Why Is There 110 Volts In The USA, And We Have 220? - Alternative View

2024 Author: Keith Bush | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 14:01

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.