Can Chinese appliances work in America

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Bobby08

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Detroit, MI, USA
I'm wiring a textile laser and a cloth/jersey making facility and they purchased a Chinese model. However, he's a pretty smart guy and has purchased things from China before, is this as simple as swapping cord ends to an American 15 amp 220 v outlet. The only thing I was worried about was frequency, but this claims it's 220 @ 60hz..

Any experience?
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FWIW, a breaker for 50Hz has to work just a teenie bit harder to suppress the arc on opening than one good only for 60Hz. I would pay attention to the nameplate and not the breaker.


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Chinese CO2 laser cutters work fine on American split-phase power. They are designed for the international market and use switching power supplies internally, usually with a wide input range. They do have a tendency to leak laser tube current into the cooling water though, which can be a surprising problem.
 
It will work fine assuming the actual nominal is not 220 volts. Otherwise buck-boost.


110% of 220 is 242 volts

105% of 240 volts is 253


Can you contact the manufacturer and ask?
 
Breakers don't really "care" about frequency that much (at least between 50 and 60Hz). It's the other stuff inside that does and if, as mpoulton says, everything is run from auto-ranging switch mode power supplies, they will not be affected by line frequency and may be fine with the difference in line voltage.

The problem with a lot of Chinese stuff though is that you have no way of knowing for sure and often have now way of finding out...
So to be safe, I would heed mbrooke's advice and if they cannot answer as to the 220V issue being OK with whatever you have (208, 220, 240 etc.), then invest in a buck-boost transformer to get it as per nameplate.
 
I'll be honest, I've never cared about anything I've installed that was "220" to "240" as long as I was supplying something in that range and it was labeled in that range. I think it's just a labeling issue at that point. ;)
 
I have a similar issue with a client who is purchasing an instant water heater and a jetted tub from china. The documentation he has showed me is horrible. The stuff is going to arrive in a few weeks. I told him I would have to see the actual products before I could run circuits for them since I can't decipher the documents. I doubt this stuff has been approved by any listing agency.

I am a bit concerned about connecting 240v to a 220v item especially when it has a motor in it. This guy is pinching pennies and I doubt he would spring for a buck-boost transformer. I'm not sure what 110/220v means. Rewirable motor?

ETA: just found this listing for it. Read the title. https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/HS-B277-bathroom-tub-sex-bath_892179893.html
 

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Coppersmith said:
I am a bit concerned about connecting 240v to a 220v item especially when it has a motor in it.
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Usually, a motor will use less current on a higher voltage within its designed range.

In my opinion, connecting a 220v load to 240v is no worse than connecting a 110v load to 120v, which I think we'd all do.
 
Coppersmith said:
I have a similar issue with a client who is purchasing an instant water heater and a jetted tub from china. The documentation he has showed me is horrible. The stuff is going to arrive in a few weeks. I told him I would have to see the actual products before I could run circuits for them since I can't decipher the documents. I doubt this stuff has been approved by any listing agency.

I am a bit concerned about connecting 240v to a 220v item especially when it has a motor in it. This guy is pinching pennies and I doubt he would spring for a buck-boost transformer. I'm not sure what 110/220v means. Rewirable motor?

ETA: just found this listing for it. Read the title. https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/HS-B277-bathroom-tub-sex-bath_892179893.html
Click to expand...

Honestly, if the motor can take 220 volts 50Hz, it will not give a hoot for 240 volts 60Hz. A 230 volt 50Hz motor can literally be placed on 277 volt 60Hz without over heating or breaking down in most cases due to the way the volt/hertz ratio works out.

Further the fact they have 50/60Hz listing means they have no specific market in mind so the 220 volts is probably just be an arbitrary number.
 
Thank you for all your replies. I was more concerned that certain parts of the machine would be required to have a neutral and not a 120 hot phase incoming. It seems as though everything should be okay though. Thanks again

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Coppersmith said:
I have a similar issue with a client who is purchasing an instant water heater and a jetted tub from china. The documentation he has showed me is horrible. The stuff is going to arrive in a few weeks. I told him I would have to see the actual products before I could run circuits for them since I can't decipher the documents. I doubt this stuff has been approved by any listing agency.

I am a bit concerned about connecting 240v to a 220v item especially when it has a motor in it. This guy is pinching pennies and I doubt he would spring for a buck-boost transformer. I'm not sure what 110/220v means. Rewirable motor?

ETA: just found this listing for it. Read the title. https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/HS-B277-bathroom-tub-sex-bath_892179893.html
Click to expand...
Is this maybe part of a Chinese plot for world domination; lull us into tubs of warm water while "making whoopee" and watching DVDs and then electrocute us?
 
mbrooke said:
Honestly, if the motor can take 220 volts 50Hz, it will not give a hoot for 240 volts 60Hz. A 230 volt 50Hz motor can literally be placed on 277 volt 60Hz without over heating or breaking down in most cases due to the way the volt/hertz ratio works out.

Further the fact they have 50/60Hz listing means they have no specific market in mind so the 220 volts is probably just be an arbitrary number.
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Motor might be fine at 60 vs 50 Hz, but one also needs to consider the driven load and how it will respond. Centrifugal fan or pump will have significantly higher loading at 60 Hz than it has at 50Hz.
 
Jraef said:
Is this maybe part of a Chinese plot for world domination; lull us into tubs of warm water while "making whoopee" and watching DVDs and then electrocute us?
Click to expand...


Appears so :happyyes::happyyes::rotflmao:


kwired said:
Motor might be fine at 60 vs 50 Hz, but one also needs to consider the driven load and how it will respond. Centrifugal fan or pump will have significantly higher loading at 60 Hz than it has at 50Hz.
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Good point- but I'd imagine (hoping) they took that into account with the 60Hz listing.
 
Jraef said:
Breakers don't really "care" about frequency that much (at least between 50 and 60Hz).
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mbrooke said:
Those same breakers are used on 60Hz without issue.
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6000 Amps ???

Interesting. Unless I am reading it wrong, the IEC60898-1 is a spec that allows the OCPD to carry a "50Hz", "60Hz", or "50/60Hz" label, and is related to the AC air-break tune. Under NEC you could not run this OCPD with 60Hz power. It will still work though. This IEC also states "not for motors", and, "does not have user accessible adjustment".

Bobby08 said:
Update, the breaker says 50hz..
8a9db4d6854b6d514e88df88301954dc.jpg


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Click to expand...
 
FionaZuppa said:
...Unless I am reading it wrong, the IEC60898-1 is a spec that allows the OCPD to carry a "50Hz", "60Hz", or "50/60Hz" label, and is related to the AC air-break tune. Under NEC you could not run this OCPD with 60Hz power. It will still work though. This IEC also states "not for motors", and, "does not have user accessible adjustment".
Click to expand...

Is the breaker part of the factory assembled equipment, and therefore you only need to go by the nameplate? Also, any issues with using the equipment disconnect and/or panel circuit breaker as the actual OCPD, and this is just the on/off switch for the machine?
 
FionaZuppa said:
6000 Amps ???

Interesting. Unless I am reading it wrong, the IEC60898-1 is a spec that allows the OCPD to carry a "50Hz", "60Hz", or "50/60Hz" label, and is related to the AC air-break tune. Under NEC you could not run this OCPD with 60Hz power. It will still work though. This IEC also states "not for motors", and, "does not have user accessible adjustment".
Click to expand...

6,000amps is the interrupting ratting.


The breaker is rated for 50Hz yes, but in reality it does not matter much.


NEC is not concerned with what gets plugged into the wall.


And personally for me that breaker is just a switch, primarily because I do not trust off brand Chinese manufacturers of circuit breakers.
 
mbrooke said:
6,000amps is the interrupting ratting.


The breaker is rated for 50Hz yes, but in reality it does not matter much.


NEC is not concerned with what gets plugged into the wall.


And personally for me that breaker is just a switch, primarily because I do not trust off brand Chinese manufacturers of circuit breakers.
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6000 A interrupt rating was my assumption.

You would think 6000 amp breaker would be just a little bit bigger, my guess is it is a 63 amp breaker
 
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