Too Many Amps?

S

Shay Oudanonh

Joined
Sep 19, 2000
Messages
15
Hello to all :D I hope this New Year started out well for everyone.

Anyway, I have been eyeing a 1 1/2 HP Leeson variable speed motor and controller. The unit operate on 220v and appear to be wired with a 20 amps plug. I do not have any 20 amps 220v outlet in the house but I do have a 30 amps 220v outlet. I was thinking about switching the 20 amps plug to match the 30 amps outlet.......Bad idea? Any harm in pluging a 20 amps device up to the 30 amps outlet?

No, I do not know Jack when it come to electricity.:p Any input would be much appreciated (save me before I blow myself up).

Shay Oudanonh
 
i do know jack! but i don't know his last name. the rating of 220v 30amp is the most that the outlet will give. you can draw the 20amp no problem.
 
The plug rating indicates how much the plug will bear.
You may attach a nightlight to a 30 Amp plug, or huge machinery.
It's on a 1 amp plug that you can just plug a nightlight :)
To put it simply: it's as if power is not "pumped out" of the plug, but "drawn in" from the device you connect to the plug.
 
Hey......so I can plug in one of those pretty smelling air freshener to it. Darn, that's right it's only rated for 110v. Ha,ha.

I might not know who Jack is but I knew you guys would come through for me. Thank you!

Shay Oudanonh
 
the "pump" example is valid for amps only!
Volts actually work the other way round!
If you attach a 110V apparatus to a 220 outlet, you'll blow it up!


Let put it this way.
You have a pipe, with a tap.
The tap gives out water at a 20 litres per minute. That's watts.
Watts, (i.e. power) are equal to Volts x Amperes
You can have a 20 litres per minute tap with a 5" hole that will put out water at a very low pressure (high amp and low volts) or a tap with a 1/32" hole that will give out water at a monstruous pressure.

So basically we can say 110 V are low pressure hydraulic thingies, and 220V are High pressure hydraulic thingies.
If you plug something that sucks lots of water and can withstand hi pressure to your "220" tap, which has a lower water output, due to a small diameter, you'll force a lot of water in a small tube: problems.
Again, if you attach a device requiring small water, but which doesn't withstand hi pressure to the 220 tap, you'll put something that teorethically would use the correct amount of water the pipe can provide, but that will receive it at too high a pressure, which will make it blow.
Hope this was clear enough :)
 
Thank you kindly Sir, that clear it up even more. Although, all these examples with water is making me thirsty.:)

Shay Oudanonh
 
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