I'm interested in using European kitchen appliances to heat things faster. My house is a 2014 construction in America, split-phase power.
My understanding is that their 230V toasters, kettles, and toaster ovens cook faster because they have more watts available due to the higher voltage on a given size of wire.
Understanding that I'd have to avoid appliances with electronics and motors, What are the pros and cons to adding a circuit to my kitchen with European outlets?
I imagine that I might have to use a breaker smaller than optimal for the European outlets since American and European breakers don't come in the same capacities. What else could I be missing, and is there a better way to accomplish this?
It would be nice to have a microwave that was twice as fast too, but that definitely gets into electronic and motor land. Not to mention the magnetron might derive its frequency from mains.
Best Answer
The main problem with European outlets and appliances is that they won't be listed to local standards, even if they are perfectly safe. We have our own set of 240V outlets and plugs, you'd just chop the cord and install the correct US standard plug - but that appliance itself would likely not carry US specific listings. That could cause you insurance problems.
The secondary problem is that there's no inherent "things go faster becasue the voltage is higher" - a 1000W kettle will boil water just as fast if it's designed to be supplied from 120V as if it's designed to be supplied from 240V - the only way it gets faster is to choose a higher wattage, on either voltage.
Ditto the microwave oven. More power is more power, regardless of the supply voltage it's designed for.
You might find more joy investigating the expensive toys at a USA Restaurant supply for "commercial" appliances than importing things from Europe. Just beware of the ones that want 3-phase power.