Power Supply - 115v vs. 230v

[isasir]

I remember a long time ago reading that rarely should a PSU for a computer be set to 230v and I guess they're 115v by default. Being a novice on this stuff, does anyone have a link or can explain when one would use 230v? Thanks.

 

[bunker]

Yeah, when the juice coming out of the wall is at 220v. ie. in other countries.

 

[Legendary]

Not in America. America = 115V only.

 

[isasir]

Ah ok. Simple enough. Thanks.

 

[Viper GTS]

No you people have it all wrong.

You use it when you want LUDICROUS SPEED!

Most people are running their computers at a fraction the speed they could be.

Knowledge is power, use it!

Viper GTS

 

[cronos]

Other countries.
I know that most of Asia are exclusively 220/235v (they were all 110/115v some ~50 yrs back but since then have upgraded the whole system), how about the rest of the world?

 

[omega366]

whats are the pros and cons of these 2 voltages

 

[Demon-Xanth]

120VAC: less likely to arc, can use thinner insulation and smaller gaps
240VAC: less current, can use thinner wire and has less line loss

You CAN have 240VAC in the US, most houses do have 240V going to thier breaker panels. However, typically only dryers and ovens use it. (very high power devices)

 

[Demon-Xanth]

...that 240 is two phases, so the house uses one phase or the other (it alternates in the breaker box), you got a 50/50 shot of getting either no current by plugging two oulets into eachother or making some majorly nasty sparks.

 

[thomsbrain]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
No you people have it all wrong.

You use it when you want LUDICROUS SPEED!

Most people are running their computers at a fraction the speed they could be.

Knowledge is power, use it!

Viper GTS

this works for cars, too. i put a 24 volt alternator on my car and now i make double the horsepower.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Originally posted by: thomsbrain

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
No you people have it all wrong.

You use it when you want LUDICROUS SPEED!

Most people are running their computers at a fraction the speed they could be.

Knowledge is power, use it!

Viper GTS

this works for cars, too. i put a 24 volt alternator on my car and now i make double the horsepower.

You're not familiar with Ohms law and Watts law.

Power is in Watts. It's calculated by multiplying volts times current. To calculate the current for a given load, you divide the voltage by the resistance. So in the end, going to 24V will quadruple the power for a given load. You only need about 17V or so to double it. BONUS!

 

[LordMorpheus]

Originally posted by: Legendary
Not in America. America = 115V only.

not entirely true, you can have the power company run 230V and even 480V lines to your house (most machine shops have them).

Most houses have a 230V system just for the washer/dryer, and electric ovens and stoves usually use them, too.

But they have different plug patterns.

 

[ThisIsMatt]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
No you people have it all wrong.

You use it when you want LUDICROUS SPEED!

Most people are running their computers at a fraction the speed they could be.

Knowledge is power, use it!

Viper GTS

lol

 

[Czar]

Originally posted by: saxguy
Other countries.
I know that most of Asia are exclusively 220/235v (they were all 110/115v some ~50 yrs back but since then have upgraded the whole system), how about the rest of the world?

europe is the same, much safer than the old system if you put a fork in it

 

[huesmann]

Originally posted by: thomsbrain

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
No you people have it all wrong.

You use it when you want LUDICROUS SPEED!

Most people are running their computers at a fraction the speed they could be.

Knowledge is power, use it!

Viper GTS

this works for cars, too. i put a 24 volt alternator on my car and now i make double the horsepower.

No, you have it all wrong. It's stickers that get you double the horsepower, not alternators.

 

[helpmeout]

Hi, my last name is Watts, and I weigh a bunch of kilos, so all those Wattskilos make me pretty potent.

 

[Gamingphreek]

Viper lol you weren't serious were you. 230V will fry a PC unless youre living in Europe and Asia.

-Kevin