Many probably do not know that before the 60s in the USSR, there were 127 volts. But in the US, not 110 volts, but 120 volts. The voltage in the power grids was increased in order to reduce the cost of wires, more precisely, materials for wires. After all, the current strength decreases with increasing voltage and maintaining the same power, which means that the cross-sectional area of the wire can also be reduced. Economically, and technically, the voltage of 220 volts is much higher, but a complete transition to 220 is very expensive, judge for yourself the conclusions.
However, not all so simple:
In order to get an answer to a question, you need to turn to history.
Thomas Edison is associated with the mass production of incandescent lamps with a carbon filament. The optimum voltage for her was 100 volts. At that time there was even such an expression - "War of currents" This can also explain the fact that the operating voltage of the first T. Edison power plant was exactly 110 volts. After all, another 10 percent was allocated to them for losses in conductors. Although there is also such a version: Edison's firm actively promoted equipment for 110 volts. then no one knew that the future was with alternating current, so the 110 standard was fixed.
With the advent of electrification in Europe and the advent of metal filament lamps, it became necessary to double the voltage. The 220 volt standard was adopted in Germany when the time came to electrify Berlin. This decision was justified. The double increase in voltage quadrupled the conductor losses. But there was no reason to raise the tension further. It was already unsafe for humans.
In the USA, the TN-CS system is the typical power system for electrical installations in buildings. The step-down transformer provides a 120/240 V single-phase power supply from a secondary winding with a grounded center terminal. In cases where the step-down transformer feeds residential buildings and commercial enterprises at the same time, the residential buildings are powered from two phase and from the neutral working conductor connected to the grounded neutral of the secondary winding of the transformer, connected in a star circuit with a voltage of 120 / 208V. Frequency 60Hz.
In Russia, as in Europe, the 220 volt standard was adopted. And this can be explained as follows. The fact is that the construction of the energy system in Russia was carried out with the involvement of German scientists. And they, of course, did everything just like they did in Germany. And in the future, we started to simply adhere to these standards of 220 V and 50 Hz.
And so it turned out that the mains voltage in the entire post-Soviet space, and now in sovereign states, is 220 volts at a frequency of 50 Hz. In most European countries, the mains voltage is 230 V at 50 Hz. Higher voltage in the network not only reduces losses during transmission of electricity, but also allows the use of electrical appliances with higher power.
Promotional video:
It is also necessary to clarify that in the USSR before the war there were also 110-127 volts in the networks. The transition to 220 V was haphazard. Out-of-date transformers at substations were replaced with new ones. And now there are only 220 V.
Here's what they write on the forums about this:
Here are some more reasons to follow up:
1. To rebuild a device designed for 110 volts for a 220-volt outlet, a simple transformer (rubles per 100) is enough, and the opposite is more complicated. This helps them in the fight against the export of foreign equipment.
2. Modern household appliances use little electricity, so a lot of it is consumed in transformers (they heat up).
3. In American homes for powerful household appliances (washing machines, etc.) there are powerful sockets (it seems from 220) - a more universal consumption of electricity.
4. Over long distances, current is transmitted in three-phase networks of high power (220 kV - 1150 kV), and on small ones, the consumption of metals is not so significant.
5. The frequency in their network is 60 Hz. From here it is easier transformers, electric motors. Ho and more losses in electric networks for radiation.
6. 220 is more profitable for AC networks, wanted to switch in the 60s, calculated the losses and decided not to switch.
What else would you add in defense of either option?
Here's another interesting sign:
| Country | Voltage | Frequency | Socket and plug type |
| Australia | 240V | 50 Hz | I |
| Austria | 230 V | 50 Hz | C / F |
| Azerbaijan | 220 V | 50 Hz | C / F |
|
Azores (Portugal) |
230 V | 50 Hz | B / C / F |
| Albania | 230 V | 50 Hz | C / F |
| Algeria | 230 V | 50 Hz | C / F |
| American samoa | 120V | 60 Hz | A / B / F / I |
| Anguilla | 110 V | 60 Hz | A |
| Angola | 220 V | 50 Hz | C |
| Andorra | 230 V | 50 Hz | C / F |
| Antigua and Barbuda | 230 V | 60 Hz | A / B |
| Argentina | 220 V | 50 Hz | C / I * |
| Armenia | 230 V | 50 Hz | C / F |
| Aruba | 120V | 60 Hz | A / B / F |
| Afghanistan | 220 V | 50 Hz | C / F |
| Bahamas | 120V | 60 Hz | A / B |
|
Balearic Islands (Spain) |
230 V | 50 Hz | C / F |
| Bangladesh | 220 V | 50 Hz | C / D / G / K |
| Barbados | 115 in | 50 Hz | A / B |
| Bahrain | 230 V | 50 Hz | G |
| Belize | 110V / 220V | 60 Hz | B / G |
| Byelorussia | 230 V | 50 Hz | C / F |
| Belgium | 230 V | 50 Hz | E |
| Benin | 220 V | 50 Hz | E |
| Bermuda | 120V | 60 Hz | A / B |
| Bulgaria | 230 V | 50 Hz | C / F |
| Bolivia | 230 V | 50 Hz | A / C |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 230 V | 50 Hz | C / F |
| Botswana | 230 V | 50 Hz | D / G |
| Brazil | 127 V / 220 V * | 60 Hz | A / B / C / I |
| Brunei | 240V | 50 Hz | G |
| Burkina Faso | 220 V | 50 Hz | C / E |
| Burundi | 220 V | 50 Hz | C / E |
| Butane | 230 V | 50 Hz | D / F / G |
| Great Britain | 230 V | 50 Hz | G |
|
Guernsey Islands, Jersey, Maine (UK) |
230 V | 50 Hz | C / G |
| Hungary | 230 V | 50 Hz | C / F |
| Venezuela | 120V | 60 Hz | A / B |
| Virgin Islands | 110 V | 60 Hz | A / B |
| East Timor | 220 V | 50 Hz | C / E / F / I |
| Vietnam | 220 V | 50 Hz | A / C / G |
| Gabon | 220 V | 50 Hz | C |
| Guyana | 240V | 60 Hz | A / B / D / G |
| Haiti | 110 V | 60 Hz | A / B |
| Gambia | 230 V | 50 Hz | G |
|
Gaza Strip (Palestinian Authority) |
230 V | 50 Hz | H |
| Ghana | 230 V | 50 Hz | D / G |
| Guadeloupe | 230 V | 50 Hz | C / D / E |
| Guatemala | 120V | 60 Hz | A / B / G / I |
| Guinea | 220 V | 50 Hz | C / F / K |
| Guinea-Bissau | 220 V | 50 Hz | C |
| Germany | 230 V | 50 Hz | C / F |
| Gibraltar | 230 V | 50 Hz | C / G |
| Honduras | 110 V | 60 Hz | A / B |
| Hong Kong | 220 V | 50 Hz | G |
| Grenada | 230 V | 50 Hz | G |
| Greenland | 230 V | 50 Hz | C / K |
| Greece | 230 V | 50 Hz | C / F |
| Georgia | 220 V | 50 Hz | C / F |
| Guam | 110 V | 60 Hz | A / B |
| Denmark | 230 V | 50 Hz | C / F / K |
| Djibouti | 220 V | 50 Hz | C / E |
| Dominica | 230 V | 50 Hz | D / G |
| Dominican Republic | 110 V | 60 Hz | A / B |
| Egypt | 220 V | 50 Hz | C / F |
| Zambia | 230 V | 50 Hz | C / D / G |
| Western Samoa | 230 V | 50 Hz | I |
| Zimbabwe | 240V | 50 Hz | D / G |
| Israel | 230 V | 50 Hz | H / C |
| India | 230 V | 50 Hz | C / D / M |
| Indonesia | 230 V | 50 Hz | C / F |
| Jordan | 230 V | 50 Hz | C / D / F / G / J |
| Iraq | 230 V | 50 Hz | C / D / G |
| Iran | 230 V | 50 Hz | C / F |
| Ireland | 230 V | 50 Hz | G |
| Iceland | 230 V | 50 Hz | C / F |
| Spain | 230 V | 50 Hz | C / F |
| Italy | 230 V | 50 Hz | C / F / L |
| Yemen | 230 V | 50 Hz | A / D / G |
| Cape Verde | 230 V | 50 Hz | C / F |
| Kazakhstan | 220 V | 50 Hz | C / F |
| Cayman islands | 120V | 60 Hz | A / B |
| Cambodia | 230 V | 50 Hz | A / C / G |
| Cameroon | 220 V | 50 Hz | C / E |
| Canada | 120V | 60 Hz | A / B |
|
Canary Islands (Spain) |
230 V | 50 Hz | C / E / L |
| Qatar | 240V | 50 Hz | D / G |
| Kenya | 240V | 50 Hz | G |
| Cyprus | 230 V | 50 Hz | G / F ** |
| Kyrgyzstan | 220 V | 50 Hz | C / F |
| Kiribati | 240V | 50 Hz | I |
| China | 220 V | 50 Hz | A / I / G |
| Colombia | 110 V | 60 Hz | A / B |
| Comoros | 220 V | 50 Hz | C / E |
| Republic of the Congo | 230 V | 50 Hz | C / E |
| Congo (Zaire) | 220 V | 50 Hz | C / D |
| Korea (DPRK) | 110V / 220V | 60 Hz | A / C |
| The Republic of Korea | 110V / 220V | 60 Hz | A / B / C / F |
| Costa Rica | 120V | 60 Hz | A / B |
| Cote d'Ivoire | 220 V | 50 Hz | C / E |
| Cuba | 110V / 220V | 60 Hz | A / B / C / L |
| Kuwait | 240V | 50 Hz | C / G |
| Cook Islands | 240V | 50 Hz | I |
| Laos | 230 V | 50 Hz | A / B / C / E / F |
| Latvia | 230 V | 50 Hz | C / F |
| Lesotho | 220 V | 50 Hz | M |
| Liberia | 120V | 60 Hz | A / B |
| Lebanon | 230 V | 50 Hz | C / D / G |
| Libya | 127 V / 230 V | 50 Hz | D / F |
| Lithuania | 230 V | 50 Hz | C / F |
| Liechtenstein | 230 V | 50 Hz | J |
| Luxembourg | 230 V | 50 Hz | C / F |
| Mauritius | 230 V | 50 Hz | C / G |
| Mauritania | 220 V | 50 Hz | C |
| Madagascar | 127V / 220V | 50 Hz | C / D / E / J / K |
|
Madeira Island (Portugal) |
230 V | 50 Hz | C / F |
| Macau (Macau) | 220 V | 50 Hz | D / G |
| Macedonia | 230 V | 50 Hz | C / F |
| Malawi | 230 V | 50 Hz | G |
| Malaysia | 240V | 50 Hz | G |
| Mali | 220 V | 50 Hz | C / E |
| Maldives | 230 V | 50 Hz | D / G / J / K / L |
| Malta | 230 V | 50 Hz | G |
| Martinique | 220 V | 50 Hz | C / D / E |
| Mexico | 127 in | 60 Hz | A |
| Micronesia | 120V | 60 Hz | A / B |
| Mozambique | 220 V | 50 Hz | C / F / M |
| Moldavia | 230 V | 50 Hz | C / F |
| Monaco | 230 V | 50 Hz | C / D / E / F |
| Mongolia | 230 V | 50 Hz | C / E |
| Montserrat | 230 V | 60 Hz | A / B |
| Morocco | 220 V | 50 Hz | C / E |
| Myanmar | 230 V | 50 Hz | C / D / F / G |
| Namibia | 220 V | 50 Hz | D / M |
| Nauru | 240V | 50 Hz | I |
| Nepal | 230 V | 50 Hz | C / D / M |
| Niger | 220 V | 50 Hz | A / B / C / D / E / F |
| Nigeria | 230 V | 50 Hz | D / G |
| Netherlands antilles | 127V / 220V | 50 Hz | A / B / F |
| Netherlands | 230 V | 50 Hz | C / F |
| Nicaragua | 120V | 60 Hz | A |
| New Zealand | 240V | 50 Hz | I |
| New Caledonia | 220 V | 50 Hz | F |
| Norway | 230 V | 50 Hz | C / F |
| UAE | 240V | 50 Hz | G |
| Oman | 240V | 50 Hz | C / G |
| Pakistan | 230 V | 50 Hz | C / D |
| Palau | 120V | 60 Hz | A / B |
| Panama | 110 V | 60 Hz | A / B |
| Papua New Guinea | 240V | 50 Hz | I |
| Paraguay | 220 V | 50 Hz | C |
| Peru | 220 V | 60 Hz | A / B / C |
| Poland | 230 V | 50 Hz | C / E |
| Portugal | 230 V | 50 Hz | C / F |
| Puerto Rico | 120V | 60 Hz | A / B |
| Reunion | 230 V | 50 Hz | E |
| Russia | 230 V | 50 Hz | C / F |
| Rwanda | 230 V | 50 Hz | C / J |
| Romania | 230 V | 50 Hz | C / F |
| Salvador | 115 in | 60 Hz | A / B / C / D / E / F / G / I / J / L |
| San marino | 230 V | 50 Hz | F / L |
| Saudi Arabia | 110 V / 220 V *** | 60 Hz | A / B / C / G |
| Swaziland | 230 V | 50 Hz | M |
| Seychelles | 240V | 50 Hz | G |
| Senegal | 230 V | 50 Hz | C / D / E / K |
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 230 V | 50 Hz | A / C / E / G / I / K |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis | 230 V | 60 Hz | D / G |
| Saint Lucia | 230 V | 50 Hz | G |
| Serbia | 230 V | 50 Hz | C / F |
| Singapore | 230 V | 50 Hz | G |
| Syria | 220 V | 50 Hz | C / E / L |
| Slovakia | 230 V | 50 Hz | E |
| Slovenia | 230 V | 50 Hz | C / F |
| Somalia | 220 V | 50 Hz | C |
| Sudan | 230 V | 50 Hz | C / D |
| Suriname | 127 in | 60 Hz | C / F |
| USA | 120V | 60 Hz | A / B |
| Sierra Leone | 230 V | 50 Hz | D / G |
| Tajikistan | 220 V | 50 Hz | C / F |
| Thailand | 220 V | 50 Hz | A / B / C |
|
Tahiti (French Polynesia) |
110V / 220V | 60 Hz | A / B / E |
| Taiwan | 110 V | 60 Hz | A / B |
| Tanzania | 230 V | 50 Hz | D / G |
| Togo | 220 V | 50 Hz | C |
| Tonga | 240V | 50 Hz | I |
| Trinidad and Tobago | 115 in | 60 Hz | A / B |
| Tunisia | 230 V | 50 Hz | C / E |
| Turkmenistan | 220 V | 50 Hz | C / F |
| Turkey | 230 V | 50 Hz | C / F |
| Uganda | 240V | 50 Hz | G |
| Uzbekistan | 220 V | 50 Hz | C / F |
| Ukraine | 230 V | 50 Hz | C / F |
| Uruguay | 220 V | 50 Hz | C / F / I / L |
| Faroe islands | 230 V | 50 Hz | C / K |
| Fiji | 240V | 50 Hz | I |
| Philippines | 220 V | 60 Hz | A / B / C |
| Finland | 230 V | 50 Hz | C / F |
| Falkland Islands | 240V | 50 Hz | G |
| France | 230 V | 50 Hz | E |
| French guiana | 220 V | 50 Hz | C / D / E |
| Croatia | 230 V | 50 Hz | C / F |
| Central African Republic | 220 V | 50 Hz | C / E |
| Chad | 220 V | 50 Hz | D / E / F |
| Montenegro | 230 V | 50 Hz | C / F |
| Czech Republic | 230 V | 50 Hz | E |
| Chile | 220 V | 50 Hz | C / L |
| Switzerland | 230 V | 50 Hz | J |
| Sweden | 230 V | 50 Hz | C / F |
| Sri Lanka | 230 V | 50 Hz | D / G / M |
| Ecuador | 110 V | 60 Hz | A / B |
| Equatorial Guinea | 220 V | 50 Hz | C / E |
| Eritrea | 230 V | 50 Hz | C / L |
| Estonia | 230 V | 50 Hz | C / F |
| Ethiopia | 220 V | 50 Hz | C / F |
| South Africa | 230 V | 50 Hz | D / M *** |
| Jamaica | 110 V | 50 Hz | A / B |
| Japan | 100 V | 50 Hz / 60 Hz ** | A / B |
Voltage
* There is no standard voltage in Brazil. In most parts of the country, 127 V is used, but in the northern regions there is a voltage of 220. There are also known cases of different voltage in the network within one region.
** The voltage in Japan is the same everywhere, but the frequency is different in different places. In the eastern part of Japan - 50 Hz, in the western part - 60 Hz.
*** Almost everywhere in Saudi Arabia, the voltage reaches 110 V. Voltage of 220 V can often be found in hotels.
Plugs and Plugs Types
* Modern Argentina uses Type I plugs and sockets. However, Type C outlets can still be found in many older homes.
** Type G sockets are common in both North Cyprus and South Cyprus. In turn, type F sockets are found only in houses in Northern Cyprus.
*** Type M plugs are installed in new homes in South Africa. However, Type C plugs are still common in southern Africa.
Sockets and Plugs
There are at least 13 different plugs and sockets around the world.
Used in North and Central America and Japan.
This type is designated as Class II. The plug has two parallel contacts. In the Japanese version, the contacts are the same size. In the American style, one end is slightly wider than the other. Devices with a Japanese plug can be used in American outlets, but the other way around will not work.
Used in North and Central America and Japan.
This type is designated as Class I. International designation of American type B - NEMA 5-15, Canadian type B - CS22.2, n ° 42 (CS = Canadian Standard). The maximum current is 15 A. In America, type B is very popular, in Japan it is much less common. Often, residents of old houses with type A sockets, purchasing new modern electrical appliances with type B plugs, simply “bite off” the third grounding contact.
Type C
Used in all European countries with the exception of Great Britain, Ireland, Cyprus and Malta.
International designation - CEE 7/16. The plug consists of two contacts with a diameter of 4.0-4.8 mm at a distance of 19 mm from the center. The maximum current is 3.5 A. Type C is an obsolete version of the newer types E, F, J, K and L, which are now used in Europe. All Type C plugs fit perfectly with new outlets …
Type D
Used in India, Nepal, Namibia and Sri Lanka.
International designation - BS 546 (BS = British Standard).
It is an obsolete British-style plug that was used in the metropolis until 1962. The maximum current is 5 A. Some D-type sockets are compatible with D and M plugs. D-type sockets can still be found in old houses in Great Britain and Ireland.
Type E
It is mainly used in France, Belgium, Poland, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Tunisia and Morocco.
International designation - CEE 7/7. The maximum current is 16 A. Type E is slightly different from CEE 7/4 (type F), which is common in Germany and other Central European countries. All Type C plugs fit perfectly with Type E outlets.
Type F
Mainly used in Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Portugal, Spain and Eastern Europe.
International designation CEE 7/4. This type is also known as "Schuko". The maximum current is 16 A. All type C plugs are ideally suited to type F sockets. The same type is used in Russia (in the USSR it was designated as GOST 7396), the only difference is that the diameter of the contacts adopted in Russia is 4 mm, in while in Europe contacts with a diameter of 4.8 mm are most often used. Thus, Russian plugs fit easily into wider European sockets. But the plugs of electronic devices made for Europe do not fit into Russian sockets.
Type G
Used in the UK, Ireland, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Cyprus and Malta.
International designation - BS 1363 (BS = British Standard). Maximum current - 32 A. Tourists from Europe, visiting the UK, use conventional adapters.
Type H
Used in Israel.
This connector is identified by SI 32. The Type C plug is easily compatible with Type H receptacle.
Type I
Used in Australia, China, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Argentina.
International designation - AS 3112. Maximum current - 10 A. Sockets and plugs types H and I do not fit together. The outlets and plugs used by people in Australia and China fit together well.
Type J
Used only in Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
International designation - SEC 1011. Maximum current - 10 A. Relative to type C, the type J plug has one more contact, and the socket has another hole. However, Type C plugs will fit Type J receptacles.
Type K
Used only in Denmark and Greenland.
International designation - 107-2-D1. The Danish outlet accepts CEE 7/4 and CEE 7/7 plugs as well as type C sockets.
Type L
Used only in Italy and very rarely in North African countries.
International designation - CEI 23-16 / BII. The maximum current is 10 A or 16 A. All C-type plugs fit L-type sockets.
Type M
Used in South Africa, Swaziland and Lesotho.
Type M is very similar to Type D. Most Type M outlets are compatible with Type D plugs.
