120 Volts

120V is the AC voltage on a single hot wire in your home with respect to neutral (or ground). With resistance in the wiring in your house, this 120V will likely have dropped to 115V by the time it gets to the appliance you are powering. At the end of a long extension cord you could even drop to 110V.

Are outlets 110 or 120 volts?

The most common electrical outlet in any home is a 110 volt. Sometimes you may hear 110 volt plugs referred to as 120 volt. Do not be confused by this; think of them as one and the same.

What does 120VAC mean?

The household electricity our North American appliances use is delivered at 120VAC (volts alternating current) 60 Hz. (60 cycles/second). When the electric current flows it rises from 0 volts to 120 volts back to 0 volts and then it falls to negative 120 volts and rises back to 0 volts.

How do you know if you have 120V or 240V?

A standard 120V outlet contains a 120 volt wire and a neutral wire, and preferably a grounding wire. A 240V outlet has two 120 volt wires and a neutral wire. Older homes often have three prong 240 volt outlets, but modern outlets have a ground wire and four prongs.

What appliances use 120 volts?

Appliances Powered by 120-Volt Outlet

• Microwave.
• Refrigerator.
• Dishwasher.
• Phone charger.
• Vacuum cleaner.
• Ironing Machine.
• lamps.

Can you plug 120V into 220V?

Do not plug a 120V device directly into a 220V wall socket, even if the plug shape and size are identical. Although goods sold in the U.S. but available around the world sometimes accommodate 220V voltages -- iPods, for example -- other devices can be destroyed by such high voltages. When in doubt, use a converter.

What does a 120V plug look like?

The 20 amp, 120 volt outlet looks like the 15 amp outlet, except one of the vertical slots is shaped like a sideways T. NEMA, the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, has standardized these designs and designated them NEMA 5-15R and 5-20R.

Why do we use 120 volts?

The choice of 120V was to compensate for IR drop. The reason for 220-240 was that with AC distribution, this became a convenient voltage level to deliver to homes. And the reason why Europe dropped the 120V domestic distribution was simply economics. You can save on copper.

What happens if you plug a 120V appliance into a 240V outlet?

120 Volt appliances and 240 Volt power do not play well with each other. Plug one in and a fuse will blow or a circuit breaker will pop - if you're lucky. If you're not so fortunate then you may start a fire, or worse. First off the plug on a 120v appliance should not fit in a 240v receptacle .

What will 120V run?

Most everyday appliances only need enough electricity for a 120 volt outlet. Microwaves, refrigerators, and dishwashers are examples of examples that will function perfectly fine on 120 volt outlets. You will recognize these outlets anywhere in your home.

Is 120V AC or DC?

The power that is available at a wall socket in the United States is 120-volt, 60-cycle AC power. The big advantage that alternating current provides for the power grid is the fact that it is relatively easy to change the voltage of the power, using a device called a transformer.

How many watts is a 120V?

Watts = Amps x Volts 10 Amps x 120 Volts = 1200 Watts. 5 Amps x 240 Volts = 1200 Watts.

What does 240 volt outlet look like?

How to Identify 240-Volt Outlets? The 240-volt outlets are larger than 120-volt outlets, and they have rounded tops with three or four holes. The top hole of an older three-prong 240-volt plugs looks like a backward 'L'and the other two holes are diagonally placed on the sides.

What appliances use 240 volts?

What Appliances Run on a 240-Volt Circuit?

• Electric Dryers. Perhaps the most common appliance to use a 240-volt connection is an electric dryer.
• Water Heaters. Fully-electric water heaters often utilize a 240-volt connection, particularly with modern units. ...
• HVAC Equipment. ...
• Electric Vehicle Chargers.

Can you get 120V from 240V?

Can you run 120V from 240V? No, you will need a step down transformer, 240 volt primary and 120 volt secondary rated for enough current to run your 120 volt load.

What voltage is a regular outlet?

Domestic electrical outlets supply 120 volts in North America and 220-240 volts in Europe, with most nations having outlets supplying voltages similar to one of those two values.

How many amps is a 120 volt outlet?

Most homes in the U.S. are wired with a combination of 15-amp and 20-amp, 120-volt circuits. Because 15-amp receptacles can be used with 20-amp circuits, most of the outlets you see in American homes are the standard 15-amp variety, with two slots and a U-shaped grounding hole.

Is 120V safer than 240V?

At the end of the day if someone has the same resistance, doubling the voltage will double the current and be more likely to kill you. So 240V is more dangerous than 120V.

What is the difference between 120 and 220 volt?

The main benefits of 120V power are quite limited. 120V AC Power has a reduced chance of producing a terminal electrocution should one occur. 240V power divides the single-phase electricity into two separate 110V conductors that share a common neutral wire or ground. This allows for a more efficient transfer of power.

What happens if you use wrong voltage?

Voltage too high – If the adapter has a higher voltage, but the current is the same, then the device will likely shut itself off when it detects an overvoltage. If it doesn't, then it may run hotter than normal, which can shorten the life of the device or cause immediate damage.