OT: Electrical plug question

[Michael]

Can I use a converter to make this plug work in a regular household outlet?

120 voc/60hz Current 17a

Thanks!

[DerbyDad03]

Physically? Sure:

But what is a "regular household outlet"?

Looks to me like you would need a 20A circuit for whatever that plug is for. If you only have 15A receptacles on 15A circuits, then you may run into issues.

What is it for and what does the manual say about the type of circuit required?

[DJ Delorie]

That's a standard 20A plug. It plugs into a standard 20A household outlet.

If you try to adapt it to a standard 15A outlet, you might blow a circuit breaker.

If the circuit *is* 20A (15A outlets are used on 20A circuits in USA houses), you're still better off replacing the 15A outlet with a 20A outlet; an adapter would let you plug into a 15A *circuit* without realizing it.

[Markem]

It is a 240 volt plug, why would you want to?

Now you could wire a 240 receptacle with 120 volts and it would work.

Sorry but makes no sense to me with minimal info from your side.

[ads]

No, that's a 20 amp 120 volt plug.

[dpb]

...

No. It's NEMA 5-20 20A 125V.

The text below the OP's pic refers to an exercise machine of some variety so the 20A is likely needed.

OP needs to discover if has any 20A circuits where would want to use this and swap out a plug to match on one of those if has...

[DerbyDad03]

BTW...You used the word "converter". Did you actually mean adapter?

From:

"While the purpose of an adapter is to simply help the plugs on your electronics fit into (or more aptly, adapt to the shape of) foreign outlets, a converter's job is to change the voltage found in an outlet to match that of your devices."

[J. Clarke]

No, it's a 120v 20a plug. A 240v 20a plug looks similar but the horizontal and vertical blades are switched.

[DerbyDad03]

Actually, that's a standard 20A, 125 VAC, 3 wire, 2 Pole plug.

There are many different types of 20A plugs so the term "standard" doesn't really work without the rest of the details.

[Clare Snyder]

And most 20 amp 120 volt outlets are "iniversal" and will allow you to plug standard 15 amp cords into the 20 amp outlet too.

[DerbyDad03]

Actually, that's a standard 20A, 120 VAC plug.

There are many different types of "standard" 20A plugs.

[Michael]

Thanks for the help, everyone! I know nothing about electricity and this has been very helpful.

[krw]

That is a standard plug for a 20A service. Anything that would adapt that to a NEMA 5-15 would be dangerous, particularly since your device draws 17A. Don't do it. You might be able to replace the outlet with a 5-20 but only if it's a 20A circuit and there's nothing else on it.

[Ed Pawlowski]

You should only use 80% of the rated capacity or 16A You should not put it on a `5A breaker at all.

If it is a one time deal for 10 minutes, no biggie but if it is a steady load you may be asking for trouble. Big trouble.

[Clare Snyder]

With a 20 amp plug it is designed for a 20 amp circuit - and the 17 amp will be max power dissipation - likely runs below that MOST of the time. - but definitely NOT to be used on a circuit wired for 15 amps, no matter WHAT breaker and outlet is installed.

[Michael]

An additional question: This is for a treadmill. It will be in a room right next to the washer/dryer, which has a 30 A dryer outlet (unused). Will the electrician be able to use that connection to create an outlet for the tre admill, or will he/she have to run a totally new connection for the 17A fro m the fusebox?

Thanks for the help!

[Markem]

An electrician could set up sub panel from that outlet, question is do you want that. Questions to ask the are in your quoted text above, they can do what you want the limiting factor is what it costs.

Where is your fuse/circuit breaker box for the house, are there open circuit in the box?

[J. Clarke]

If the dryer outlet is a 4-wire outlet (220v outlets can be wired as 3 wire--two hots and a ground, or 4 wire--two hots, neutral, and ground) then as long as (a) you're willing to give up the dryer outlet and (b) whatever code is in force allows it to be removed, it should be possible to put a 20 amp 120v receptacle on that circuit--the breaker will also have to be replaced with a 20A breaker.

Beyond that, too many details--get an estimate.

[Clare Snyder]

Any electrician worth his salt will be able to give you at least one, and likely 2, 20 amp circuits drom that wire (after changing to a 20 amp braker)

[Clare Snyder]

Sub panel not required No open circuits required, location of panel immaterial.