The rest of the world is 220 volts (or thereabouts)

[FlashG]

The grid is designed to deliver 7,200 volts to the transformer outside your house. Its wiring delivers 2 120 volt wires and a ground to the house main breaker that distributes it according to use. Text

 

[Atheus]

Originally posted by: BrownTown
Europe produced the most leaders in science back in the day, thats just the truth of it, but for as long as any of us has been live the US has been dominating the Nobel prizes and new scientific discoveries.

The Big Grand Competition starts on the day of the US declaration of independence or it's not fair.

And actually Europe whips ass in number of nobel prizes:

http://members.shaw.ca/delajara/Nobels.html

And apparently also in number of scientific papers published, although the numbers elude me at the moment.

 

[Rubycon]

Originally posted by: FlashG
The grid is designed to deliver 7,200 volts to the transformer outside your house. Its wiring delivers 2 120 volt wires and a ground to the house main breaker that distributes it according to use. Text

7.5kV on 1F and 13.8 kV on 3F distribution lines.

34.5 kV distribution polyphase is also popular in mixed commercial settings too.

In any case with the 1F system, the secondary winding will measure typically 240VAC and the center tap gives 120VAC.

Although rare, a dwelling may have 3F power in that the most common scenario would be 480V between phases with a 277V phase to ground tap for lighting. Another transformer provides 208/120 (p-p-n) for appliances and common everyday loads.

 

[mercanucaribe]

Originally posted by: Atheus

Originally posted by: BrownTown
Europe produced the most leaders in science back in the day, thats just the truth of it, but for as long as any of us has been live the US has been dominating the Nobel prizes and new scientific discoveries.

The Big Grand Competition starts on the day of the US declaration of independence or it's not fair.

And actually Europe whips ass in number of nobel prizes:

http://members.shaw.ca/delajara/Nobels.html

And apparently also in number of scientific papers published, although the numbers elude me at the moment.

I think the Nobel Prizes are heavily biased to where they originated.

 

[DrPizza]

About the only real advantage of 220 volts in Europe is that with twice the voltage, you only need half the current. For the most part, household wires are limited by the amount of current that can flow in them. (I^2*R losses means the wire is going to heat up.) For two wires of equal diameter and length, the one carrying 220 volts can deliver FOUR times as much power safely. Thus, the risk of overheating a circuit is far lower. We in the US need thicker wires in order to deliver the same amount of power on a circuit in our homes.

As far as "it's the amps that kill" argument, etc., there are a lot of factors involved. If it's just the amps, then why is there such a difference at the same voltage and current between AC and DC fatalities?

 

[0]

Europe uses that silly 50 Hz too!

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: BornStar18

Originally posted by: MichaelD

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
the USA is not all by itself in using 110V.

Really? 😕 I did not google squat before posting. 😛

I'm pretty sure Japan uses 110 and I know Canada and most of the areas around the US (Bermuda for sure) use 110.

Japan uses 100V, many american appliances will would be be slower (like fans) or less bright....

http://www.kropla.com/electric2.htm

 

[So]

Originally posted by: Atheus

Originally posted by: IAteYourMother

Originally posted by: Atheus

Originally posted by: So

Originally posted by: Atheus

They both had dual citizenships though, they were never 'American' but 'German/American' or whatever - you don't give up your homeland by moving overseas for a while. And what's more, they were both products of their homeland's education systems and social climate, not America's. It would be different for someone who moved to the states when they were like 5 years old.

Like I said, it's a weird American view, but anyone who honestly decides to label themselves "American" is considered one by the general populous. Regardless of how long they lived in another country.

So you are assumed to have given up your other nationality by getting American citizenship? Wow... I would find it incredibly insulting if I got US citizenship and someone told me I was now American and no longer English. I expect Einstein and Tesla would have felt the same way... well maybe Einstein would have given up Germany during the war... but you get my point.

no, but you're also American too.

Yea, American too, but still mostly the country of birth if you emigrate as an adult... like in the Big Grand Competition for Who Invented More Good Stuff Europe or USA (which I intend to start) you don't get Einstein. Either the Germans get him, or you have to split the points between the two countries according to where he was at the time of the discovery, and give extra to Germany for educating him.

Einstein must be worth at least 10 points and I'd give Germany 7 or 8 or them. You'd get 3 out of Tesla's 6 points, but Franklin is only worth 1.

Franlkin is only one for the kite thing. He's like 7 for all the things he came up with.

http://inventors.about.com/od/fstartinventors/ss/Franklin_invent.htm

 

[OrganizedChaos]

does the rest of the world really run on twice the voltage or are we just the only ones using split-phase(theres a better word for this but i can't remember it) power in our homes?

 

[HomeAppraiser]

"Two-Twenty, Two-Twentyone. Whatever it takes."

 

[Atheus]

Originally posted by: So
Franlkin is only one for the kite thing. He's like 7 for all the things he came up with.

http://inventors.about.com/od/fstartinventors/ss/Franklin_invent.htm

The kite thing is apparently a myth.

1. Benjamin Franklin - Armonica
2. Benjamin Franklin - Franklin Stove
3. Benjamin Franklin - Lightening Rod
4. Benjamin Franklin - Bifocals
5. Benjamin Franklin - Map of Gulf Stream
6. Benjamin Franklin - Daylight Savings Time
7. Benjamin Franklin - Odometer

None of that is very impressive or important though... I mean it's good stuff, shows an understanding of many area of science, but it isn't groundbreaking.

If Einstein is a 10 for relativity, then Faraday is 6 or 7 for electromagnetism, and Franklin is only 1 or 2 for that stuff. You should pick someone better to represent America.

We could have cards for these, like magic the gathering 😀

 

[spidey07]

Fine Atheus, I bring the trump card.

Edison.

 

[nissan720]

Wow you people are funny...

This is like the kid at Old Navy when I told him about the wonders of Linux.

 

[Atheus]

Originally posted by: spidey07
Fine Atheus, I bring the trump card.

Edison.

A higher level card indeed, he had very influential inventions, and was also an industrialist and a pioneer of mass production.

More influential that Faraday's inventions though? More industrious than Brunel? I think not. I'd give him 6 or so, same as Faraday.

 

[MichaelD]

Well, I'm learning a lot from this thread, that's for sure! Wouldn't it be nice if the world found a standardized power scheme? I'm sure that will come right after world peace, though. :roll: LOL!

 

[AndrewR]

Originally posted by: Leros

Originally posted by: MichaelD
OK. Why don't all appliances come pre-wired/configured for 110/220v operation? How much cost would it add? $20? $40? I'd gladly pay that much more on top of the $1K I paid for a top-notch HT receiver that I could take around the world with me.

PC power supplies are either auto-ranging, or they have the slide-switch on the back. ALL electronics should be this way.

Mafacturing is all about squeezing every penny out of the process that they can. There is no way they would add unnecesary parts.

Plus, companies love it when you have to repurchase a product you already own. It means more money for them.

It would not add any more cost because the companies produce the same models in non-US versions RIGHT NOW. Try shopping at AAFES (military store) where every piece of electronics, even Stateside, is sold with switching power supplies, and it's all the same models you see elsewhere. Since Japan is also close to the US power supply (and are in fact switching to 110v/60Hz from what I heard over there), two HUGE electronics markets use the lower voltage as opposed to Europe which uses the higher one.

Since most of the stuff is manufactured outside the US, most likely in China, the stuff that comes here as 110v only is somewhat the oddball just like having something 220v only. Make one model with dual voltage, and you eliminate stocking issues with separating certain units for one market and certain units for another. I don't have an MBA nor am I a logistician, but I'd think having a solitary product would be much simpler and more streamlined = cost savings. This assumes, of course, that the same product is sold in Europe and in Japan/US.

 

[forrestroche]

Originally posted by: So
1. 110 is much less dangerous. I've been shocked by 110 before and it sucked, but it wasn't death. 220 is death, period.

You don't know what you are talking about. I live in Spain, have been zapped more than a few times and I am still alive. It felt about the same as getting zapped in U.S. Is it more dangerous - maybe, I don't know. But it sure ain't "death, period."

Don't know who told you that.

 

[sandorski]

Originally posted by: HomeAppraiser
"Two-Twenty, Two-Twentyone. Whatever it takes."

hehe, great movie

 

[forrestroche]

Originally posted by: 0
Europe uses that silly 50 Hz too!

Yeah, everyday when I am using a kitchen appliance, I keep thinking, "this is just so silly." 😕

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: AndrewR

Originally posted by: Leros

Originally posted by: MichaelD
OK. Why don't all appliances come pre-wired/configured for 110/220v operation? How much cost would it add? $20? $40? I'd gladly pay that much more on top of the $1K I paid for a top-notch HT receiver that I could take around the world with me.

PC power supplies are either auto-ranging, or they have the slide-switch on the back. ALL electronics should be this way.

Mafacturing is all about squeezing every penny out of the process that they can. There is no way they would add unnecesary parts.

Plus, companies love it when you have to repurchase a product you already own. It means more money for them.

It would not add any more cost because the companies produce the same models in non-US versions RIGHT NOW. Try shopping at AAFES (military store) where every piece of electronics, even Stateside, is sold with switching power supplies, and it's all the same models you see elsewhere. Since Japan is also close to the US power supply (and are in fact switching to 110v/60Hz from what I heard over there), two HUGE electronics markets use the lower voltage as opposed to Europe which uses the higher one.

Since most of the stuff is manufactured outside the US, most likely in China, the stuff that comes here as 110v only is somewhat the oddball just like having something 220v only. Make one model with dual voltage, and you eliminate stocking issues with separating certain units for one market and certain units for another. I don't have an MBA nor am I a logistician, but I'd think having a solitary product would be much simpler and more streamlined = cost savings. This assumes, of course, that the same product is sold in Europe and in Japan/US.

I agree with you 100%; everything should be auto-switching. If you can do it with TVs and PC powersupplies, you can do it with anything.

 

[imported_goku]

Originally posted by: TheSlamma
Lets rewire the whole place!!

Imagine your electric bills then. Xcel asks for 2 raises a fuggin year now.

Lol, actually, you wouldn't have to rewire everything at all! Infact, because you're using a higher voltage, that 14 guage wire that was barely cutting it is now infact good and may be even excessive.

 

[imported_goku]

Originally posted by: simms

Originally posted by: ForumMaster
the US was originally wired this way so it's difficult to change now. On the other hand, if you stick your finger accidently into a socket at 110v, it will give you a jolt but it won't kill you and you'll let go. 220V causes your muscles to tighten which causes higher fatality rates.

Uh......... link?
The amps are what kill you..

Was waiting for the right answer, and well here it is..

Seriously, the only difference that voltage would make is how easily it enters your body but again, it's the amperage that kills.

 

[sswingle]

Originally posted by: brandonbull
Big deal. Houses in the US have 220v coming into the home. It's not like our houses are wired for 110v straight from the power plant. I'm sure those 5 feet causes tons of heat issues.

You might want to read up on how it works. Only 110 comes IN from the street. 220 is made by combining 2 110 runs.

 

[AndrewR]

Incidentally, when we lived in Japan, we had a transformer for the entire house which gaves us good ol' American voltage for our appliances. Most of the newer houses apparently were doing that, at least the ones intended for Americans. It wouldn't be terribly hard to do that here to give 220v, I would think, and then gradually upgrade the rest of the power grid as it needs replacement. It would take awhile, but it could be done.

 

[So]

Originally posted by: Atheus

Originally posted by: So
Franlkin is only one for the kite thing. He's like 7 for all the things he came up with.

http://inventors.about.com/od/fstartinventors/ss/Franklin_invent.htm

The kite thing is apparently a myth.

1. Benjamin Franklin - Armonica
2. Benjamin Franklin - Franklin Stove
3. Benjamin Franklin - Lightening Rod
4. Benjamin Franklin - Bifocals
5. Benjamin Franklin - Map of Gulf Stream
6. Benjamin Franklin - Daylight Savings Time
7. Benjamin Franklin - Odometer

None of that is very impressive or important though... I mean it's good stuff, shows an understanding of many area of science, but it isn't groundbreaking.

If Einstein is a 10 for relativity, then Faraday is 6 or 7 for electromagnetism, and Franklin is only 1 or 2 for that stuff. You should pick someone better to represent America.

We could have cards for these, like magic the gathering 😀

2,3,and 4 are HUGE. I mean the franklin stove pretty much stopped people from cooking in their fireplace worldwide, and the lightning rod made tall buildings much safer. He wasn't Einstein, but he was the ideal "Enlightenment man."