From: amdx@knologynotthis.net   
      
   On 1/22/2012 12:52 PM, Rick wrote:   
   >   
   > "Jim Wilkins"  wrote in message   
   > news:jfhcg9$4ko$1@dont-email.me...   
   >>   
   >> "Rick"  wrote in message   
   >> news:jfh822$a7o$1@dont-email.me...   
   >>> ...   
   >>> I'm in the UK where we use a standardised 13A fused plug which is   
   >>> usually connected to a 230 volt 30A ring main for ordinary household   
   >>> appliances, with obviously heavier feeds for things like kitchen   
   >>> appliances such as electric cookers and maybe bathroom 12KW electric   
   >>> showers, how do they manage stuff like that stateside?   
   >>   
   >> In the US portable consumer appliances are generally limited to 15A at   
   >> 120V. The wall outlets are rated at 15A or 20A, with only a few per   
   >> circuit breaker and separate circuits for overhead lighting.   
   >>   
   >> Electric stoves and clothes dryers have dedicated 240V circuits with   
   >> appropriate plugs and breakers like 30A. This house had an electric   
   >> fireplace in the basement with a 240V 30A plug, which I use to run a   
   >> large air compressor. It's a standard low-cost tract house from 1970   
   >> and has a 200A service with 40 circuit breaker positions plus   
   >> separately metered electric hot water.   
   >>   
   >> Hobbyist-sized arc welders and plasma cutters can be either hard-wired   
   >> (as are water heaters and large air conditioners) or they can use a   
   >> 50A 240V plug.   
   >>   
   >> When we need occasional three phase power for machine tools we use   
   >> static or rotary converters or electronic Variable Frequency Drives   
   >> running off 240V.   
   >>   
   >>   
   > I would imagine that having a dual voltage system must mean that it   
   > wouldn't be entirely unknown for someone to have somehow managed to   
   > connect a 110 volt appliance to 240 volts?   
      
      I don't know of any instances, but I suppose it could happen.   
   The outlets for the individual voltages are different. Making mistakes   
   hard to do.   
                      Mikek   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)