Why Do Countries Outside of United States/Canada use 220 Volt Electricity?

[us3rnotfound]

I've always wondered what the reason is that other countries are on higher voltage electricity. I'd think it's more efficient, but isn't it much more fatal if someone mistakenly shocks themselves or something?

 

[Colt45]

I2R losses. less copper for the same amount of power.


Ever wonder why there's a lot of stupid people in north america? no 220 to knock 'em down.

 

[Colt45]

Guess I should add, I suppose a lot of the original Edison DC stuff was ~100v, so they stuck with it when they got tesla and westinghouse got things changed, so ac/dc stuff would still work?

 

[us3rnotfound]

Interesting, now I know why other countries choose to use 220/240 volt power, but then why do we choose to stick with 110/120?

EDIT: ah, answered my second question in your next post.

 

[Shawn]

Originally posted by: Colt45
Guess I should add, I suppose a lot of the original Edison DC stuff was ~100v, so they stuck with it when they got tesla and westinghouse got things changed, so ac/dc stuff would still work?

I doubt that's the reason. I'm pretty sure AC and DC equipment aren't compatible. Also, I thought it wasn't the voltage that kills but the amps. Doesn't lower voltage equipment require more amps?

 

[Colt45]

i guess edison's system was +110, 0, -110, DC. (trying to battle I2R loss, which is kinda hopeless with DC)
AC kept that setup, but instead of +/- volts, it was phase. 240CT comes into the house, stoves and dryers and such use it.

ours is hot both sides though (CT is neutral), europe isn't.

 

[silverpig]

Originally posted by: Shawn

Originally posted by: Colt45
Guess I should add, I suppose a lot of the original Edison DC stuff was ~100v, so they stuck with it when they got tesla and westinghouse got things changed, so ac/dc stuff would still work?

I doubt that's the reason. I'm pretty sure AC and DC equipment aren't compatible. Also, I thought it wasn't the voltage that kills but the amps. Doesn't lower voltage equipment require more amps?

Anything over the milliamp range will at least stop your heart...

 

[Colt45]

Originally posted by: Shawn

Originally posted by: Colt45
Guess I should add, I suppose a lot of the original Edison DC stuff was ~100v, so they stuck with it when they got tesla and westinghouse got things changed, so ac/dc stuff would still work?

I doubt that's the reason. I'm pretty sure AC and DC equipment aren't compatible. Also, I thought it wasn't the voltage that kills but the amps. Doesn't lower voltage equipment require more amps?

you gotta think back then though.. a 100v lightbulb doesn't care if its DC or AC.

They had AC/DC radios for years.. all you had then was radios, toasters, heaters and lightbulbs

 

[silverpig]

Originally posted by: Colt45
I2R losses. less copper for the same amount of power.


Ever wonder why there's a lot of stupid people in north america? no 220 to knock 'em down.

But it isn't transmitted at 110 all the way. I'm not sure where it's finally stepped down to 110 (power pole transformers I guess) and I'm not sure what voltage goes into them, but I know for sure it's not 110 for specifically that reason.

 

[Colt45]

Originally posted by: silverpig

Originally posted by: Colt45
I2R losses. less copper for the same amount of power.


Ever wonder why there's a lot of stupid people in north america? no 220 to knock 'em down.

But it isn't transmitted at 110 all the way. I'm not sure where it's finally stepped down to 110 (power pole transformers I guess) and I'm not sure what voltage goes into them, but I know for sure it's not 110 for specifically that reason.

yeah, its higher voltage, up to the polepig trafo, for the same (copper loss) reason.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Originally posted by: Colt45

Originally posted by: silverpig

Originally posted by: Colt45
I2R losses. less copper for the same amount of power.


Ever wonder why there's a lot of stupid people in north america? no 220 to knock 'em down.

But it isn't transmitted at 110 all the way. I'm not sure where it's finally stepped down to 110 (power pole transformers I guess) and I'm not sure what voltage goes into them, but I know for sure it's not 110 for specifically that reason.

yeah, its higher voltage, up to the polepig trafo, for the same (copper loss) reason.

The reason you transfer at higher voltage is to minimize power loss. Same reason why you would use 240V.

 

[Colt45]

Originally posted by: DLeRium

The reason you transfer at higher voltage is to minimize power loss. Same reason why you would use 240V.

erm.. Isn't that what I said?

 

[Triumph]

Why do Europeans wear those skimpy bathing suits and drink soda water instead of real water? For the same reason that they use 220 volts; they're stupid.

 

[MmmSkyscraper]

Originally posted by: Triumph
Why do Europeans wear those skimpy bathing suits and drink soda water instead of real water? For the same reason that they use 220 volts; they're stupid.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Most high current items such as Electric stoves are 220v in the US, are they not? They aggregate two 110v phases don't they?

 

[KIRBYEE]

.

 

[rikadik]

Originally posted by: Triumph
Why do Europeans wear those skimpy bathing suits and drink soda water instead of real water? For the same reason that they use 220 volts; you're stupid.

Fixed.

 

[Allanv]

Originally posted by: Triumph
Why do Europeans wear those skimpy bathing suits and drink soda water instead of real water? For the same reason that they use 220 volts; they're stupid.

Wow so much ignorant stupidity from someone so young and immature..

 

[aircooled]

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero
Most high current items such as Electric stoves are 220v in the US, are they not? They aggregate two 110v phases don't they?

Yes.

 

[Linflas]

Originally posted by: KIRBYEE

Originally posted by: us3rnotfound
I've always wondered what the reason is that other countries are on higher voltage electricity. I'd think it's more efficient, but isn't it much more fatal if someone mistakenly shocks themselves or something?

Now a better question is why do people in the US still use crazy measurement units like miles, feet, pounds, ounces and such.

Fixed it for you. So far as I know we are the only country in North America still using them. We were supposed to move in unison with Canada to metric in the early 1980's but congress got cold feet at the last minute.

More than you ever wanted to know about electical standards worldwide

Single-phase voltage and frequency

Europe and most other countries in the world use a voltage which is twice that of the US. It is between 220 and 240 volts, whereas in Japan and in most of the Americas the voltage is between 100 and 127 volts.

The system of three-phase alternating current electrical generation and distribution was invented by a nineteenth century creative genius named Nicola Tesla. He made many careful calculations and measurements and found out that 60 Hz (Hertz, cycles per second) was the best frequency for alternating current (AC) power generating. He preferred 240 volts, which put him at odds with Thomas Edison, whose direct current (DC) systems were 110 volts. Perhaps Edison had a useful point in the safety factor of the lower voltage, but DC couldn't provide the power to a distance that AC could.

When the German company AEG built the first European generating facility, its engineers decided to fix the frequency at 50 Hz, because the number 60 didn't fit the metric standard unit sequence (1,2,5). At that time, AEG had a virtual monopoly and their standard spread to the rest of the continent. In Britain, differing frequencies proliferated, and only after World War II the 50-cycle standard was established. A mistake, however.

Not only is 50 Hz 20% less effective in generation, it is 10-15% less efficient in transmission, it requires up to 30% larger windings and magnetic core materials in transformer construction. Electric motors are much less efficient at the lower frequency, and must also be made more robust to handle the electrical losses and the extra heat generated. Today, only a handful of countries (Antigua, Guyana, Peru, the Philippines, South Korea and the Leeward Islands) follow Tesla?s advice and use the 60 Hz frequency together with a voltage of 220-240 V.

Originally Europe was 120 V too, just like Japan and the US today. It has been deemed necessary to increase voltage to get more power with less losses and voltage drop from the same copper wire diameter. At the time the US also wanted to change but because of the cost involved to replace all electric appliances, they decided not to. At the time (50s-60s) the average US household already had a fridge, a washing-machine, etc., but not in Europe.

The end result is that now, the US seems not to have evolved from the 50s and 60s, and still copes with problems as light bulbs that burn out rather quickly when they are close to the transformer (too high a voltage), or just the other way round: not enough voltage at the end of the line (105 to 127 volt spread !).

Note that currently all new American buildings get in fact 240 volts split in two 120 between neutral and hot wire. Major appliances, such as virtually all drying machines and ovens, are now connected to 240 volts. Mind, Americans who have European equipment shouldn't connect it to these outlets. Although it may work on some appliances, it will definitely not be the case for all of your equipment. The reason for this is that in the US 240 V is two-phase, whereas in Europe it is single phase.

 

[Casawi]

Originally posted by: Linflas

Originally posted by: KIRBYEE

Originally posted by: us3rnotfound
I've always wondered what the reason is that other countries are on higher voltage electricity. I'd think it's more efficient, but isn't it much more fatal if someone mistakenly shocks themselves or something?

Now a better question is why do people in the US still use crazy measurement units like miles, feet, pounds, ounces and such.

Fixed it for you. So far as I know we are the only country in North America still using them. We were supposed to move in unison with Canada to metric in the early 1980's but congress got cold feet at the last minute.

More than you ever wanted to know about electical standards worldwide

Single-phase voltage and frequency

Europe and most other countries in the world use a voltage which is twice that of the US. It is between 220 and 240 volts, whereas in Japan and in most of the Americas the voltage is between 100 and 127 volts.

The system of three-phase alternating current electrical generation and distribution was invented by a nineteenth century creative genius named Nicola Tesla. He made many careful calculations and measurements and found out that 60 Hz (Hertz, cycles per second) was the best frequency for alternating current (AC) power generating. He preferred 240 volts, which put him at odds with Thomas Edison, whose direct current (DC) systems were 110 volts. Perhaps Edison had a useful point in the safety factor of the lower voltage, but DC couldn't provide the power to a distance that AC could.

When the German company AEG built the first European generating facility, its engineers decided to fix the frequency at 50 Hz, because the number 60 didn't fit the metric standard unit sequence (1,2,5). At that time, AEG had a virtual monopoly and their standard spread to the rest of the continent. In Britain, differing frequencies proliferated, and only after World War II the 50-cycle standard was established. A mistake, however.

Not only is 50 Hz 20% less effective in generation, it is 10-15% less efficient in transmission, it requires up to 30% larger windings and magnetic core materials in transformer construction. Electric motors are much less efficient at the lower frequency, and must also be made more robust to handle the electrical losses and the extra heat generated. Today, only a handful of countries (Antigua, Guyana, Peru, the Philippines, South Korea and the Leeward Islands) follow Tesla?s advice and use the 60 Hz frequency together with a voltage of 220-240 V.

Originally Europe was 120 V too, just like Japan and the US today. It has been deemed necessary to increase voltage to get more power with less losses and voltage drop from the same copper wire diameter. At the time the US also wanted to change but because of the cost involved to replace all electric appliances, they decided not to. At the time (50s-60s) the average US household already had a fridge, a washing-machine, etc., but not in Europe.

The end result is that now, the US seems not to have evolved from the 50s and 60s, and still copes with problems as light bulbs that burn out rather quickly when they are close to the transformer (too high a voltage), or just the other way round: not enough voltage at the end of the line (105 to 127 volt spread !).

Note that currently all new American buildings get in fact 240 volts split in two 120 between neutral and hot wire. Major appliances, such as virtually all drying machines and ovens, are now connected to 240 volts. Mind, Americans who have European equipment shouldn't connect it to these outlets. Although it may work on some appliances, it will definitely not be the case for all of your equipment. The reason for this is that in the US 240 V is two-phase, whereas in Europe it is single phase.

This guy knows what's up, sounds like the same story a professor told before. I just don't remember all the details. Thanks!

 

[Triumph]

Originally posted by: rikadik

Originally posted by: Triumph
Why do Europeans wear those skimpy bathing suits and drink soda water instead of real water? For the same reason that they use 220 volts; you're stupid.

Fixed.

Your fix doesn't even make grammatical sense.

 

[dug777]

It makes far more sense, is all

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: Triumph
Why do Europeans wear those skimpy bathing suits and drink soda water instead of real water? For the same reason that they use 220 volts; they're stupid.

Triumph, why you gotta be such a dick?

 

[Linflas]

Originally posted by: dug777
It makes far more sense, is all

Then how come 50Hz?