why are certain appliances designed to run on 220 volts? why dont the designers design them to run on 110 volts so that we dont need to have a special 220 volt outlet in our homes?
120V dc hurts as much as 220AC?One reason I don't like 220. Getting zapped by 220 really, really hurts. I only remember getting bitten once. 120 not so bad. 120 DC? Hurts just as much 220 AC.
Is there any other sort of current?Georacer
live current.
It's a better system than the UK / European one (apart from the funny coloured wires) so stick with it.Brownout
I don't know why it was set up this way.
Found this on Wiki, section 4:I just had a thought... maybe it goes back to Edison's efforts to convince that AC power is dangerous. Maybe 110V "sounds" safer than 220V.
In Greece (and I imagine the rest of Europe would be similar), the low-voltage power grid has three phases of voltage, at 230V, split 120degrees apart, to power motors in small businesses and newer households.In the US, most appliances are 110/115V. But appliances that require more power use 220V. US houses are wired for two phases. 220V appliances connect across both phases. 110/115V appliances connect across one phase and neutral. I don't know why it was set up this way. It would be interesting to know.
Who knows what the original reason was, but this reminds me of something that I read while doing a research paper about developing nations. I don't remember the actual words of the thing I want to quote, but it went something along the lines of (from the perspective of developing nation) "Our strongest asset is that we don't have an existing infrastructure to hold us back." They were talking about the implementation of cell phone service. Many people in Africa never had a land line. The first phone they got was a cell phone with 4G service. Coming into the game late, they have the advantage of starting out with the best technology that we have developed but can't use because we are trying to make our new technology fit our outdated technology. By the time they catch up, they will be miles ahead. Nothing but fiber optic lines and such.In the US, most appliances are 110/115V. But appliances that require more power use 220V. US houses are wired for two phases. 220V appliances connect across both phases. 110/115V appliances connect across one phase and neutral. I don't know why it was set up this way. It would be interesting to know.
Ok, that's interesting. Now we know.Found this on Wiki, section 4:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mains_electricity
I never knew this, seems there was an Edison effect
The US split phase (not two phase) system is nothing like the European three phase system.If is a similar 3-phase distribution system in the US, then the voltage between two phases should be a sinusoidal with amplitude 190*sqrt(2). Where do the 220V appliances tap onto?
In the US commercial buildings and manufacturers receive the 3-phase 240 or even 480 volts at 120 degrees.....
If is a similar 3-phase distribution system in the US, then the voltage between two phases should be a sinusoidal with amplitude 190*sqrt(2). Where do the 220V appliances tap onto?
Maybe we should ask Ben Franklin. He's the genius that decided electrons are negative, right?I just had a thought... maybe it goes back to Edison's efforts to convince that AC power is dangerous. Maybe 110V "sounds" safer than 220V.