How can I install an outlet to use European appliances?
July 2, 2010 by MrAuthor
Filed under Appliances
My house inspector noted in his report that the meter reads 240V. Is there a way of installing an outlet that would allow me to use European appliances and tools (possibly high wattage) without a converter?
Sure it is possible, you will just drive the inspectors and house purchasers crazy and you will have a tough time finding European wall mount outlets in the US.
220-240 volt outlets are available in many sizes. Mostly you see the big ones for ranges and driers, but there are smaller ones that look a lot like regular grounded wall outlets, but the flat blades are arranged differently. The most common place to see them in under windows for heavy duty air conditioners or window or wall mounted heat pumps.
Your best solution would be to go to your local hardware store or other location that sells a good variety of US-European adaptors and get one for foreign visitors to use in the US. For example, this one.
http://www.exportappliances.com/proddetail.asp?pid=1439
then have an electrician install an American 220/240 volt outlet – the one with two flat blades shown is 20 amp so you get about 4000 watts available.
As others have said, you can’t run equipment that depends on 50 cycle for timing as ours is 60 cycle and even a transformer doesn’t change that.
If you need more than 4000 watts, then you would be better off cutting the plug off and installing an American 30 or 50 amp 220 plug and a range or drier outlet – again only if the motors, etc. will run on 60.