What is the range of electrical voltages?

Question

110 to 120 volts. What is the average, or the most common voltage from an outlet in the United States?

Answer 1

120 Volts.

It's AC electricity, which is important, because the actual voltage from the outlet varies depending on time. The actual peak voltage is around 160 volts; the voltage swings back and forth between 160 and negative 160.

120 volts is the "root mean square" (RMS) value of the voltage. It's basically the "average" voltage.

Answer 2

By actual measurement, it varies quite a bit. Normally varies from 120 Volts to almost 130 Volts in MO.

Answer 3

I see what you are doing. the old timer says 110 when he talks outlet voltage and you say 120 or vice versa. it used to be 110 vac look on the old appliances. now its 120 vac. Hence look at the appliance UL spec plate. its 120 Vac. Not sure why the move to 120 was made.

Answer 4

It's 120v which is 1phase of two, two phase voltage is 240v.240v is used for A/C, Cloth dryers, Water heaters etc. Also depending on how the transformer is wired. Wye/Wye-Wye/Delta- Delta/Delta. We get other voltages for different uses like 208/120. 208v is used for wielding machines mostly. In commercial buildings it's 120/277/480, 277v is more efficient for lighting.

Answer 5

Actually the voltage is not that well controlled and can vary from time to time and place to place. The most common range is 110v to 120v, and no matter what they call it, the voltage will be somewhere in that range.

Answer 6

The power companies try to provide electricity that is 120Vrms constant but it varies by a few volts. You can check it with a multimeter. They also want to keep each phase 120deg apart.

Answer 7

i believe it is 110 volts