How can I tell if a machine is 220V or 110V. Does the US only use a certain one?

Answer 1

The vast majority of appliances in the US run on 110 only. There are some appliances that might require 220 volts. These include, but are not limited to, some heavy duty electric clothing driers, some are conditioning units and some electric heating units. Just because the plug has 3 prongs does NOT mean it's 220. Most 110 appliances also have a 3 prong (grounded) plug.
If in doubt which to use consult a qualified electrician since mismatching the unit to the power supply is asking for a serious fire.

Answer 2

Most electrical devices operate on 120V. Some appliances with larger power needs use 240 volts. There are some large appliances (stoves, ovens, clothes dryers, etc) that use 120/240V circuits. These appliances may have a 3 or 4 prong cord end. A 3 prong cord end does NOT necessarily mean 120V or 240V. The NEC (National Electrical Code) requires various different cord end configurations and receptacle outlet shapes which correspond to various different Voltage/amperage ratings. This helps to prevent plugging a device into an outlet with the improper volt or amp rating. The appliance should have a nameplate/tag attached to it which will tell you voltage, current (amps), power (watts, kilo-watts, or KVa) etc, unless the device is old or has been tampered with. If in doubt, call an appliance store or ask an electrician. Too little voltage can be just as bad for an appliance as too much. It pays to find out first, rather than destroying your appliance. Good luck.

Answer 3

Usually a 220V has a huge plug on it. You can also look for the serial/model number. It should be a metal tag affixed to the machine, similar to the tape tag on the back of your computer. We use both 220V and 110V in the US. Your washing machine is probably a 220V while a standard A/C window unit is 110V.

Answer 4

There should be voltage and current requirements on the machine or appliance. Most items on the market use 110 volt 60 HZ AC electrical power. Clothes dryers, cook stoves, and some window unit air conditioners use 220V 60 HZ AC. The device should have a tag somewhere on it that clarifies the voltage, etc..

Answer 5

Large draw appliances like stoves, ovens, some refrigerators, and high capacity a/c units, run on 220V.
Smaller appliances and machinery run on 110V.
The easiest way to tell is if the item in question has a rating tag on it. It will tell whether it's 110 or 220.
If it doesn't have a tag, then an easy way to tell is by the plug:
3 prongs = 220
2 prongs = 110
(the 3rd prong is the ground which is required for all 220 applications)

Answer 6

electrical appliances in the US run on 110V.

the label on the appliance should tell you the different levels the appliance operates at.