4 Feb
2011
4 Feb
'11
4:42 p.m.
On 2011 Feb 2, at 5:51 PM, Brian Lanning wrote:
On Tue, Feb 1, 2011 at 4:51 PM, Brent Hilpert
<hilpert at cs.ubc.ca>
wrote:
The real-world difference between North American 240V and Euro 240V is
the maximum potential relative to ground:
NA: 120 VRMS, 170V peak
Euro: 240 VRMS, 340V peak
Of course, the lower potential to ground is precisely why NA uses the
split-phase 120/240: it is much safer for humans but you still have 240
for heavy loads.
For equipment, in theory, there could be a problem if the insulation
rating of some component (e.g. caps) could not handle the higher
potential to ground. In practice, it's somewhat unlikely a manufacturer
would build anything such that that would be a problem.
Looking at the wiring digram, to my
interpretation, it's not
combining two
115V lines, all the loads in the unit appear to run from 230V.
The way it is labelled with 'Neutral and 230V' suggests it was meant
for a
European type supply or a commercial 230V supply, that is: single
phase 230V
relative to a 0V neutral, along with a protective ground.
However, both wires (230V and Neutral) in the unit have control
devices
(switches, relays) in them, so it would appear to (should) be OK to
run from
the two hot legs of a North American residential supply 230V
(split-phase
115-neutral-115 with protective ground, with no need for the neutral
connection).
The spec sheet also mentions 208V which is another voltage supplied
in North
America to commercial or light industrial consumers (2 legs of ?120V
3-phase
Y connection).
Clear as mud?
It's a commercial dish washer that's actually hooked up and running in
my kitchen now. I installed a subpanel and ran a separate 30 amp 220
line. It works great. I was just wondering whether it would work on
european power.