Installing a 220V Intex electric heater in the US

[ioinva]

Other than the trusty 24' heating solar panel, I have not seen a viable option to heat our pool, and I would really love to be able to extend the season another month or so. I did purchase an Intex Solar heater, but these things are made for the European/Asian market and require a 220V plug and use 3kW.

Or, could I plug it into a washer/dryer 240V outlet?

The frequency is also different between the two standards... 59Hz in Europe vs. 60Hz in the US.

Has anyone successfully installed one of these?

I am looking into this because all other electric options are unsafe around soft-wall pool. Intex appliances are double-insulated, making them ok to use around this kind of pool. The plan would be to inline it with my solar heater for a boost, and to build a by-pass for when not in use. My solar heater runs on the original pump that came with the 16ft/48" pool, separate from the sand filter running through a separate and upgraded pump. So that little 1000GPH pump would be powering the flow through both this heater and the solar 24' panel.

 

[ajw22]

You can try it if you have a 240V 20 AMP GFCI protected circuit that you can safely plug it into.

Heaters should not be sensitive to the different AC frequency.

Worst case you may burn the thing up.

 

[CT-Steven]

They use entirely different plugs, and it is illegal to wire one countries system into another. Maybe you can find an adapter plug?
Frequency should not matter unless this has a motor. As this is a resistive load (eg: a heating element), you'll probably be OK.

 

[ajw22]

They use entirely different plugs, and it is illegal to wire one countries system into another. Maybe you can find an adapter plug?

I assume he would change the plug to a US 240V 20A plug.

Can you point to the laws that make anything illegal?

 

[CT-Steven]

I have edited out the illegal aspect of my comment as I could not find a specific violation listed in the NEC.

 

[ajw22]

I have edited out the illegal aspect of my comment as I could not find a specific violation listed in the NEC.

And I don't think violating the NEC is a criminal or civil crime, and something "illegal". Although it may be unsafe and ill advised.

The NEC is not a legal document.

 

[ioinva]

Probably a code violation— meaning a permit would not be pulled? Meaning this ends up a dyi solution as no electrician would touch it?…

 

[ajw22]

Probably a code violation— meaning a permit would not be pulled? Meaning this ends up a dyi solution as no electrician would touch it?…

Violates what code?

Use the correct 220V 20A outlet and plug and outdoor wiring to meet code.

 

[Donldson]

The National Electric Code begins at the meter and ends at the receptacle. It does not offer any guidance regarding what can or cannot be plugged in to a receptacle.

 

[ioinva]

Good to know. Water temp just dropped below 80… I think I will give it a try.