Appliances And Voltage
Appliances Connection Answers the Question Concerning Appliances and Voltage
Obvious statement: Today's major household appliances require electricity to function. Appliances and electronics are designed to run on typically two main categories of voltage required to operate them. There are also different currents of electricity used to deliver energy, direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC).
At the onset of harnessing and providing electricity to run cities and power households here in the United States, there was a current war to determine what was best. Long story short, alternating current won. What is the major difference between the two? To put it simply, direct current uses two points of contact, namely a positive and negative terminal, with electricity flowing in one direction. Direct current is usually found in batteries. Alternating current is able to reverse the direction of flow and is more cost effective and efficient to deliver energy into homes. Also, it is easy to manipulate and change the voltage of alternating current with a transformer. This is the main reason why power companies utilize alternating current to supply energy into your home.
Electricity is probably the best discovery by mankind responsible for the modern world as we know it. More specifically, mankind's ability to harness and control electricity to power equipment and lights, allowed for a substantial increase in productivity as a whole. All your appliances and the illumination in your home powers on at the flip of a switch. Do not attempt to do any electrical work yourself if you are unsure or inexperienced. Always consult with a licensed electrician on any work you intend to do especially with new connections.
220V - 240V Appliances in the United States
Generally, in the States, the common voltage connection in homes is 110-120VAC (Volts Alternating Current). While other parts of the world utilize 220-240VAC as the standard power supply connection for residences. Certain appliances require a specific amount of voltage to run effective. In most cases, if an appliance does not match the corresponding voltage connection then the appliance simply will not work.
Few would pay much mind towards the voltage required by household appliances or perhaps, there is a level of uncertainty whether lower or higher rated appliance voltage will function properly in their homes. For the most part, here in the States, the primary concern revolves around whether or not 240V appliances will operate in residences and what are the steps required to allow proper operation. For appliances using a higher voltage than the standard 110V, a special connection is required to be installed in your home to allow for a 240V or similar to operate.
Your appliance connection will use either the range of 110-120VAC or 220-240VAC. Some appliances can run dual voltage, but most do not. The ones that are single voltage must use the correct corresponding voltage otherwise, you will risk damaging your appliance. Here in the United States, we are attuned to running appliances and electronics between the range of 100V and 127V. The difference fluctuates depending on a few variations involving power line supplies and wire connections. Recently, there have been an increase with using 230V appliances and equipment, the standard has been used in a broader market all over the world with the accommodation of an adapter or connection plug. For the most part, higher voltage means more power, which in turn, is capable of a more rigorous performance. In order to use higher or lower rated voltage that does not match your output, you will need to equip a transformer to either step up or step down in power supply.
Types of Appliances that use 220V-240V Capacity
Washers using 240V capacity are able to perform strenuous activities more effectively, such as, the wash cycles and spin cycles.
240V dryers are typically all electric, whereas, 110V dryers use gas as its main component to heat up.
Ranges that utilize 240V operation usually come in the form of dual fuel. With the burners using gas as its main fuel source and the oven portion using electricity to heat food.
Air conditioners require higher voltage in order to quickly and effectively cool a room.
Wall ovens that use electricity for their oven cooking are very popular do to its efficiency over gas. Higher voltage enables them to heat up faster and with electricity, theyre more effective at distributing heat evenly in comparison with gas.
Cooktops using traditional heating elements or induction elements benefit greatly with higher voltage. In certain instances, as with induction, allowing faster boil times when compared to gas burners.
