Can you plug a 230V 50Hz appliance into a 240V 60Hz outlet?

IMPORTANT NOTE The National Electrical Code in the U.S. allows for appliances to be supplied at 240 V only if they would draw more than 12 amps at 120 V (1440 W). So, small appliances are not allowed to be plugged into a 240 V outlet, even if they are rated (for use elsewhere) for that voltage. NEC 210.6 (A) (2). Further answers Some small portable 50 Hz appliances - such as electric shavers, battery chargers for cell-phones, cameras, music and video players, laptop or netbook personal computers, etc. - have been designed to run safely on different supply voltages and frequencies. Whenever that is so, it should be clearly stated on the appliances' rating-plates. In many such cases, where the power needed is low, say less than 30 Watts, a cheap and simple "International Travel Socket Adapter" is all that is needed to make the appliance plug-in and work. Many international airports have shops selling such adapters. But, for most other household appliances, in general the answer has to be: "Not if the appliance was designed and wired to run only on the 50 Hz power service that is used in Europe and elsewhere." The mains frequency in Europe and other 230 volt areas is 50 Hz (cycles per second) compared to 60 Hz in US, Canada and other 120/240 volt areas. Some 50 Hz appliances may work fine but others with simple motors will run too fast on the higher frequency of 60 Hz. However the most important difference is how the Neutral wire is connected: 240 volt 50 Hz service A 240 volt 50 Hz appliance can have up to 3 wires altogether:

one single 240 volt "live" or "hot" wire; a neutral wire; a safety "earth" or "ground" wire but this is not required if the appliance is of the type known as "double insulated".

The hot wire feeds alternating voltage from the power station to the load and, because the voltage is alternating, the load draws an alternating current. Then the neutral wire returns the current to the power station to complete the circuit.

240 volts 60 Hz service An appliance that is designed to be connected to strictly 240 volts 60 Hz is connected with only a two wire cable plus a safety ground wire. (For example 240 volt 60 Hz base board heaters use that.) The only time a cable with three wires plus safety ground is used is if 120/240 volts is needed in the equipment. (For example kitchen ranges or washing machines which have time clocks or programmers that require only a 120 volt feed.) Thus an appliance designed to run on a 240/120 volt 60 Hz supply can have up to 4 wires altogether:

two 120 volt 60 Hz live "hot legs" which run in opposing phase to one another: when one hot leg goes "+" (120 volts positive) the other leg goes "-" (120 volts negative); a neutral wired as a "central" common current return conductor: a safety "ground" wire but this is not required if the appliance is of the type known as "double insulated".

One of the two hot wires feeds a 120 volt alternating voltage from the power station to the 120 volt load - the clock or programmer - and, because the voltage is alternating, that load draws an alternating current. Then the neutral wire returns the current to the power station to complete the circuit