A:Answer Hi Chubby, The 120 volt (U.S.) appliances are not compatible with 220/240 volt requirements of other countries (as well as vice versa).
What many consumers are not aware of is the potential danger that differences in cycles/second can create. Where in the United States electricity is delivered at 60 Hertz (Hz), most other countries deliver the electricity at 50 Hz. Running 60 Hz appliances in a 50 Hz environment forces the motor in your appliance to run at a slower speed, and can potentially cause immediate motor or operational failure. Not only is this failure not covered by any manufacturer's warranty, but has been known to result in electrical shortages and/or fires.
Additionally, KitchenAid does not recommend the use of a transformer for any KitchenAid countertop appliance. Doing so could cause damage to your appliance or the home electrical system, as noted above.
In order to take advantage of a full warranty, we encourage our customers to purchase KitchenAid products from their international country of residence. By purchasing a unit in the appropriate country, one may pay slightly more, but will have a 1-3 year warranty (depending on the country), along with available service.
