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Comment by quesera

3 months ago

I think it works if the US neutral is left unused (terminated in the electrical box).

E.g, something like this:

  (US proposed)    (UK kettle)     (UK standard)
  (2-phase)      ┌─────────────┐   (1-phase)
                 │             │
  L1 120V 0° ────┼─ Hot(240V) ─┼── Hot 240V 1ph
                 │             │
  Neutral ───X   │             │
                 │             │
  L2 120V 180° ──┼─ Neutral ───┼── Neutral
                 │             │
                 │             │
  GND ───────────┼─ GND ───────┼── GND
                 │             │
                 └─────────────┘

I think this is right, but I'm not 100%. The kettle should get what it needs, but I'm less certain whether a GFCI or ArcFCI breaker would have opinions that must be accounted for. I'll check with someone more qualified than myself to be sure!

6 comments

quesera

Reply
jchw  3 months ago

Yes I understand. But what I'm saying is, normally neutral and ground would have roughly 0V potential, but in this case the UK neutral and UK ground will have 120V potential between them, because the US 120V second phase will have 120V potential to ground. (It bears noting that I am just a random guy and not any kind of expert. No formal education or credentials relating to electricity whatsoever.)

  • quesera  3 months ago

    I think you're thinking about it on the kettle side, and I was thinking on the breaker side.

    I think the kettle side would not care. It may be a ground fault in UK wires, but the kettle has no reason to detect it, and nothing sensitive enough inside to care. If I'm wrong, I'd expect to know shortly after starting the very first use. :)