What’s the difference between 110 and 220-voltage household appliances? These numbers can confuse you, especially when you’re new to shopping for electrical devices. However, understanding voltages is crucial to your safety, and this guide can help you learn more.
110 vs. 220-voltage-What’s the difference?
Americans are most likely familiar with using 110-volt appliances in their homes. This is because 110V is the standardized electrical system in North America and Central America, which means most plugs and sockets are only compatible with 110-volt devices.
However, this is not necessarily applicable for the rest of the world. Different countries operate on different voltages; for example, South Korea, Peru, and the Philippines.
As a result, traveling to these countries means you must carry a compatible plug adapter, transformer, or converter.
Appliances that operate on 220 volts
Although 110 volts is the American standard, many appliances still require at least 220 volts to work well. This applies to large household appliances, which need more power to run at full capacity.
Here are a few examples:
- Air conditioners
- Washers and dryers
- Gas stoves
- Refrigerators and freezers
- Water dispensers
Moreover, some small kitchen appliances may also require 220 volts. For instance, hand mixers, pressure cookers, toaster ovens, espresso machines, and food processors all operate on 220-voltage.
How to use 220-volt household appliances safely
220-volt appliances are more powerful; however, they require more current to run. As a result, they are more likely to cause accidents than 110-volt electrical devices.
When using 220-volt appliances, you’ll need to avoid two conditions: overvoltage and undervoltage. Overvoltage, or plugging 110V devices into a 220V socket, can lead them to draw more power than necessary and destroy their components.
Meanwhile, undervoltage, or plugging 220V appliances into a 110V socket, will prevent the device from working at its maximum capacity. For instance, a 220-volt water heater using 110V power cannot achieve the temperature needed to heat water properly.
In these situations, it’s best to use a high-quality transformer with overload and ground protection.
Do you need to buy 220-voltage appliances for your home? Make sure to choose products from recognizable brands to ensure they are built with high-quality materials and advanced safety features!
About the Author:
Samstores.com is one the largest distributors of household Electronic Goods, we guarantee to offer you nothing but the best in quality of products and after sales service. We deal in 110 Volts and 220 Volts household appliances for North America and 220 Volts for Europe, Asia, Africa, South America and Australia and dual voltage goods for all over the world.
