Voltage conversion is essential. A wide variety of devices and equipment perform better at one level of voltage than another.
Upgrading your home’s circuits mandates a comprehensive rewiring process, so you’ll want to hire an electrician who knows how to upgrade your circuits from 110v to 220v. An electrician from U.S Electric can ensure 220-volt service for your home or extend extra 220-volt circuits for outlets. This will guarantee that your modern appliances run safely and efficiently.
Maximum Voltage for Modern Homes
In any standard house, an electricity grid distributes energy at 220 volts. This splinters into two 110-volt lines. This split limits the danger of overloading your appliances and electronics. By splitting the electricity line system, you won’t overpower your household appliances.
When upgrading your circuits from 110v to 220v, you will need to understand how to identify 220-volt circuits in a circuit box.
If your home is newer, you will be able to tell the difference between the two circuits. The 220-volt circuits are twice the size of the 110-volt circuits.
If you live in an older home built many decades ago, it likely only has 110v capacity in total. As such, you should upgrade your home so you can use modern household appliances.
If you want to sell your house or keep it up to date with local electrical code standards, professionals recommend upgrading your electrical circuitry in its entirety. A licensed electrician can check if your home has 220-volt power and help you make any necessary changes.
High-Capacity Additional Circuits
There is a wide range of benefits that you will gain by upgrading your circuit system. Your home will be much safer from electricity problems, outages, and electrical fires. You may even qualify to receive reduced homeowners’ insurance rates.
Best of all, upgrading your circuits should improve the overall operation of your household appliances.
What do you need to do to install high-capacity additional circuits and upgrade your panel? There are two steps to take.
- The electric company will need to run a new line into your house.
- You will need to replace your circuit box and possibly some electric cable wiring.
It is also possible that your home already has 220v service in operation. Still, you may need the higher voltage for your appliances or devices to operate even better. You can use a voltage converter, or you could work with an electrician.
If working with an electrician, you’ll find that:
- Electricians are capable of installing more circuits on your circuit breaker box.
- You can choose to install 3-wire circuits or 4-wire circuits.
Common Household Appliances That Require 220 Volts
Large appliances within your home will require a higher voltage to perform optimally. Many household appliances require a 220-volt service to work, including your:
- Air conditioner
- Dishwasher
- Dryer
- Freezer
- Garbage disposal
- Refrigerator
- Stovetop
- Stovetop range hood
- Washing machine
If you have devices and appliances that require 220-volt power and you plug them into an outlet that only provides 110 volts, your equipment may perform poorly or get damaged.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 110v and 220v?
Less current is required when 220 voltage wiring (4.1 amps) is used than with 110 voltage wiring (8.2 amps).
Can a 220v appliance run on 110v?
We don’t recommend running a 220v appliance on 110v. This will overwork and potentially damage your device. In this case, you can work with an electrician to upgrade your electric circulatory system or buy a 110v to 220v converter.
Can I plug a 220v device into a 110v outlet?
If you do so, your device will take up more current than it can handle. As such, it will burn out over time.
Can I convert a 110v outlet to 220v?
Yes, you can convert 110v outlets to 220v. This necessitates large-scale rewiring and a building code inspection. In this case, an electrician from U.S Electric can help.
Safe and Efficient Circuit Upgrades
Electric circuit upgrades are complicated and need to adhere to strict local building code standards. The best way to get a safe and efficient circuit upgrade is with professional help. A professional electrician will know the ins and outs of code standards and do the work in adherence to local guidelines.
At U.S. Electric, we can do everything you need at great prices. For a safe and effective circuit upgrade, contact us today!