Changing US plug to UK 3 pin

[LP1993]

Hi

I am thinking of buying my wife a waffle maker from the US and I am wondering if I cut the plug off it and change it to a UK 3 pin plug if it will cause any issues.

It’s 120v and 1400w.

Thanks

 

[flameport]

It will overheat and set on fire.

UK voltage is 230V, which is entirely different to the 120V used in the USA.
If you must buy such a thing, it would require the use of a step down transformer, such as this: https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/SC5497.html

More realistic is to buy a waffle maker from the UK or Europe which will already be the correct voltage.

 

[mattylad]

Contact the supplier and ask if they do a 230v version.
A lot of the US actually uses 240v as well as 120v.

 

[winston1]

The US 240v is only used for large fixed loads, cookers, hivac etc. Never for small portable appliances. So it is unlikely they will do a 240v version unless it is for export.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Contact the supplier and ask if they do a 230v version.
A lot of the US actually uses 240v as well as 120v.

Also check if it is suitable for UK frequency - US uses 60Hz, UK is 50Hz, though probably only important if there is a transformer, or it uses mains for timing.

 

[JohnD]

Hi

I am thinking of buying my wife a waffle maker from the US and I am wondering if I cut the plug off it and change it to a UK 3 pin plug if it will cause any issues.

It’s 120v and 1400w.

Thanks

The plug is not the issue.

It's a ridiculous idea.

If you want a waffle maker, buy one designed for the rest of the world which runs at about 230volts

 

[ericmark]

Being far even big companies make errors bringing USA 120 volt stuff into the UK, had it was some flood lights on a generator, the guy who bought them thought he could use the 120 volt as 110 volt outlets but it was 0 - 110 not 55 - 0 - 55 volt. And many caught out with Nest thermostats, the USA version nothing like the UK version.