at
240V.


That is possible, however note that most US houses have a 110-0-110
connection to the mains. Hence for large fixed appliances they can run
them from 220V. So it may be possible that it needs that much power.

Does it have a power rating anywhere?



I doubt if there are _any_ US dryers which run on 110. All that I've
seen lately, have been 220 (years ago, 250).

In article ,
John Rumm writes:
Andy Champ wrote:

I suspect that label. 30A at US 110V is a tad over 3kW - as is 13A at
240V.

That is possible, however note that most US houses have a 110-0-110

120-0-120

connection to the mains. Hence for large fixed appliances they can run
them from 220V. So it may be possible that it needs that much power.

240V

Does it have a power rating anywhere?

--
Andrew Gabriel
[email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup]

On 24 Sep 2007 22:52:47 GMT, (Andrew
Gabriel) wrote:

In article ,
John Rumm writes:
Andy Champ wrote:

I suspect that label. 30A at US 110V is a tad over 3kW - as is 13A at
240V.

That is possible, however note that most US houses have a 110-0-110

120-0-120

http://www.thorappliances.com/installation/index.php


connection to the mains. Hence for large fixed appliances they can run
them from 220V. So it may be possible that it needs that much power.

240V


http://www.thorappliances.com/installation/index.php

Does it have a power rating anywhere?

DG

Andrew Gabriel wrote:
In article ,
John Rumm writes:
Andy Champ wrote:

I suspect that label. 30A at US 110V is a tad over 3kW - as is 13A at
240V.
That is possible, however note that most US houses have a 110-0-110

120-0-120

Yup, sorry thinking site transformers ;-)

Still, the same logic applies - don't assume that is 120V 30A... in fact
if it *is* 120V definitely don't try running from 240V!

--
Cheers,

John.

/================================================== ===============\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\================================================= ================/

In article ,
Derek Geldard writes:
On 24 Sep 2007 22:52:47 GMT, (Andrew
Gabriel) wrote:

In article ,
John Rumm writes:
Andy Champ wrote:

I suspect that label. 30A at US 110V is a tad over 3kW - as is 13A at
240V.

That is possible, however note that most US houses have a 110-0-110

120-0-120

http://www.thorappliances.com/installation/index.php

US hasn't been 110V for around 60 years.
Some parts (such as California) have dropped back from
120V to 117V more recently as an energy saving measure.

--
Andrew Gabriel
[email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup]

Andrew Gabriel wrote:

US hasn't been 110V for around 60 years.
Some parts (such as California) have dropped back from
120V to 117V more recently as an energy saving measure.

PSE&G in New Jersey claims to be 110v.
As do a number of other suppliers.
50 years ago, higher voltages were common.

It's a big country - what's true in one area, may not be true elsewhere.