Why 110v?


  #1  
Old 08-06-02, 12:06 PM
GasGuzz
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Why 110v?

For a basic lesson in electricity.
Europe (and others) is set for 220v.
Why are we on 110 standard (and have appliances/tools running on 220)? Is 110 safer?
 
  #2  
Old 08-06-02, 12:31 PM
masterjoe
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Talking

Your question is similar to:
Why are we still using inches and pounds when the rest of the world is using centimeter and kilogram??

It's just the way it was set up, and we built all electrical infrastructure according to it. Just like switching from English to Metric systems, it'll cost billions of $$$.
220V, in my opinion, has far more advantages than 110V. That's why majority of countries adapted 220V system.
 
  #3  
Old 08-06-02, 12:38 PM
GasGuzz
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Ok. Thanks. I can understand the english/metric paraphrase.

By the way, what are the typical advantages of 220 over 110?

Thanks, again.
 
  #4  
Old 08-06-02, 01:07 PM
J
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220 is more efficient (less loss in the supply conductors), but 110 is less likely to kill you. It's a typical tradeoff that involves compromises. It's not surprising that everybody didn't make the same decision.
 
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Old 08-06-02, 01:15 PM
P
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More correct to say 220/110 is standard. The basic reason is safety.Even on circuits that operate on 220, in the U.S. the maximum voltage to Ground is only 110 which much reduces the shock hazard.In Europe it's 220 to Ground.Also, most "faults" in interior residentail wiring systems are "Ground-faults" and the fault current is much less at 110 to Ground.
 
  #6  
Old 08-10-02, 11:26 AM
Gary Tait
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I'ts gonna hurt, 120 or 240, no matter what.

BTW, in parts of Europe (the UK anyway), they install whole house GFCIs,called RCDs.

AFAIK, why we use 110 now, is because in the early days we
used 110, and did not wish to change out a bunch of motors,
heaters, and light bulbs.

The rest of the world uses 230 becaus they found 220V was better (for effiecincy and copper savings), and could implement
full consumer 220V right away without too much inconvenience.

Now why Japan uses 100V, I'll never know.
 
  #7  
Old 08-10-02, 07:11 PM
buzzybuzzhead
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You're all wrong. It has to do with the size of the wires and the cans that hold the electricity. The wires and cans in this country are only big eneough to hold 120 volts. If more is put in it all spills out and can damage small animals and bugs.
 
  #8  
Old 08-11-02, 06:52 PM
masterjoe
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Talking Why Japan still uses 110V??

Just wanna give Gary an answer for his q at the end of this thread.....

Prior to Japanese invasion of Asia and beyond in the turn of the century, Japan layed massive amount of infrastructure for 110V electrical system. After they surrendered in August of 1945, they could not economically recover from the ruins for another decade or so. Therefore, they lost timing in upgrading their electrical system from 110V to 220V.

As costs for materials, labors...etc skyrocketed in modern days, it's more and more difficult to do so.
It's not that they do not know the distictive advantages of 220V system over their current 110V; it just costs them TOO MUCH $$.
 
  #9  
Old 08-12-02, 07:21 AM
Gary Tait
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I didn't mean whhy not 220V vs 110, but why in particular 100?

My specualtion, is the infrastructure was overloaded, and appliance manufacturers designed for that loaded down to 100V
line.

And then ther is places like Grenada that have both, and
you have your choice of European 220V and American
(so to speak) 110 V appliances on store shelves.
 
 

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