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Most US homes actually do receive 240v, it's just done in an unusual biphase configuration with two "hot" phases 180 degrees apart. If you connect a device acro

Most US homes actually do receive 240v, it's just done in an unusual biphase configuration with two "hot" phases 180 degrees apart. If you connect a device across the phases it will receive the full 240 volts, which is often done for cookers, clothes dryers, and EV chargers. In theory you could sell a 240 volt electric kettle but your kitchen would have to have a 240 volt outlet, probably a NEMA 6-15. They're not common.

nraynaud 4y ago
From watching a bit of YouTube, I think Canada’s kitchens have more 220 outlets than American kitchen. They even seemed to have dual outlets with each outlet on a different phase, so all the ingredients are right next to each other to get an outlet un between phases.
- b112 4y ago
  I have never seen a 240V wall outlet, in a house, anywhere in Canada ever. They literally do not exists as a standard. Not sure why you'd think so, but no. (ovens and dryers are not wall plugs)
  - dghughes 4y ago
    I'm in Canada in The Maritimes in PEI my electric stove uses a big honking plug for 240V/220V that plugs into the wall. Not wired directly but an actual plug.
  - tlb 4y ago
    I installed a 240V NEMA 6-15 socket in my kitchen in California. It's similar to a regular US/Canada plug but the blades are sideways [0]. It's allowed by the code, but not very common. Then I took a European electric kettle and put a matching plug on it, and I can boil a teapot worth of water in 60 seconds! [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NEMA_connector#NEMA_6 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NEMA_connector#NEMA_6
deleted 4y ago
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ericvsmith 4y ago
> Most US homes actually do receive 240v, it's just done in an unusual biphase configuration with two "hot" phases 180 degrees apart. If you connect a device across the phases it will receive the full 240 volts, which is often done for cookers, clothes dryers, and EV chargers. It's technically a single phase with two hot legs and a center tap for neutral, also called "split phase". From the neutral to either leg is 120V, from leg to leg is 240V. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Split-phase_electric_power https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Split-phase_electric_power It would technically be possible to have a reverse-Y extension cord that plugged into two outlets and gave you a 240V circuit. The two outlets would have to be on different legs, of course. This is basically what a 240V breaker is doing. I've contemplating wiring up one of these for home and buying a British tea kettle, but the aesthetics got my plan vetoed. Something like: https://www.nooutage.com/images/adaptor-wye.jpg https://www.nooutage.com/images/adaptor-wye.jpg

nraynaud 4y ago

From watching a bit of YouTube, I think Canada’s kitchens have more 220 outlets than American kitchen. They even seemed to have dual outlets with each outlet on a different phase, so all the ingredients are right next to each other to get an outlet un between phases.

b112 4y ago
I have never seen a 240V wall outlet, in a house, anywhere in Canada ever. They literally do not exists as a standard. Not sure why you'd think so, but no. (ovens and dryers are not wall plugs)
- dghughes 4y ago
  I'm in Canada in The Maritimes in PEI my electric stove uses a big honking plug for 240V/220V that plugs into the wall. Not wired directly but an actual plug.
- tlb 4y ago
  I installed a 240V NEMA 6-15 socket in my kitchen in California. It's similar to a regular US/Canada plug but the blades are sideways [0]. It's allowed by the code, but not very common. Then I took a European electric kettle and put a matching plug on it, and I can boil a teapot worth of water in 60 seconds! [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NEMA_connector#NEMA_6 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NEMA_connector#NEMA_6

deleted 4y ago

[deleted]

ericvsmith 4y ago

> Most US homes actually do receive 240v, it's just done in an unusual biphase configuration with two "hot" phases 180 degrees apart. If you connect a device across the phases it will receive the full 240 volts, which is often done for cookers, clothes dryers, and EV chargers. It's technically a single phase with two hot legs and a center tap for neutral, also called "split phase". From the neutral to either leg is 120V, from leg to leg is 240V. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Split-phase_electric_power https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Split-phase_electric_power It would technically be possible to have a reverse-Y extension cord that plugged into two outlets and gave you a 240V circuit. The two outlets would have to be on different legs, of course. This is basically what a 240V breaker is doing. I've contemplating wiring up one of these for home and buying a British tea kettle, but the aesthetics got my plan vetoed. Something like: https://www.nooutage.com/images/adaptor-wye.jpg https://www.nooutage.com/images/adaptor-wye.jpg