Let me elaborate then, "a few of kiloamps" is actually a very weak network,
Minimum for any kind of dwelling should be arround , 20Ka, most of Ontario area being in 200Ka range for most of commercial and some of residential dwelling, and some unfortunate souls being close to the transformer even higher (which cost serious money).
Don't wan't to start a pissisng mach but the relative absence of star/delta starters so common in Europe speaks for itself. I've never seen one used on a motor of less that 150Hp.
I'm sorry, what?
No normal residential installation can handle a 200kA fault current. Hell, most decent size industrial ones can't. And you're going to have one hell of a time achieving that with 120V! 20kA is already very substantial.
20kA at 240V would require an EFLI of just 12mΩ - with 4AWG conductors that's only 7.5m of cable. 200kA would involve just 1.2mΩ - that's about 3m at 0000AWG.
Would you like to try again with your brain engaged?!
Yes, I can't see how any kind of domestic fridge can draw start currents of the magnitude quoted by
alpher .
In any case, it will be halved by the higher voltage.
This is the main advantage of the 220/230/240v Mains--- less current for the same power.
(Also why, in North America, the so-called "split phase" 240v system is often used for major appliances.)
OK, maybe
Wolfgang is correct, & the motor will not run correctly at 50Hz, but if this entails the use of an inverter, that is where the doubt about start current applies.
The start current as far as the Mains supply is concerned, is concerned will not be the problem.
I must admit, I'm a bit bemused by his reference to a star/delta starter & a 150hp motor.
Surely this presupposes a three phase supply, which has little to do with the present case.
It is too long ago that I learnt about ac motors, but I've worked around a lot of big ones & small ones.
The small ones usually have a capacitor start, which I have had occasion to change.
The big ones just trundled on virtually forever, & in the odd case of one dying, was sent off for rebuilding.
I cannot remember any external starter device associated with them that failed, so I never got to look inside them.