How to destroy an appliance in one easy step… 250v receptacles.

Wenatchee Home Inspections

Here is an example of such a case. On a home inspection I find a receptacle that has been wired for 240/250v (bottom receptacle marked 220v) that is on a standard 120/125v receptacle. This is a problem since it most likely will destroy most 120v appliances in a very short time if plugged into it.

Receptacles are designed and configured to an application. The blade configuration of a receptacle will typically tell you what type of circuit you have, i.e. 120 v 15 amp, 240 v 20 amp etc…

( Link to NEMA Plug & Receptacle Configurations- http://www.generatorjoe.net/html/web/outlet/quailplug.html#15 )

Here you can see when I plug in my 3 bulb tester I get nice bright lights on all three bulbs indicating it is in fact a 240v circuit. When in doubt you can use a multimeter or wiggy ( a common solenoid voltmeter patented by George P. Wigginton in 1918) to verify your observation.

This was most likely a homeowner wiring  a 240v circuit for a window AC unit but in doing so an unsuspecting occupant can plug in an appliance or any other 120v device and watch it go poof.

Here are two common 240/250v receptacles as a reference.

“Education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance.”

Will Durant

NCW Home Inspections, LLC  is a Licensed Washington State Home Inspection service located in Wenatchee Washington serving Chelan County, Douglas County, Kittitas County, Okanogan County and Grant County Washington and the cities of Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Cashmere, Oroville, Cle Elum, East Wenatchee, Quincy and many more…  

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Instructor- Fundamentals of Home Inspection-  Bellingham Technical College

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