[Shop-talk] Wiring a UK appliance in the US?

[Pat Horne]

Converting from 50 to 60 hz is not cheap or easy for higher current use. It either needs to be a motor/generator set or an electronic frequency converter. 

Second problem I see is that even if you find that it will work fine on 60 hz power is that 240v service in England is not the same as stateside. In England one side of the 240v service is at ground potential and the other side is 240v off ground. In the states both sides of the service are 120v off ground. This is a seemingly small difference but if the cooktop was never offered in any other country that has similar voltages to us, the electrical insulating parts of the cooktop may not have been engineered to work here. This cooktop will probably not be UL listed & if you have a fire that can be traced back to the cooktop insurance may not cover the repair. If it has a certification that is accepted as being up to U.S. requirements, then I wouldn’t be concerned with this. 

Are there any countries that use 50 hz 120 power? If so, they may have the cooktop with a certification similar to UL. 


Peace,
Pat

Pat Horne 
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