Is it dangerous to use a 100V appliance in a 120V socket?

I brought an electrical hot water pot back from Japan and it operates at 100V. Since in the US we use 120V, it works, but I'm wondering now if it's dangerous. I know it has the possibility of damaging the appliance, but is it a fire hazard more than any other appliance in my home operating at 120V?|||Yes, it is dangerous.





If you operate heating element designed for 100 volts at 120 volts, not only would the voltage be too high, but it will also draw 20% more current.





THAT will result in consuming 44% more power. (meaning it will produce 44% more heat than it is rated to do) You could easily cause it to overheat, and if safety mechanism didn't work, it can cause some severe consequence.





Granted, most electrical appliances are designed with safty margin in mind. But when you overload it to start with, then you have less margin. I would NOT do it myself.





You need to buy a step-down transformer and convert your outlet output to 100 volts.|||Ok, given the resistance of the unit is X then the electrical current from 120V will be 1.2X higher than it normally is.





That means the power dissipated will be 1.44X higher (power is proportional to the current squared)





It will get hotter and it may/could overheat and catch fire.|||Take it to an appliance store to get it converted. Japanese appliances work at different frequency and voltage, and it may be a fire hazard to use a heat- generating appliance with the wrong current.|||Most electrical applances around the world operate with about 25watts either side of the rating In Australis TV's that come from Europe operate at 220 wts whereas australias operates 250wts if you are that concerned ring up your local power supply company|||yes|||No, it is not dangerous and it is unlikely it will catch fire. The current is higher, but not significantly enough to cause a problem. They are designed with a good safety factor in mind. One good thing, it will boil your water quicker :-))|||Yes,,,,, it can be dangerous





P1 = V1 * V1 / R





P2 = 1,2 V1 * 1,2 V1 / R = 1,2 * 1,2 * V1 * V1 / R





P2 = 1,44 * P1





then POWER in "hot water pot" are going to increase 44%





It is dangerous,,,


Rub茫o|||Oh yes. An appliance rated at 100 volts plugged into a 120-volt socket will overheat, possibly burning out and causing a fire.





If you buy an appliance from a store inside the United States, however, it will be manufactured to work well with our own house current, which is 115 volts of alternating current at sixty cyles per second.





Harleigh Kyson Jr.|||Ok, theres a chance that it might not operate correctly and eventually burn up. This chance even exists with appliances that are correctly rated. That's why I unplug my toaster and kettle after I use them.





To answer your question, is it a more of a fire hazard? Yes if you leave it plugged in, NO if you unplug like I do.





Also, when you do unplug these appliances carefully (use a wet finger test) check the prongs for heat. If they are hot enough to sizzle, then there's a fault with the plug or outlet. Replace them both!





PS. Never leave the house while the oven or dryer is on, they create heat and are common causes of fire.





Josh|||almost everywhere in the world ( other than the US ) uses 50 htz instead of 60 htz as we do here i'm sure that if you use that appliance here , you'll start a fire or at least short out something - in other words - don't do it !!!|||EZHIL SPEAKS,


Normally the hot water pot contains electrical heating coil to heat up the water which will well tolerate +/- 20volts. normally failure won't occur, at the worst if happens only the coil will brun out and the apparatus becomes unusable. don't worry no fire hazards,





ezhil