Using a 1600W converter for a 800W George Foreman Grill but STILL getting shocked? Why?

Question

I am living in Bulgaria and would like to use a Foreman Grill from the USA. At first, I tried to use a small adapter for the US plug and got an electrical shock every time I touched the grill. The grill light is "on" (apparently there is power) but the grill does not heat up and whenever I touch the grill I receive another shock.

Instead of using a plug adapter (I heard I was overloading the outlet) I decided to use a 1600W converter. The plugs in Bulgaria are 2-pin Euro plugs. I plugged the converter into the surge protector, then plugged the Foreman into the converter but STILL I experienced the same shock and the grill didn't heat up. The converter was on 1600W setting and I know it can definitely handle the wattage.

I'm afraid I may have caused permanent damage to the grill from using it with the adapter before. It had worked one or two times with the plug adapter, but then I started getting shocked. Does anyone have any ideas why it isn't working with the converter?

Answer 1

If you are using that grill outside then that's why you are getting a shock. I seriously doubt that grill is only 800 watts. Probably something wrong with the grill if it does not heat up. Another reason why you could be getting a shock is if that grill is shorted inside. I would not mess around with this, sounds dangerous. Not worth getting killed over.

Answer 2

you probably burned the heating element.

220v will generate 4x more power than 110V.

It probably made a connection to outer casing and that is why you are getting shocked. This is dangerous, you can get electrocuted.

'Electronic' convertors do not work with grills. You should have used a transformer to reduce the voltage. (Sometimes instead of transformer, for resistive load, single diode might do the trick).

Answer 3

In the US, one side of the AC outlet is "neutral" (the wider side of the plug) and one side is "hot" (the narrow side of the plug). The neutral side is at ground potential all the time, when plugged into a correctly wired socket.

In countries using 220VAC, both connections at the outlet are "hot" with respect to ground, just out of phase with each other. That is, if you measure across each outlet slot to ground, you will read 110 volts. If you measure across both slots, you will read 220.

Your problem probably has to do with the "neutral" side of the power cord in the grill being connected, by design or fault, to the case of the grill. That is OK in the US with a 2-wire plug, as long as the outlet is properly wired, since the wider blade on the plug ensures that the side connected to the case is at ground potential.

Your adapter is probably not referenced to ground on the neutral side of the 110VAC output, so the neutral side of the appliance (and the case) are at 60 VAC, referenced to ground.

Very dangerous! 60 VAC can kill at a 1600 watt power level!