Simple question: Most power supplies are auto-sensing between 110V/120V and 220V/240V. This begs the question, can they use 240V in North America i.e. connected to both hots (red and black)?
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Most PSU support wide range input from 90 to 260V.
If you have a 3-phase line, then the voltage between 2 phases is 110*√3, not 110*2.
Check the spec of your PSU. If unsure, you should avoid it. If you like fun, just try it out, but be prepared to dial 112 (Germany, Europe), or 911 (US).
Tobias Knauss
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In the US, 220V household wiring is single phase. The full 220V is used for heavy appliances, like electric stoves. The two legs are split inside the breaker box, and the separate legs are used for 110V outlets.
However, 220V outlets accept a different shaped plug, so you can't accidentally plug a 110V appliance into 220V and burn your house down. If the power supply was sold for the US market, it will have a 110V plug on the cord. If the power supply was sold for an area where 220V is standard, it will have a different plug than a US 220V outlet, so you wouldn't be able to simply unplug your electric clothes drier and plug in your non-US computer.
Which is why the power supplies are auto-sensing or switchable, and you can use the available local power without having to rewire your house in violation of building safety codes. But if you did have some kind of adapter to plug a non-US 220V power supply into a US 220V outlet, it should theoretically work.
fixer1234
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It should be fine. Many countries have unpolarised plugs and sockets so there is no real distinction between hot and neutral in appliances designed for the worldwide market.
Obviously you would have to buy or make a suitable power cord and be careful what you plug said power cord into.
http://www.stayonline.com/208v-straight-blade-cords.aspx
I would also make sure you use reasonable overcurrent protection. Don't go connecting a computer directly to a 50A or so cooker circuit.
plugwash
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