Foreign Fridge 220V in USA

$1700USD sounds a lot. Is this the gold-plated one? A fridge can be bought here for around a quarter of that.

With those sorts of values, rather than ship the fridge and rewire the home, it might be better considering selling it locally and buying a 60Hz-compatible replacement after arrival.

$400-$500 for a fridge in the UK? Must not be an apples to apples comparison. $1700 is not the low end of the scale here in the US, but the only refrigerators I've seen for $400 are either used ones or very small ones.

Since S. Korea uses 60 cycle electricity, which Tornado probably already knew, I agree with his advice, as usual.

BTW, whoever voted his answer OT is an idiot.

Is it really cost effective to ship the fridge to the US? Unless you've arranged a super-low-cost shipping method for the entire trip (point A to point B), the cost of shipping the fridge to your new home in the US would likely be more than the cost of an equivalent new one.

5 will get you 10 that someone else is footing the bill for the move, so it's no big deal to him... I got moved across the country once on the corporate dime, I loaded my cars into the moving vans and took a limo to the airport. Complete waste of money, but I didn't care.

To the issue at hand, I don't like the idea of "painting the ends of the wires". Phasing tape is the legal method of changing the wire colors at the ends. Bear in mind that the audience here is someone who obviously is unaware of things electrical, they may take that comment literally!

I might be out of date, but I think that painting wire ends was legit at least once upon a time. A wrap of black tape on a formerly "white" line also makes sense, and is also easier to undo if needed. The key, of course, is that white = grounded, black = ungrounded.

Please forgive the fool and continue to empower us with your knowledge! You are a very wise man. Thanks for sharing your wisdom!

Right on and the best answer yet.

Check out Home Depot or Lowe's for an excellent brand name refrigerator at 1/2 that cost. And, I do not mean a mini one either. We tend to forget the value added taxes in foreign country purchase, the currency exchange value, and the fact that an LG is usually cheaper here than in Korea, it's country of manufacture. And, all LGs at Home Depot seem to be electronic, possibly opening up the need for extra consideration and packaging with dessicants to ship across the globe.

http://www.lowes.com/pl_Refrigerators_4294933115_4294933768_?cm_cr=Kitchen-_-Web+Activity-_-Kitchen+A1+2.1.11-_-SC_Kitchen_Area1-_-11602_5_kitchen_area1_bucket5_-_refrigerators

http://www.homedepot.com/Appliances-Kitchen-Appliances-Refrigerators/LG-Electronics/h_d1/N-5yc1vZbv5tZ21j/h_d2/Navigation?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053&Nu=P_PARENT_ID&omni=b_LG Electronics

I do believe the normal power in Korea is 220V on a 220V hot and neutral. North American 220/240 is based on 2 115/120 legs and no neutral. Easiest way to use this fridge in purchasing a transformer, a 1500W cost about $140 USD at most electrical supply houses or easily located online.

To those who are discussing the $1700.00 for this fridge, it is quite possible this is a commercial unit, possibly a walk in. In the US for one of those, "fo get about it". It would be double that. As for the voltage, all residential services are 240V. Also, it is quite possible to ship things on a deal on the cheap if you have the time to plan.

Most likely though, his moving costs are being covered by employer or the Armed Services and is being re-deployed home.

Just a thought.

Good option is to sell the fridge locally and buy a new one in the new place. It will avoid transport cost and other worries plus one more refrigerator is moving out from the manufacturing facility based in USA.

Do not forget about the other requirement for its power, frequency or Hz. as it was designed. In America it is 60Hz and in Korea it is probably 50Hz. This means the motor will turn faster here in America. That will be a good thing as the compressor will work harder and provide more refrigeration; however, the related components may not be compatible (capacitors, windings of the motor, overloads, etc.) and it may not even run or its life could be shortened. Also, with the extra capacity the heat exchangers will be under designed and system pressure will run higher than normal. I would check with the manufacturer to see what he recommends or take note that you have been warned of possible future problems.

Korea is also 60 Hz.

Dear If you can buy an step up transformer 110V to 220V, 5 amps. single phase, from Korea, that would be cheaper than any other solution.

Just use a 110/220V step up/down transformer of sufficient power. Read it from the Fridge data plate.

connect the wall outlet socket 110V to 110V side at the transformer, and 220V out from the transformer to the 220V line of the fridge. And that's it you're done...

You are now using it as a step up transformer. 60 Hz. are OK. Unless your fridge is an industrial type, an assumption made on the basis of your price tag, $1700 (US?) power should be in the region of 1000W-1500W and make damn sure it is a single phase unit.

It will cost you no more $25-$45. I saw and bought some of these transformers a pawn shops. at even lower prices. You may have, as one poster already pointed out, to replace the plugs.

And get cool...

Wangito.

We don't normally have residential fridges that run on 220 volts here so you won't have an outlet where you need it in the kitchen. Electricians charge about $65 an hour but it might be difficult to run a circuit unless you are building a new house.

I'd sell that one and get another one here.

Guessing you are getting shipping free, too. Military transport maybe?

every hose in the usa have TWO phase in the main box!

you have to make the RIGHT connection better the right electric man will do it

you can also find a transformer to add the 110V DELTA to the regular 110 V ==>220V