Electrical hookups in Canada
Probably a silly question, but are the plugs the same in Canada as US, or do we need an adapter as we did in England?
Forum Discussion
magic43 wrote:
Read carefully what I wrote. I never said that there was 240 volts on the outlets.
Actually, you did ...
"They are not exactly the same. The 30 and 50 amp RV receptacles are the same, but be aware of how the 15/20 amp receptacles are wired. The tab is broken on the 15/20 amp receptacles and one separate leg of 120 volts is wired to each side of the tab. That is OK, but it also means that there is 240 volts between the "hot" legs on that 120 volt receptacle."
... the irony being you'd be correct EXCEPT that who in their right mind would attempt to draw a common feed from two hot legs of a split duplex 15 amp receptacle?! That makes no sense whatsoever. :S
Further, you inferred that ALL 15 amp duplex receptacles are wired in this split manner, which is completely untrue ... as I've already pointed out, split 15 amp duplex receptacles are required by code in only a very few specific instances, such as a kitchen ... one would never be used as a campsite supply source. You'd also not commonly find 20 amp duplex receptacles here in Canada, just 15 amp. If some campground owner took it upon himself to reinvent the world and provide campsite supply via a 15 amp split duplex receptacle and you then, for whatever mysterious reason, chose to use a non-approved adapter to plug into that feed you both only have yourselves to blame for any disaster that could have occurred. Dumb, dumb, dumb. :R
Bottom line - any American visiting Canada can in practical terms expect no difference at all between plugging in at home or here above the 49th, other than you won't find much in the way of 20 amp service which is quite common in many parts of the US, whether in home wiring or in campgrounds.
