european 220v appliance

[Anonymous]

Posted by: ann in chicago (old forum transfer)
Posted - 03/10/2002 : 15:19:40

I bot an Italian made stove from a Californian importer. When the stove arrived in Chicago, the importer's dealership informed me I neede a 3000W transformer (110v-220v). The importer sent me a 1000W transformer and it blew a fuse immediately. I bot the 3000W and it worked for amonth or so, but now the stove is dead. Do I need a 220v line to operate this appliance? If so - what does that entail/cost? I live in a condo in the city with strict electrial codes. The importer refuses to address my problems.

[Anonymous]

Posted by: Wgoodrich
Posted - 03/10/2002 : 15:48:22

Somewhere on the stove you should find the name tag. On the name tag you should find the following info we need then I should be able to help you.

On the name tag you should find the manufacturer's name, the model number and serial number. You should also find the following info that we need.

voltage

hertz

watts

amps

However you may have a dual voltage unit. If you have a dual voltage unit then you should see two different voltages with a slash line between the two voltages. You may find the same dual ratings on any of the other info listed above be sure to state when you find the slash line with dual ratings.

Is this stove a gas stove or electric stove. Is this stove a cooking range or heating stove?

Wg

[Anonymous]

Posted by: Ann in Chicago
Posted - 03/11/2002 : 09:21:06

It says - best as I can interpret the Italian - 230 Volts, 50 hertz, 2.7Kilowatts. I don't see anything about amperes (the word is the same in Italian). It is a dual feul range. Gas burners (electronic ignition - I can light them manually)and electronic oven. Since I last wrote _ I unplugged the stove at the outlet. The plug had melted. The stove itself had been plugged into the transformer (my building engineer - a native European - had bot this for me) and the tranformer plugged (with round prongs)into into a second plug (with American blade prongs) into the wall outlet. The second plug had melted. So at this point, I don't know whether it's the imcompatibility of the appliance or the transformer that's the real problem. Thanks a lot for such immediate attention to my problem.

[Anonymous]

Posted by: Wgoodrich
Posted - 03/11/2002 : 12:15:51

The transformer being 3000 watt rated 220 volt output shoud be fine but lets make sure first. There is two voltage ratings on your transformer a primary and a secondary. Look on you transformer and tell me what the voltage and wattage input [primary] rating is. Then tell me what the voltage and wattage output [secondary] rating is. This should confirm that your 3000 va or watt transformer is the proper transformer for this stove. Right now if the transformer rating is correct then I suspect that you had a bad contact in the receptacle and plug connection that was damaged due to heat. Lets just make sure before you proceed. Tell me the info above then we will make a final interpretation.

Hope this is helping

Wg

[Anonymous]

Posted by: Ann in Chicago
Posted - 03/11/2002 : 20:27:38

It apparently works both ways - "input 220V or 110V - select 110v for step up conversion 220V for step down"- it was set properly on 110V).
Otherwise it says 50/60 Hz and 3000W. It did work at first - but 2 plugs have melted and I'm a little nervous about having melted plugs. How 'bout if I bring in a 220V line? My upstairs neighbor did that for her stove and it works fine (no melted plugs). The outlet is right behind the stove - is that a problem? I'm not sure I can really move it left or right - I have a wall to the right and a granite covered cabinet to the left. I could maybe relocate it lower where the heat might be less.

[Anonymous]

Posted by: HandyRon
Posted - 03/11/2002 : 22:13:48

Has the fuse or circuit breaker at the panel for this stove tripped? 2.7 kW at 120V is approximately 23 amperes. Was the outlet, wiring and circuit protection that the stove was plugged into rated for more than 23 amperes.

Ron

[Anonymous]

Posted by: Ann in Chicago
Posted - 03/12/2002 : 09:57:14

All of the breakers on my breaker box read "current interrupting rating - Max RMS. SYM. 10,000amperes, 120/240 volts." The breaker has not tripped, the fuse in the transformer is fine. The transformer plug seems to be damaged since one of the white plastic rings at the bottom of the round prong has melted of (it fused with the American style plug needed to plug the thing into the outlet.)I could exchange the transformer, but I suspect the same thing could happen - the plug is fairly heavy and hangs down sideways when plugged in. Can you tell from the info I've given you on the breaker box whether I could wire that outlet for 240v? I've located the primary wiring box for the apartment - it's on the ceiling a few feet from my stove.

[Anonymous]

Posted by: Wgoodrich
Posted - 03/12/2002 : 17:47:59

Alright now you have provided the info we need. However before you do anything make sure what you said is correct.

YOU SAID;
It says - best as I can interpret the Italian - 230 Volts, 50 hertz, 2.7Kilowatts.

YOU ALSO SAID;

It apparently works both ways - "input 220V or 110V - select 110v for step up conversion 220V for step down"- it was set properly on 110V).
Otherwise it says 50/60 Hz and 3000W. It did work at first - but 2 plugs have melted and I'm a little nervous about having melted plugs.

REPLY;

AS I interpret what you say is that your stove is rated 230 volts @ 50 cycle [hertz] with a load of 2.7 Kw @ 230 volts.

You have installed a transformer trying to feed it 120 volts 20 amps and have an out put of 230 volts 12 amps. The reason that you plug melted down is that you are pulling too much power from that 120 volt plug causing the plug to melt down.

This appliance while it calls for 50 cycles @ 230 volts 15 amps should easily run on 220 volts 60 cycle 20 amps.

Have you electrician install a normal 220 volt 20 amp circuit using only a black and white and bare 12/2 cable with a double pole breaker. Install a 20 amp 220 volt receptacle in the wall behind the stove. Then install a new 20 amp 220 volt pigtail on the stove that has a plug configuration matching the 20 amp 220 volt receptacle that you just installed. Make sure you connect the bare or green wire to the frame of the stove for an equipment grounding conductor. You will not need the transformer at all. The stove should perform fine just installing a 220 volt 20 amp branch circuit from the panel same as if you were wiring for a 220 volt 20 amp rated window air conditioner.

If you doubt what I am saying tell your maintanence crew to install a temporary 12/2wGrnd from a 20 amp 220 volt breaker across the floor and direct connect to the range. Test the stove to make sure it is working right. Then once you trust that I am right the electrician can then install a permenent branch circuit as I discribed. Remember to tell them that no neutral conductor will be used in the branch circuit and no 120 volt circuit will be used in this circuit.

Just tell them that you need a 220 volt 20 amp branch circuit same as a window air conditioner and without a neutral conductor. All you need is 12/2wGrnd on a 220 volt double pole breaker installed serving a 220 volt 20 amp receptacle with a pigtail lust like the 220 volt receptacle on the plug concfiguration.

Let me know how you come out. You should be fine.

You really never needed a transformer at all on this particular appliance.

Good Luck

Wg

[Anonymous]

Posted by: Ann in Chicago
Posted - 03/13/2002 : 00:00:00

Sounds brilliant. I figured it was more than the stove heat that was melting the plugs. I am printing your message and giving the EXACT WORDS to my electrician. You guys run a tremendous service - intellectual capital is hard to come by (and it's rarely free!!) I'll let you know how it works when I finally schedule the line work. In my best Italian - Mille grazies!!

[Anonymous]

Posted by: Ann in Chicago
Posted - 04/12/2002 : 11:24:46

After my electrician put in a 220 V line and changed the amps in my circuit breaker box, (following your instructions to a tee) I finally have a working oven. Thanks a lot for all of your help. I will heartily recommend this site to anyone needing electrical wiring help.