Electrical question. 100v appliance compatibility?
 

My wife wants to buy an electric tea kettle thing here in Japan. I flipped it over and it clearly calls it at 100volts 50-60 hertz.

Can I bring it home and plug it in at home? My friend says I need to step down the voltage.

Pelican brain trust activate! :)

Will there be an ozone-y smelling electrical fire?

The kettle is cool. It’s insulated so it boils and keeps the water hot. And it’s $33

As power is related to voltage squared, it's going to draw more that 44% more power with 120v.

I wouldn't take the risk.

Tell me it's a Zojirushi! Mine is about 20 years old and still going.

I’d wouldn’t worry about plugging it in. Japan has two different and separate grids. One at 50 hz and the other at 60 hz. So the kettle sounds very acceptable to the different frequencies. As for voltage, it’s close enough to what your house is which is probably a little less than 120v.

My son spent a summer at language school in Japan.

He brought home really nice, don't know the name, tea kettle and some other stuff.

He bought a plug adapter for $15 large for using Japanese appliances in the US. Amazon has one available for around $10.

Still going strong.

I see 110V and 120V, also 220V and 240V. An electrician tried to explain it to me, but I didn’t get what he was saying.

If the label doesn’t have a voltage range listed then it’s narrow range designed. If so, I wouldn’t plug it into 120 directly. Especially since we’re talking about heating elements.

May work for awhile until it doesn’t. When it doesn’t, won’t be pretty.

You have nominal 120V on each hot leg coming into your house. Use both legs and you get 240, like for dryers and ovens.

110, 220 has never been my experience. The actual voltage I see in the last couple places I've lived is 123-126V per leg. It varies, as the power company matches generating output with a fluctuating demand.

Why do devices say the require 110 or 220?

They might say they can use each voltage but unless it's a welder or the like that can sense the incoming power, you change the wiring like you would do on a 115/230v motor found on many stationary shop tools.

110 volts is ancient in this country. We were 115 average at one time but David is correct that 120+ is the standard today. Here it's 123v.

Love you all! :)

We passed on it. Dropped the money on ridiculous hot/cold food cups and bento boxes.

I’ll be able to eat a bowl of menudo on my kayak now. Or minestrone!