power cords for 220v


maybe a silly question but - is there any problem buying a power cord in the US that will work in a 220v line (beside the plug off course) ?
icorem

Showing 2 responses by redkiwi

There are many cords made for the US market that are rated at around 300V. These cords will work on 220~240V but the rating would be considered dangerously too low by any electrical authority. I have on a number of occasions emailed power cord manufacturers to check on the ratings of their cords. In some cases they have stated clearly that certain of their cords should NOT be used on 230V because of the danger of fire. Don't take the risk - either with your insurance or your family. Also be aware that the left-right polarity conventions are not the same everywhere. This could lead to electrocution with a single pole switch and a faulty component unless you get an appropriate adaptor (many of which are not).
Greeni. If you look at a US plug and say an Aus plug, with the phase and neutrals above the earth, then whereas the phase will be on the left on one plug, it will be on the right on the other. Some adaptor plugs correctly reverse the phase and unfortunately some don't. If your equipment has a double pole switch then there is no real issue, but some equipment use just a single pole switch, leading to the possibility that the neutral is being switched and the phase is not. Under these conditions a unit that is faulty can be 'live' and dangerous when switched off when it would not be if the phase was not reversed. The issue is not a big one. My reason for raising it was to recommend you use an adaptor plug that deals with the phase reversal rather than one that does not, or to refit the cord into a local plug, attending to correct phase. Consider this - an electrician would lose his license if he installed wall sockets with disregard as to phase. There are safety reasons to get this right, even if the circumstances where it makes a differences are possibly rare. FWIW you can go to VH Audio and order any of their power cords with most countries' plugs. You should always check with the manufacturer and I think you will find Chris will confirm the suitability of his cords for 230V operation. In response to your logic on the stock after-market cord. In some cases, sadly, you may be right. But if the local plug has been competently fitted then the cord will have been fitted to the plug with the right polarity. The issue is not the cord, but the fitting of it to the plug. Hope this helps.