Mydnight wrote:
> I got a Kamjove that I brought home from China last Christmas.
> Unfortunately, they lied that it could convert the voltage. I had to
> get a step-down transformer, a huge thing of about 20 pounds, just to
> drink tea.

Going the other way will usually lead to smoke and perhaps fire. But
running a 220V passive heater (no control electronics) on 110V should be
fine. It would nominally deliver 1/4 of the rated power. Since heating
elements run so far above 100C, the water would still boil; it would
just take about four times as long. Actually, the situation is better
than that: the resistance of heating elements goes up at operating
temperature. So at half-voltage, resistance is lower, current higher,
and power not as much diminished.

I wouldn't bother with a transformer; just change the plug if needed.

-D<