3 prong grounded to 3 prong (one lead 'turned on side') adaptors?

[PingSpike]

I've got A UPS sitting here that wouldn't plug into the wall. The manual says to just plug it into the wall outlet and shows a picture of a conventional wall oulet with the parallel leads and ground line. The trouble is the actual cord, on of the leads is turned on its side. There was no adaptor in the box.

 

[dug777]

?

here some things don't have the third prong (tho they aren't round) at all, yet they all work fine...most do however.

 

[PingSpike]

There are 3 prongs on both. They both have the ground line. That part lines up fine. Its one of the other two thats turned sideways.

 

[Gand1]

Isn't that a 240 volt plug?

 

[Fiat1]

It's a 20Amp plug. It will not plug into a 15Amp outlet. You need to replace the outlet with a 20Amp one.

This is a 20A

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: Gand1
Isn't that a 240 volt plug?

:headasplodes;

you have 110 & 240 v there?

:headasplodes;

 

[Demon-Xanth]

http://www.americandenki.co.jp/E/1-M/C7/C7_e.html

With one on it's side, it means that it requires a 20A circuit, not just a 15A

 

[PingSpike]

Originally posted by: Gand1
Isn't that a 240 volt plug?

I think those have two prongs turned diagnonally and the plug is larger. This is the same size as a regular plug, just one plug is turned on its side. I'm not sure though.

Here is the product in question. It doesn't sound like its 240v...looks like 120v to me?

 

[iamwiz82]

That's quite a UPS you have there since it requires 20A.

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: PingSpike

Originally posted by: Gand1
Isn't that a 240 volt plug?

I think those have two prongs turned diagnonally and the plug is larger. This is the same size as a regular plug, just one plug is turned on its side. I'm not sure though.

Here is the product in question. It doesn't sound like its 240v...looks like 120v to me?

aha.

the first thing you mention sounds like an australian plug

 

[PingSpike]

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
http://www.americandenki.co.jp/E/1-M/C7/C7_e.html

With one on it's side, it means that it requires a 20A circuit, not just a 15A

And...since the plug obviously doesn't fit...does that automatically mean I'm screwed?

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: PingSpike

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
http://www.americandenki.co.jp/E/1-M/C7/C7_e.html

With one on it's side, it means that it requires a 20A circuit, not just a 15A

And...since the plug obviously doesn't fit...does that automatically mean I'm screwed?

Do you have any 20A circuits in the house? You should have one in your kitchen, at least. Just run it from there

If you were to upgrade to 20A, you'd probably have to upgrade the wiring in the walls, as well.

 

[nakedfrog]

My 220V window A/C unit has one like that... I couldn't find any sort of adapter anywhere (I needed the cord to be about six inches longer)

 

[PingSpike]

I just checked the breaker box for the building. All the breakers have '20' written on them (with the exception of air conditioner and some kitchen ones). So I think that means I'm not totally screwed. I guess we'll have to see about having an electriction come in and put in a plug. It'll probably be just as expensive as shipping a 70 pound box back.

 

[GeekDrew]

Originally posted by: PingSpike
I just checked the breaker box for the building. All the breakers have '20' written on them (with the exception of air conditioner and some kitchen ones). So I think that means I'm not totally screwed. I guess we'll have to see about having an electriction come in and put in a plug. It'll probably be just as expensive as shipping a 70 pound box back.

If not moreso.

 

[0]

Check the back of the UPS to understand the voltage and current required. Don't jurryrig anything, you might cause a fire.

 

[Gand1]

Originally posted by: 0
Check the back of the UPS to understand the voltage and current required. Don't jurryrig anything, you might cause a fire.

Ding ding ding!!!!! Winnar!

 

[aircooled]

Originally posted by: dug777

Originally posted by: Gand1
Isn't that a 240 volt plug?

:headasplodes;

you have 110 & 240 v there?

:headasplodes;

yep, we have both. Large appliances like dryers, airconditioners and stoves usually run on 220-240, while most everything else runs on 110-120

 

[So]

Originally posted by: dug777
?

here some things don't have the third prong (tho they aren't round) at all, yet they all work fine...most do however.

The US and Austrailia use different power voltages, frequencies and jacks. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_co...ower_plugs%2C_voltages_%26_frequencies

Basically, any house built in the US after the mid 70's has modern 'Type B' jacks. Nearly all houses have 240V service, but the plugs are 120V -- the way it works is that everyone gets a three wire connection, with a centered ground, so you can connect two different circuits to the two phases, for 120V or one special 240V plug for larger appliances like driers.

 

[5to1baby1in5]

The fact that you probably have a 20 Amp circuit is a good thing.

If the plug you are describing Looks like this , it is a 120 VAC 20 Amp plug. They make it like that so you do not plug a 20Amp appliance into a 15 Amp outlet. If you look at the 20 Amp receptical, you will notice that you can plug a 'normal' 15 Amp plug into it as well as a 20 Amp (with the single sideways plug) plug. The circuit is sufficient to power either 20 Amp or 15 Amp appliances.

Electricians will quite often run 20 Amp circuits with 15 Amp recepticals on it so they can put more recepticals on each circuit.

If the breaker for the circuit you want to use is a 20 Amp breaker and the wire is 12 gauge (It has to be 12 gauge or thicker for a 20 Amp breaker or it is not per NEC code), then all you need to do is swap out the receptical. See here for wire gauges vs breaker sizes.. There is absolutly no problem plugging a 20 Amp appliance into a 20 Amp circuit.

The bad thing here would be to put a 20 Amp receptical in a 15 Amp circuit. A 15 Amp circuit would most likely only have 14 gauge wire. If you try to pass too much current through a smaller wire, then the wire could heat up, melt the insulation, and catch fire. Make absolutly certain you are on a 20 Amp circuit before installing a 20 Amp receptical.

Do make sure that you do not have lots of other appliances pluged into every receptical on the circuit. The NEC makes assumptions that the residential customer will not have something plugged into every receptical on the circuit. A circuit with eight lamps plugged into it will not trip the breaker. If you put three space heaters and a fridge on the same circuit, then it will start tripping the breaker. This is not really dangerous as the circuit breaker is still protecting the wire, just an annoyance. If you find you are tripping the circuit then just un-load it some.

All that being said, this is a $8.00 job if you are on a 20 Amp circuit and feel comfortable swapping out the receptical yourself. The little instruction book that comes with the receptical will show you how to hook it up. Also, consider buying one of those outlet testers with the three lights on it to confirm the polatity and grounding is correct (and check all your other recepticals in the house too).

As earlier posters mentioned, confirm on the back of the UPS that it is indeed 120 VAC.

 

[mercanucaribe]

What's up with the 50hz countries? Does that require PAL TVs because they refresh at 50hz?

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: aircooled

Originally posted by: dug777

Originally posted by: Gand1
Isn't that a 240 volt plug?

:headasplodes;

you have 110 & 240 v there?

:headasplodes;

yep, we have both. Large appliances like dryers, airconditioners and stoves usually run on 220-240, while most everything else runs on 110-120

that's daft

why not just use 240 for everything like us?

 

[dman]

Some commercial type UPS allow you to safely plug into 15a circuit if you change the plug end on it (they are swappable). They just include the other type of plug end.

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: mercanucaribe
What's up with the 50hz countries? Does that require PAL TVs because they refresh at 50hz?

I think that's the reason for PAL TVs.

 

[FoBoT]

you also need the correct wire from the 20A ckt breaker. a 20A ckt breaker with 14 ga wiring will not be safe with a 20A outlet