Frequently Asked Questions

1. How does the Quick 220 Power Tap work?

2. How do I use the Quick 220 Power Tap?

3. What do I need to know about the 20 ampere plugs on the Quick 220 Power Tap?

4. What do you mean by "independent 110/120 volt outlets?"

5. What size extension cords should I use?

6. How much power can I draw from the 220/240 volt outlet?

7. How much power does it take to convert 110/120volts to 220/240 volts?

8. Safety?

9. How large is the Quick 220 Power Tap?

10. How do I connect to the Quick 220 Power Tap?

11. What is meant by 110/115/120 volts and 220/230/240 volts?

12. Does equipment designed for 50 Hz. operate on 60 Hz?

13. What is the effect of 3 phase power on the Quick 220 Voltage Converting Power Tap?

14. Do I need to use a 3 prong grounded outlet?

15. What is the difference between the Quick 220 models?

How does the Quick 220 Power Tap work?

The Quick 220^TM power tap technically uses the fact that 220 / 240 volts AC is supplied to most facilities.  The 220 / 240 volts is divided into 110/120 volt circuits for distribution within the building.  Using standard 110 / 120 volt outlets and the Quick 220, the user can quickly identify and connect to the separated 110 / 120 volt halves of the original 220 / 240, restoring the 220/240 volt AC option without adding new electrical circuits or wiring to the building.

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How do I use the Quick 220 Power Tap? Click Here for Pictures

• First, connect one of the Quick 220 Power Tap cords to a standard 110 / 120 volt outlet.  

• Next, connect the second power cord from the Quick 220 Power Tap to an independent 110 / 120 volt outlet, using an extension cord if necessary.  The "220 VOLTS" lamp will illuminate when you have the right outlet; if it doesn't illuminate, try a different outlet. 

• 220 / 240 volts is now available at the 220/240 volt outlet on the Quick 220 Power Tap.  Plug in your 220 / 240 volt equipment and use it.

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What do I need to know about the 20 ampere plugs on the Quick 220 Power Tap?

• The Quick 220 Power Tap's 20 ampere versions come with 20 ampere 110/120 volt plugs.  Adapter cords are available so the 20 ampere systems may be used with 15 ampere outlets.  These adapters are rated for loads of 15 amperes and less.  Blade patterns for 15 ampere and for 20 ampere plugs are shown below with the prongs toward and the cord away from the viewer.

15 A         20 A

(NEMA 5-15)   (NEMA 5-20)

110/120 Volt Plugs

• The 3 prong outlet commonly found in homes is rated at 15 amperes even though the circuit may be 20 amperes.  The 20 ampere outlet is commonly found in commercial buildings; one of the slots is shaped like a "T" to accept both 15 and 20 ampere plugs.  Here is a diagram showing the blade configuration of a 20 ampere outlet:

NEMA 5-20R

• Use of the 20 ampere plug with the 20 ampere Quick 220 Power Tap is necessary to meet U.S. and Canadian electrical standards.

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What do you mean by "independent 110/120 volt outlets?"

Technically, the AC voltage of the two outlets are 180 degrees out of phase.  Practically, you find the "independent outlet" by moving the second power cord to different outlets until the amber light on the front panel goes on.  About half the outlets in a building will be "independent" of the other half.

 

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What size extension cords should I use?

Use heavy duty, 12-3 AWG extension cords with 3 prong plugs for equipment loads over 13 amperes.  Under 13 amperes, 16-3 AWG extension cords will do the job.  These are available at most hardware and home centers. 

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How much power can I draw from the 220/240 volt outlet on the Quick 220 Power Tap? 

• The Quick 220 Power Tap will supply 15 or 20 amperes, depending upon the model selected.

• If your equipment is rated in watts, 15 amperes at 220 volts is the same as 3300 watts and 20 amperes at 220 volts is the same as 4400 watts.

• For the 15 ampere (3300 watt) systems, momentary loads of 75 amperes or 16,500 watts can be supported.  For the 20 ampere (4400 watt) systems, the momentary load is 100 amperes (22,000 watts).  Momentary loads are often encountered when starting motors or when powering up electronic equipment. 

• One can not draw more current (amperes) from the wall outlet than its circuit breaker or fuse rating.  This includes the current required by your 220/240 volt load plus any 110/120 volt item which may share the same circuit:  lamps, stereos, hair dryers, etc.  It may be necessary to disconnect the lamps, stereos, hair dryers, etc., if you trip a circuit breaker and need to reset it..

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How much power does the Quick 220 Power Tap consume in converting 110/120 volts to 220/240 volts?

Power consumption to operate the Quick 220 Power Tap is 8 watts under no load.

The total actual power consumption is the power required by your 220/240 volt equipment plus 8 watts.  For example, Your equipment consumes 2000 watts, plus 8 watts for the Quick 220 Power Tap, is a total of 2008 watts.

 

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Safety?

To protect people and equipment, the Quick 220 Power Tap's automatic safety interlock blocks all power to the 220/240 volt outlet until electrical connections are complete and correct.  Should one of the cords become disconnected or loose power, all powered connections to the 220/240 volt outlet are immediately and simultaneously disconnected, including the exposed power cord.  Internal test circuits are employed to assure wiring, polarity, and output voltage are correct.  Safety circuits can be checked by listening to the Quick 220 Power Tap at the time it is connected to 110/120 volt power; it will "click" if safety circuits are operating.

The Quick 220 power tap conforms to the safety requirements of UL Standard 1363. It has been independently tested to this UL Standard by Intertek and has earned the right to bear the Intertek Listed Mark. Intertek is a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL), recognized by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for this testing.

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How large is the Quick 220 Power Tap?

About 6.5 inches wide by 5 inches deep by 3 inches high.  It weighs less than 3 pounds.  

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How do I connect to the Quick 220 Power Tap?

15 Ampere Models are supplied with two 36 inch power cords with standard 3 prong, NEMA 5-15, 110/120 volt plugs.  A standard 3 wire extension cord will probably be necessary to reach the second independent circuit outlet.  The 220/240 volt appliance is plugged directly into the Quick 220 Power Tap.

 

20 Ampere Models are supplied with two 36 inch power cords with 20 ampere, NEMA 5-20 plugs.  NEMA 5-20 outlets are commonly found in commercial buildings and can be identified by a "T" shaped blade slot.  A 25 foot, 20 ampere extension cord with NEMA 5-20 male and female connectors is included.  Two adaptor cords are included which permit use with 15 ampere NEMA 5-15 outlets, but down rate the system to 15 amperes.

 

Click here to see pictures of the 15 ampere Quick 220 power tap connections.

 

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What is meant by 110/115/120 volts and 220/230/240 volts?

In North America, 110 volts, 115 volts and 120 volts are used interchangeably to describe the most common voltage range.  This is the voltage level available through most outlets in the US, Canada, and Mexico.  Similarly, 220 volts, 230 volts and 240 volts refer to one voltage range.  The sources of these seemingly different numbers is as follows:

1. The 110 volt and 220 volt designations are older and are familiar terminology, but are not now commonly used in either product design or by electric utilities.

2. The 115 volt and 230 volt terminology comes from equipment design standards.  Equipment is typically designed to operate at 115 or 230 volts plus or minus 10%.

3. Electric utilities typically deliver electricity at 120 volts or 240 volts plus or minus 5% at the transformer. 

When one subtracts the several volts lost between the electric utility's transformer and your equipment, you get a good match between the voltage the electric utility delivers and the voltage your equipment was designed to use.

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Does equipment designed for 50 Hz. operate on 60 Hz?

In North America, electricity is supplied at 60 Hertz (Hz.)  In most of Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and South America, 50 Hz. is the standard.  For most equipment, this difference is not a problem.  In some cases, motors will run 20% faster on 60 Hz versus 50 Hz.  (This is a problem with electric clocks!)  Radios and televisions are a special problem: broadcast frequencies are country and region specific.  If you have questions, please call us.

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What is the effect of 3 phase power on the Quick 220 Voltage Converting Power Tap?

Should the 110/120 volts come from a 3 phase electrical system, sometimes found in commercial or industrial settings, the output will be 208 volts.

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Do I need to use 3 prong grounded wall outlets?

Yes, 3 pronged grounded wall outlets are necessary for safe operation.  Do not use adapters and do not remove grounding pin from plug.

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What is the difference between the Quick 220 models?

The Quick 220 Power Tap shown in this web site is the latest model of this product.  The designator "Power Tap" has been adopted because it is more electrically accurate.  In the past, the more functionally descriptive names "Voltage Converter" and "Power Supply" were used.  Since the Quick 220's introduction, all models have used the same technology, incorporating patented safety circuits to obtain 220/240 volts from 110/120 volt outlets.

 

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