Thread Number: 57322
/ Tag: Modern Automatic Washers
Can I rewire my 208/240V Bosch Washer to run on 120V? |
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Post# 796520 , Reply# 1   11/29/2014 at 20:46 (3,406 days old) by Tomturbomatic (Beltsville, MD)   |   | |
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Does the house have a 240 volt dryer outlet you could use? |
Post# 796523 , Reply# 2   11/29/2014 at 21:07 (3,406 days old) by cuffs054 (MONTICELLO, GA)   |   | |
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David, be careful not to confuse 220V with 3 phase. They are two different animals that may or may not have mated. |
Post# 796579 , Reply# 3   11/30/2014 at 03:53 (3,406 days old) by glenfieldmathk1 (Glenfield-Leicester-UK)   |   | |
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You could always plug it in and see what happens. It will be using 240/220V for the heater, the rest is probably only running of 110V or less anyway! As You've said - hot water enters anyway, so it should be fine. Its not like your plugging a 110V into a 240V plug which could be a disaster! |
Post# 796581 , Reply# 4   11/30/2014 at 04:19 (3,406 days old) by foraloysius (Leeuwarden, Friesland, the Netherlands)   |   | |
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Post# 796727 , Reply# 6   11/30/2014 at 20:07 (3,406 days old) by david (CA)   |   | |
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Wow! I got so many responses. And so quickly. Thank you for all the input. Seems like the best option is to buy a step up transformer and give it a go. This has been a huge help. I'll let you guys know what happens. |
Post# 796729 , Reply# 7   11/30/2014 at 20:16 (3,406 days old) by david (CA)   |   | |
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The model # is WFL2060UC. |
Post# 796761 , Reply# 9   12/1/2014 at 01:22 (3,405 days old) by askolover (South of Nash Vegas, TN)   |   | |
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Post# 796763 , Reply# 10   12/1/2014 at 02:38 (3,405 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)   |   | |
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Post# 796801 , Reply# 11   12/1/2014 at 10:57 (3,405 days old) by iej (.... )   |   | |
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Miele's machines are (or were) effectively European 230V machines adapted to the US market, rather than being built for it. I think Bosch's appliances are less likely to be like that. |
Post# 796841 , Reply# 12   12/1/2014 at 16:22 (3,405 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)   |   | |
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AEG, Asko, Bosch, Fagor and a few other European washers and dryers were all pure 208v-240v. Miele for reasons known to themselves went with American "dryer" type power of 120v/208-240v connection.
IIRC some of the very early Miele units could be made to run purely on 208v-240v power, indeed Miele USA sold conversion parts to do so, but it didn't last. Ironically Miele's rotary ironers were designed to run on 208v-220v power on either 50hz or 60hz for worldwide sale. Considering those units pulled just as much power for their heaters (about 3kw or so)don't see why the same couldn't have been done for washing machines and dryers. The other worry is that Miele uses a four prong plug for it's washing machines and dryers. You aren't going to find that on a step-up transformer. You'd have to change the plug on the washer I shouldn't wonder |
Post# 796974 , Reply# 13   12/2/2014 at 10:57 (3,404 days old) by iej (.... )   |   | |
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American electricity is very complicated for major appliances! |
Post# 797461 , Reply# 14   12/5/2014 at 00:56 (3,401 days old) by Chetlaham (United States)   |   | |
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Unless the machine has internal 120 volt parts and just 240 for the heater it will not work (heater will have 1/4 the power). 3 phase? That sounds like a classic Euro machine for 230/400Y power.
If you need straight 240 its easy. Most washer circuits by code are dedicated. It just means swapping your single pole with a double pole breaker and changing out the outlet to a 240 volt version (like an American 6-20r). Easy if you know the basics of home wiring. Also make sure the machine is ok with 60Hz. BTW, do you have an electric dryer plug near by, that is 240? |
Post# 797462 , Reply# 15   12/5/2014 at 01:03 (3,401 days old) by Chetlaham (United States)   |   | |
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Just to add 240 is not more efficient than 120 in terms of power billed. Watts are watts no matter what. However, if you toss in a transformer, that will take up power even when the machine isn't running. Also, check the machine wattage when using a step up transformer. A 20amp 120 volt outlet can only supply 2400 watts max. Euro circuits tend to be 16amps at 230 volts so some Euro machines do pull more than 2400 watts.
Considering the size, cost and weight of a large transformer rewiring the wall socket for 240 is the best option IMO. |
Post# 797539 , Reply# 17   12/5/2014 at 13:16 (3,401 days old) by Chetlaham (United States)   |   | |
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Very good info! The British plugs are 13 amps and fused due to the ring main, even though Schukos can handle more. So the 2800 3000 watt explanation makes a lot of sense.
If the OPs machine is no more than 3000 watts that will be perfect. 3000/240= 12.5 amps, so no need for larger wire. Same circuit will do. |
Post# 797563 , Reply# 18   12/5/2014 at 16:41 (3,401 days old) by david (CA)   |   | |
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It works! Great your input, everyone. I'll just have to turn the transformer off when I'm not using it. Thanks |
Post# 797567 , Reply# 19   12/5/2014 at 17:23 (3,401 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)   |   | |
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WFL2060UC is made by Bosch and is a "pure" 208v-240v washing machine. That is it has a three prong "European" plug versus the four for a Miele. That being said as one mentioned such machines in theory will run on a step-up transformer.
According to specs the unit pulls 2200 watts which is just shy of the max you can safely get from a 15amp 120v, especially for long periods of usage. CLICK HERE TO GO TO Launderess's LINK |
Post# 797576 , Reply# 20   12/5/2014 at 19:06 (3,401 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)   |   | |
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Main benefit for using 208v-240v for heating in washers, dryers, and ironers is that it will get you to the desired temperature faster and recover sooner than 120v.
If the target temperature say is 140F and you are starting from 40F either 120v or 220v (or whatever) will get you there, the question is how fast. However it is not a matter of saving power by using higher wattage. You still are going to need the same amount of energy to reach that temp regardless. It is perfectly possible to reach boil wash temps using 120v power from cold water. It will take ages but you will still get there. There is nothing my Pfaff ironer at 3kW at 220v does better than my vintage Frigidaire does at 1.7kW at 120v except reach the desired temp faster and recover quickly. The other thing of course is there are limits to how much power you can get from the outlet/wiring. In theory you can push a 120v outlet to run at 100% capacity for long periods of time, but I shouldn't think it will like it over the long run. You would really have to know what is going on with the wires inside the walls and such. If lucky the things were over engineered to take some abuse. |
Post# 797640 , Reply# 21   12/6/2014 at 03:12 (3,400 days old) by Chetlaham (United States)   |   | |
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In terms of energy well said!
Circuits can be pushed to 100% as long as nothing else is on them loading them beyond 100%. There is an 80% rule in the code for things that run over 3 hours, but its more (though no one will say it) around circuit breakers accumulating heat in commercial electrical panels where every circuit is near the max. In residential nothing will happen pushing a breaker to 100% 24/7. Basically to the OP it goes down like this: 14 gauge wire is good for 15 amps 12 gauge wire is 20 amps 10 gauge wire is good for 30amps As long as the breaker matches the wires all is ok. :D |