I've been told they are different in some way. Can someone explain to me why a 220 volt washing machine can be used but I'm told a 220 volt dryer I cannot? Is it different or stronger currents? Please explain.
dtstellwagen
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I've never seen a 220v washer, where I live most washers are 120v and most dryers are 240v.
But if you live someplace where 220v is used for both I would suspect they would need a different amperage/fuse/breaker rating.
A wash machine at 120 volts uses about 10 amps,
at 220v would only need 5 amps, and would need 7 to 10 amp fuse.
A clothes dryer at 240v uses about 22 amps,
at 220v would be 24 amps, needing a 30 amp fuse.
So the fusing/breakers for these are substantially different, at 30 amp fuse wouldn't blow effectively for a failing 5 amp washer that would have less than 10 amp fusing, and 10 amp wouldn't be high enough for the dryer.
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The dryer probably uses much more current than the washing machine. It is pretty unusual for a washing machine to use 220 volts as most use 120 volts. the dryer uses more current due to the heating necessary to drive out the moisture.
JJ
Most foreign countries use 220 volts for all household outlets. In the U.S. 220 volts is used for high current items such as dryers, water heaters and stoves, that use several times as much current and therefore have different plugs and bigger wires.
RoyS
There is no difference; you just need separate 220 volt lines, hooked up to separate breakers.
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I have no idea
They both sound the same to me