Is There a 110 Electric Range?

High Energy User

• When comparing the electric usage of appliances it becomes immediately obvious that appliances that produce heat or take it away use far and away the most electricity. Electric ranges and ovens, furnaces and dryers are among the biggest users of energy, and each requires a dedicated 220-volt outlet. The greater voltage provides the heating elements with enough power to reach high temperatures, even if all of the burners and the broiler or oven are on at once.

Smaller Footprint

• In some small places, a standard-sized 220-volt range will not fit in a space or the floor plan and infrastructure won't allow a 220-volt adapter, so a smaller 110-volt range is used. Two examples are aboard small boats that have a galley, and larger recreational vehicles with a small kitchen. The range top for these applications often come with only three burners instead of four, and the oven is much smaller.

Electrical Wiring

• Most home electrical systems are designed to to use about 100 amps of power at any one time. This available power is divided among the various circuits that run through the home. A 110-volt electric range, with three burners going at once, can draw up to 3,600 watts. The formula "watts/volts = amps" shows that the range would require at least 30 amps, which is much higher than standard installed 15- to 20-amp circuits and equals almost a third of the total power the entire house can handle. Plugging a 110-volt electric range into a circuit that is not capable of handling that amount of amps will overload the circuit and possibly cause a fire.

Options

• Small electrical ranges are expensive, with prices up to $1,500. Options for an 110-volt electric range include a two-burner hot plate and a tabletop convection oven. They are available in tandem for less than $400. While each uses a substantial amount of electricity on its own, you can plug them into two separate circuits, protecting a home's electrical supply. Adding a tabletop microwave and a low-power slow cooker provides a kitchen full of cooking appliances.