5 ms·
120 in the US is typically on a 15 amp circuit. 240 in Europe at least (and I'd assume most of the world) is generally on a 5 amp circuit. This is speaking in
by bbarn 4y ago
120 in the US is typically on a 15 amp circuit. 240 in Europe at least (and I'd assume most of the world) is generally on a 5 amp circuit. This is speaking in typical household voltages and amperages, so obviously someone will have outliers, but this has been my experience
120 * 15 = 1800 watts. 240 * 5 = 1200 watts. US circuits generally carry more power than their overseas equivalents. If you plugged that Indian 240v pressure washer into your 20 amp circuit, it wouldn't likely draw more current unless it was designed badly, and wouldn't perform any better.
- eurleif 4y agoThe Indian pressure washer I linked is 2800 watts.
- Gibbon1 4y agoA NEMA 6-15 outlet can deliver that.
- eurleif 4y agoRight -- it's a chicken and egg thing where US manufacturers don't make consumer-grade 240v pressure washers because consumers don't have those outlets installed in the right places, and people don't have the outlets because there would be nothing to use them for.
- Gibbon1 4y agoBack a while I tried estimating what it would take to make 'electric weed burner'. The answer was you could do it but it needed a 30 amp 240V outlet. One complaint I have in the opposite direction is hybrid water heaters. In heat pump mode they draw 500 Watts. But they require 240V @ 30 amps for the resistive heaters. Would be nice if they would run in heat pump mode only if connected to 120V single phase.
- Symbiote 4y agoThere are 2500W electric weed burners for sale in Europe, but they have mixed reviews. https://bataviatools.co.uk/product/garden-tools/garden-machinery/maxxheat-4-in-1/ https://bataviatools.co.uk/product/garden-tools/garden-machi...
- bryanlarsen 4y agoIt's chicken and egg, but one relatively easy to break on both sides. - importing tools from Europe can kickstart the market and is a lot less risky than designing new tools - 240V garage & exterior outlets are becoming common for hot tubs, RV's and electric car chargers.
- idubrov 4y agoThe problem with 240V is that there are few NEMA standards used is USA (although , they look bulky and are kind of unsafe around the kids. Which is not a problem for dedicated circuits (you could wire receptacle just for this specific dryer / hot tub / RV / whatever, plug it and never remove), but would be a bigger problem if 240V is shared between appliances. I think, NEMA 6-15 / NEMA 6-20 would be the best (they look very similar to standard 120V outlets; they have tamper resistance; 15A or even 20A should be plenty enough), but nobody wires them. Also, there are other minor differences like: 1. 50Hz in Europe vs 60Hz in USA. 2. The voltage between ground and "power" lines would be different. In Europe it would be 240v between line and ground and 0V between neutral in ground, in USA it would be 120V between ground and both power connectors, due to how 240V is typically delivered to single-family homes in USA (split phase). Should not make much difference (you are not supposed to have any current to ground anyway, and any short-circuit should trigger the circuit breaker), but maybe it will affect safety somehow? 3. Seems like in some cases in USA you can get 208V instead of 240V (and Europe is nominally 230V).
- blibble 4y ago20A is typical in 240V UK
- Symbiote 4y agoNo, 13A is the limit for a UK plug. You can buy a 3kW portable heater. Something wired in might be 32A or more, like a car charger or electric shower (7.5kW).
- blibble 4y agowe're talking about the circuit, the bit between the distribution board and the plug I went and checked and mine are actually 32A
- stephen_g 4y agoI don’t know of anywhere where 5A is common, everywhere I know of is always 10A minimum (2300 W at 230 V nominal). Here in Australia 10 amp sockets are everywhere but it’s common to have at least one 15A (3450 W) outlet somewhere in the home too
- Dma54rhs 4y agoNo way being on 5 amp circuit is normal. Matter of a fact I'd be interested to hear where can you find it in Europe.
- Symbiote 4y agoIn Britain (possibly also Ireland, Malta, Cyprus) lighting and sockets are usually on separate circuits. The lighting circuit has a 5 amp fuse or breaker, enough for 12-20 old incandescent bulbs. A typical house probably has one circuit for each floor. But that's certainly not where you'd connect a leafblower.
- butterknife 4y agoI don't know where you got 5A from? Most Europe radial circuits are sized for 16A. In the UK it is common that house sockets are on ring circuits sized for 32A.
- franga2000 4y agoI've never seen a 5A circuit in South-Eastern Europe, or even a 5A fuse for that matter (many buildings still have fuse blocks, not breakers, so that's what I'm familiar with). 6A fuses can be found in some stores, but 16A seems to be the most commonly used in apartments. Most places also have 20/25A lines for the washing machine and oven. Where in Europe have you seen 5A?