On Tue, 21 Jul 1998 15:46:42 +0200 Morgan Olsson writes: >At 08:49 1998-07-21 -0400, you wrote: >>The 120/240 single phase power ( two lines and a neutral) basically >goes >into every home. The connection is simply a centre tapped transformer. >> >>Low power appliances (TV, lights, ...) run on 120 V. Higher power >loads >(stove, clothes dryer, electric furnace,...) run on the 240 V supply. > >What kind of wall outlet connectors are used? Various connectors are used, keyed to the current capacity of the circuit. For stoves and clothes driers a rather large plug maybe 2" across is used, rated 30 or 50A. Large window-mounted air conditioners use a plug about the same size as a 120V plug, only with the blades aligned differently (horizontal instead of vertical) so it is impossible to interchange. These are rated for 20 or 25A. Generally the 240-volt outlets are installed in specific places where the appliance is expected to stay, and have an individual circuit in the breaker box. Furnaces, water heaters, central air conditioners, etc. are wired in permanently. Most of the plugs are 3-wire, having the two hot wires and safety ground. Generally the appliances operate everything on 240V working between the two hot wires. In some cases the appliance derives a 120V circut between one hot wire and ground, which is allowed by many codes. There are also 4-wire plugs and sockets that seperate the ground and neutral circuits. _____________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com Or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]