[gordon.mcg]

I have a kitchen aid oven that was new bought in the USA but I have moved to Australia. I need to find out how to wire it with a 3 wire 240V supply as opposed to the 4 wire 110 V supply. Can anyone help ? The electrician has already blown the surge protector and I want to get to use the oven as I never used it in the USA. Thanks

[denman]

Here is the tech sheet
https://www.servicematters.com/docs/...%208302067.pdf

Here is the install manual
http://shared.whirlpoolcorp.com/asse...%208300651.pdf

The following only applies if Australia uses the same electrical service as the US, I am not sure that it does!!!
L1 to L2 = 240 volts also L1 to Neutral and L2 to Neutral = 120 volts

I need to find out how to wire it with a 3 wire 240V supply as opposed to the 4 wire 110 V supply.
Not sure if this is a typo but as far as I know there is no such thing as a 4 wire 110 V supply

I am assuming that the unit came with a 4 wire line cord.
L1 is Red
L2 is Black
Neutral is White
Ground is Green
The above are the US color codes, I do not know the Australia color codes but that should not be difficult to find out.

The main difference between 3 wire and 4 wire is the ground set up.
On a 4 wire the ground is connected to the units frame and the Neutral is connected to the unit's terminal strip (usually the center connection), they are totally separate.
On a 3 wire the Neutral is connected to the terminal strip but there is also a ground strap from this connection to the units frame. There is not a separate ground connection. You will either have to add this strap or it may be that it is just disconnected.

The following may also help
http://www.applianceaid.com/electric...ting_tips.html

I am off to the lake for a few days so if you need more help hopefully someone else will jump in.

[Dan O.]

Originally Posted by gordon.mcg

I need to find out how to wire it with a 3 wire 240V supply as opposed to the 4 wire 110 V supply.

North American power supply for a range (or an electric dryer) is 120/240 and can use 3 or 4 wires in its supply circuit. I do not know if the Australian power is also 120/240 or just 240. The 120 circuit will be needed for the appliance's operation.

While about a North American dryer, the following link describes the differences between a 3 and 4 wire cord connection. Maybe it will help in wiring your oven? But if in doubt, call a licensed electrician!

LINK > Changing a Dryer Cord

JFYI

Dan O.
www.Appliance411.com
The Appliance Information Site
=D~~~~~~

[gordon.mcg]

Thanks for both your replies. Australia is 240 V only and it was an electrician who wired it up and blew the 'electronic filter'. Small little board where incoming power first attaches. Board has 2 capacitors and a suppressor on it and the following part no's 4451934, 4451985, 3192767 all printed on the board.
Dan O, you mention the oven will need the 120 V for some of the circuts, I did notice 2 120 V transformers on the top of the oven (under the cover plate) near the 'blown suppressor'. Is the 2 x 110V power doubled to 220V to run the oven and then the transformers reduce it back to 120 V for certain circuts ?
Please excuse my terminology as I am definately NOT electrically minded but would really like to find out if I will be able to us the oven here or not?
Any more help would be greatly appreciated!!
Regards
Gordon

[Dan O.]

I did notice 2 120 V transformers on the top of the oven

I'm afraid I have no idea what the one transformer is for but the other is just for the light.

Is the 2 x 110V power doubled to 220V to run the oven

North American power supplies include 2x 120 volt circuits right from the pole which when connected directly together creates 240 volts. Only the elements operate on the full 240 volts while everything else on the appliance is 120 volts only!

Australia is 240 V only

Than modifications to the appliance would be necessary before it would operate there. Some sort of step down transformer for the 120 volt circuit of the appliance would at least be needed. I have no idea where you'd find a suitable device nor how you would go about wiring it into the oven. Sorry.

Try contacting Whirlpool directly to see if they can help.

an electrician wired it up and blew the 'electronic filter'.

Just about anything besides its elements (eg. control, lights, motors, etc.) could have (and may have) been damaged. Hopefully that one failure is the only result.

JMO

Dan O.
www.Appliance411.com
The Appliance Information Site
=D~~~~~~

[denman]

Took a look on the net and found info on Australia's power.

They use 240 volt / 50 hertz system. 120 volts is not available directly off the power grid.

You also have a problem with the frequency of the power.
Australia uses 50 hertz not 60 like in the US.
This may effect the clock, it will run slower.
I have no way of getting info on the clock setup, it is dependent on the electronics/board design.

Also some motors will not run correctly on 50 hertz.
You have a door lock motor and perhaps a convection fan motor.

Adding to Dan O's post

I did notice 2 120 V transformers on the top of the oven (under the cover plate) near the 'blown suppressor'.
The second transformer reduces the 120 to power the electronics and relay coils on the control board

Is the 2 x 110V power doubled to 220V to run the oven
Sort of. In the US you basically you have two 120 volt supplies with a common Neutral.
These supplies are 180 degrees out of phase so when one side is at positive 120 volts the other is at negative 120 volts. The difference between the two is 240 volts and this is what is connected to your elements.

and then the transformers reduce it back to 120 V for certain circuts ?
No. The transformers reduce one side of the line (120 volts) to a lower voltage to run the halogen lamps and the control board power supply.

but would really like to find out if I will be able to us the oven here or not?
It is probably more hassle than it is worth.

As Dan O said the Australian 240 volts probably took out other parts. My guess is at the very least the control board would blow if the higher voltage did not do it then odds are high that the voltage spike caused when the suppressor blew up would do it.

[gordon.mcg]

Dan O and Denman, Thanks a ton for the help !!! Although I am not overly excited about the news I really do appreciate all the info!!!
Regards
Gordon

[gordon.mcg]

2 final technical questions please !! Can I run the oven using a good step down transformer ie. is it ok to leave the transformer on all the time ?
2nd, can I leave out the circuit board with the blown suppressor and the 2 capacitors. I do realize that I may have further damage but I have found a very good (large) transformer and would like to try using the oven without ordering replacement parts ! As you have both said, I may have further damage in which case I would be wasting time and money ordering the replacement suppressor!! Is that board essential to the oven, looks to me like it could be left off, it is just ther to reduce spikes!!
Thanks
Gordon

[denman]

Can I run the oven using a good step down transformer ie. is it ok to leave the transformer on all the time ?

It may be possible but you will need someone who is knowledgeable to figure out the oven's wiring so the step down can be wired in.
The ground and neutral set up may cause problems, this may also be a safety issue. To reduce the safety issue the unit should be hooked up the same as a 4 wire hook up re: the earth ground from the house wiring is connected to the oven's frame and Neutral is separate see the install instructions.

It may be possible to hook up a center tapped transformer. The center tap then becomes the Neutral as far as the oven is concerned. Also has to be hooked up as a 4 wire system . Would have to be a large transformer as it must supply enough amps for the elements.
This will not fix the frequency issue re: 50 hertz

2nd, can I leave out the circuit board with the blown suppressor and the 2 capacitors.
Yes, it is not an absolute requirement so remove it from the unit.

Unless the person doing this knows what they are doing it could end up as one big spark and a puff of smoke!!!

Another thing to consider is that this modification may affect/void your house insurance should it cause a fire or someone getting shocked!!!

My recommendation is buy a new unit and junk this one.

[gordon.mcg]

Thanks again for the help !! I will take your advice and buy new, it is just an expense I was hoping to do without!! I do appreciate your time and effort!!