Question for Electricians - help running a 230v equipment

[handyman2020]

hello,
I am in North America, I have this plug and there is 240v in this plug



I want to buy this Steam cleaner which is 3000w@ 230v but the pin is South asian/china connector pin,

is it possible to run that steamer in North america?






Please help me out dear friends.

Product link https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003441027124.html

 

[dcg9381]

The product is offered in a "US" version advertised AC voltage of 220-240. Normally anything in that "range" will work.
I assume the "US version" means that it will work at 60hz frequency.

I only see one review for the "US" model and it looks like spam.

But yea, it should work if it'll operate at 240V and 60hz using the 14-30R that you've mentioned.

 

[Lassen Forge]

50 Hz vs 60 Hz... if its set up for 50 Hz, and you run it on 60 Hz, any electronics will sooner or later (likely sooner) issue you the square smoke ring of death... Also EU 230 is 3 prong - Hot, Neutral, and Ground, just like US 120 volts... US 240 is 4 prong -

 

[wyliesdiesels]

50 Hz vs 60 Hz... if its set up for 50 Hz, and you run it on 60 Hz, any electronics will sooner or later (likely sooner) issue you the square smoke ring of death... Also EU 230 is 3 prong - Hot, Neutral, and Ground, just like US 120 volts... US 240 is 4 prong -

US 240v is NOT 4-prong. It is 3-prong. hot-hot-grnd. US 120/240v is 4 prong hot-hot-neutral-grnd

 

[u2slow]

50 vs 60hz rarely matters on today's electronics. The small print usually reveals a dual rating. Resistive heating devices don't discriminate - work fine on either.

While it may be convenient to recycle the dryer's 14-30R in your laundry room, that machine is likely more appropriate with a 20A breaker on a 6-20R receptacle.

 

[handyman2020]

US 240v is NOT 4-prong. It is 3-prong. hot-hot-grnd. US 120/240v is 4 prong hot-hot-neutral-grnd

this is what confusing me, usa has two 120v phase which makes 240v

China single 240V and then neutral. thats it.


how will this machine work in north america

it can work in 120v outlet with adapter but then it will be only 1500watts not 3000watts

 

[u2slow]

this is what confusing me, usa has two 120v phase which makes 240v

China single 240V and then neutral. thats it.


how will this machine work in north america

USA and Canada have single phase 240v; often called split-phase because it's grounded in the middle to give 120v 'halves'.

The machine doesn't know the difference between 240V from two line conductors, or from line to neutral. It's the difference between the two that does the work.

 

[dcg9381]

In the US: It's considered "single phase". Yes, in the US it's 180 degrees off to get a potential difference of 240V so it's confusing. We "split" that phase to get to 120V.

It reads to me that China's standard is 220V AC @ 50HZ: It really doesn't matter that they're calling it a neutral because the potential difference between the hot and that "China Neutral" is 220V AC. There is no "split" option in China...

The question to ask the manufacturer is:
Is this designed for operation at 240Vac @ 60Hz? (US power)

 

[Snip's]

Water, Big electricity, and China....

Nope, Nope, and Nope....

 

[handyman2020]

In the US: It's considered "single phase". Yes, in the US it's 180 degrees off to get a potential difference of 240V so it's confusing. We "split" that phase to get to 120V.

It reads to me that China's standard is 220V AC @ 50HZ: It really doesn't matter that they're calling it a neutral because the potential difference between the hot and that "China Neutral" is 220V AC. There is no "split" option in China...

The question to ask the manufacturer is:
Is this designed for operation at 240Vac @ 60Hz? (US power)

they dont know, I tried asking several times, some seller just doesnt reply at all.

Only one seller replied and he said that "we will provide an adapter".

I guess thats an adapter we use while traveling to plug in our chargers in different countries.

Even if I use that travel adapter converter and plug the machine into 120v then the machine will not remain 3000watt, it may become 120V and half wattage ? 1500w ?

since I cant return it, so I have to **** it up if it wont work on 240V here in N.A.

 

[dcg9381]

All I can say is that "most" devices that work at 220V @ 50HZ are likely to function for "some time" at 240V @60HZ. This product accounts for different country versions, so they may have figured that out (might look up UK's power standards, as they have sold a bunch of those versions).

This is a steam cleaner. I wouldn't expect it to work worth a **** at 1/2 voltage.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

they dont know, I tried asking several times, some seller just doesnt reply at all.

Only one seller replied and he said that "we will provide an adapter".

I guess thats an adapter we use while traveling to plug in our chargers in different countries.

Even if I use that travel adapter converter and plug the machine into 120v then the machine will not remain 3000watt, it may become 120V and half wattage ? 1500w ?

since I cant return it, so I have to **** it up if it wont work on 240V here in N.A.

nope it wont be half the wattage because its not an inductive load, its a resistive load. have to use ohms law....

it will be about 816w....

3000w/230v = 13.04a
230v/13.04= 17.64ohms

120v/17.64ohms= 6.8a
6.8ax120v= 816w

 

[BillK]

I dont know how cheap this item is but I simply cannot believe that there isnt one available that is designed to work on our power.

 

[handyman2020]

I dont know how cheap this item is but I simply cannot believe that there isnt one available that is designed to work on our power.

yes there is for 3000w you have to pay cheapest model built in Northamerica starts 5000USD

 

[handyman2020]

Water, Big electricity, and China....

Nope, Nope, and Nope....

I have this smaller version of the steam cleaner for last 2 years, using it without any issues but its not that good/hot enough and the power seems too less for the cleaning I want to do

I have 110v version of this.




Thankyou!!

 

[alfredeneuman]

China single 240V and then neutral. thats it.

China operates on a 220V supply voltage and 50Hz. line to neutral.
Their line to line voltage is 380.

 

[handyman2020]

China operates on a 220V supply voltage and 50Hz. line to neutral.
Their line to line voltage is 380.

so will that machine work or not with some modification to the machine plug as well as some modification to nema plug I have.
I am confused by your reply now

 

[nadogail]

I would not be interested in any thing that I could not get repair parts for.

 

[u2slow]

so will that machine work or not with some modification to the machine plug as well as some modification to nema plug I have.
I am confused by your reply now

You're going to have trouble finding anyone that will make a statement that exposes them to liability, or compromises the listing/approval of the product.

My experience is that most offshore (i.e. made in China) goods of electronic or heating nature are dual rated or tolerant of the slight voltage/frequency difference.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

so will that machine work or not with some modification to the machine plug as well as some modification to nema plug I have.
I am confused by your reply now

nobody will know the answer to that except the manufacturer or someone who has used the same equipment before...

but running something designed to operate @ 220v 50hz may get fried if its ran on 240v 60hz.... why not just find similar equipment thats designed to run on US voltage?

 

[u2slow]

The nominal 50Hz voltage for most countries is now considered 230/400V rather than 220/380V. The product itself may be rated "50-60Hz" on the nameplate.

China would be foolish to mass-produce product for the whole world that fails in the 230-240V league.

Changing the cord plug on a manufactured and approved product will void it's rating. That why nobody wants to recommend it.

 

[TRWham]

yes there is for 3000kw you have to pay cheapest model built in Northamerica starts 5000USD

Yes, I imagine a 3 megawatt steam cleaner is expensive.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

yes there is for 3000kw you have to pay cheapest model built in North america starts 5000USD

you looked up the wrong size. 3,000w ≠ 3,000kw

heres a 2,500w model... $70

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BPGKKYKY/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[alfredeneuman]

I am confused by your reply now

I was responding to your claim that it was 240V

 

[Metal-Marc]

Yes, I imagine a 3 megawatt steam cleaner is expensive.

FIve grand for a 3 megawatt cleaner is a good deal. It's the electrical installation to run it that will get you.

 

[fitter30]

Looks like there's just on off switch thermostat klinox and the same for a limit. Should work with no problem.

 

[handyman2020]

Looks like there's just on off switch thermostat klinox and the same for a limit. Should work with no problem.

how should I connect it, can you tell me where should the 2 pins of the Chinese plug will go into NEMA ?

 

[K13]

As wyliedesiels mentioned 3000W (what you have) is not the same as 3000kw. Not even close to the same. 3000w is 3kw

 

[handyman2020]

That was a typo, I have corrected it, its 3000Watts OR three thousand watts. not 3000 KILOWATTS,

 

[kaffine]

how should I connect it, can you tell me where should the 2 pins of the Chinese plug will go into NEMA ?

Line goes to line 1, neutral goes to line 2, earth goes to ground.

 

[Lassen Forge]

Yes, I imagine a 3 megawatt steam cleaner is expensive.

FIve grand for a 3 megawatt cleaner is a good deal. It's the electrical installation to run it that will get you.

If you think the cost of insulation is bad, wait until you have to pay to have the reactor refuelled... Uranium has gone through the roof (at least in Chernobyl)...

 

[kaffine]

If you think the cost of insulation is bad, wait until you have to pay to have the reactor refuelled... Uranium has gone through the roof (at least in Chernobyl)...

And I thought the bottom had fallen out

 

[nadogail]

During a Melt Down, there is no practical difference between Through the Roof or The Bottom Dropping Out, Both are equally bad.

 

[Lassen Forge]

Makes for a hot time in Pripyat...

 

[William Payne]

China would be foolish to mass-produce product for the whole world that fails in the 230-240V league.

Actually that is how a good chunk of the world is for single phase. It is your guys 120 that becomes the head scratcher, What I often see on anything "global" is it will say 120-230v 50-60hz and you just buy the plug that fits your wall or there is usually a voltage switch.

 

[William Payne]

That plug on the right is what we use here in New Zealand and Australia and the earth and the neutral should be the other way round in that image if it was for our country.

(EDIT) I just found out that some places that use this style of plug do in fact have earth and neutral reversed compared to AU/NZ, One example being Argentina apparently.


In fact sometimes some electrical goods don't have an earth at all unless there is a shock risk.

If its 230v like it is here in New Zealand than 240v here is L1 N and Earth. We don't have any lower than 230-240v stuff here. Split phase being L1 L2 and Earth is 400 volt here.

 

[Norcal]

That plug on the right is what we use here in New Zealand and Australia and the earth and the neutral should be the other way round in that image. In fact sometimes some electrical goods don't have an earth at all unless there is a shock risk.

If its 230v like it is here in New Zealand than 240v here is L1 N and Earth. We don't have any lower than 230-240v stuff here. Split phase being L1 L2 and Earth is 400 volt here./recept

The plug/receptacle used in AU/NZ is a obsolete Hubbell patent.

 

[William Payne]

The plug/receptacle used in AU/NZ is a obsolete Hubbell patent.

Hey thanks for that. I am going to look that up. Hey if it works it must be good haha.

 

[Norcal]

Hey thanks for that. I am going to look that up. Hey if it works it must be good haha.

The use of them here slowed down after the 1960's, they don't even have the same 20A 250V rating anymore, now they are a 20A 125/250V, dual voltage, non grounding device, and considered a non NEMA device.

 

[dutchgray]

All I can say is that "most" devices that work at 220V @ 50HZ are likely to function for "some time" at 240V @60HZ. This product accounts for different country versions, so they may have figured that out (might look up UK's power standards, as they have sold a bunch of those versions).

This is a steam cleaner. I wouldn't expect it to work worth a **** at 1/2 voltage.

We are nominal 230v plus or minus 10% @ 50Hz in the UK for a single phase supply (which is line to neutral on the 400v 3 phase supply)