110/220 Question?

Question

If i plug a 230V 1100 watt heater into a 120V wall socket, would the output of the heater be less or would the heater draw more power (amps) from the socket and output the same power?

I realize that it would take 4x the Amps to power it but will the heater take that much more or will it output less?

This is a link to the heater:

http://www.coleparmer.com/catalog/product_view.asp?sku=0304656

Answer 1

you would get 1/4 the heat out of it. So it would function as a 275 watt heater.

It would NOT draw 4x the amps, it will draw 1/2 the amps.

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Answer 2

Theoretically, some of the answerers are right. In the real world, though, you can't plug a 230V connector into a 120V wall socket. The prongs won't fit.

Additionally, because you won't have any power on your L2 leg, the heater won't run at all. You may burn out the elements due to a low voltage condition.

Answer 3

I would guess that the output of the heater would be less, if it works at all.  

If you reverse it, and plug a 120V heater into a 230V outlet, you will blow the heater.

Answer 4

It would be less, the current would be about 1/2 since the voltage is about half, and the since the power is voltage times current, you have 1/2 x 1/2 = 1/4 the power (heat)

Now if you go the other way, 120V heater into 230v socket, the power will be about 4 times normal, and if the breaker doesn't trip the heater will rapidly be destroyed, with some risk of fire, though if it is immersed in a nonflammable fluid the risk of fire is not as much of a problem  as losing the $188