Why does UK-Europe use double the power 240V, compared to North America's 120V to power the same appliances?

Question

Does this mean Europe and probably a lot of other countries are potentially wasting energy, if this is the case wouldn't it be a wise move for the european government to change the power output to match North America?

Answer 1

Thomas Edison made the original choice of 110 vdc (that's right DC voltage) because that was the highest voltage that he could use with a carbon filament and get enough light to beat gaslight illumination without blowing the filaments in too short a time. When Westinghouse began to compete with his ac system (around 1886) he most likely used the same RMS voltage because that was what the market was familar with.

In Europe the Berlin Electric Works went from 110 vac to 220 vac starting about 1900 because the city was already wired up and by going to 220v it allowed the company to increase its capacity without rewiring the whole place. Even replacing the lights and motors of its customers was cheaper than rewiring the whole city. 220vac useage spread in Germany as interconnections enforced standardizations, then in Europe and then most of the rest of the Old World but was never taken up in North America.

And actually, the U.S. frequently uses 240v but is it is grounded at the center-tap producing 2) 120v 'legs'.

Answer 2

Your argument is completely wrong. For the same power transmission, the greater the voltage, the greater the efficiency. Hence the Grid works at very high voltage that is reduced by transformers to the consumers' 240v supply.

Formula for power lost in a conductor is the square of the current multiplied by the resistance of the conductor. Hence a 110v system with the same size cable will waste in excess of four times the energy for the same loading.

Power = Current x Voltage

Answer 3

Europe used 110V until 1950 when it changed to 220V for better efficiency in electicial transmission. The US considered doing the same but felt it would be too costly due to the all the 110V appliances in households. As good majority of countries throughout the world use 220/240V so I am not sure if there is a argument for wasting energy.

Answer 4

During the early days I guess ,there wasnt an agreed universal power rating,both sides of the water having their own power companies,With the 120v earthing is not required for a lot of apliances which is quite useful in its own terms,240 v however uses the earth or green wire. And can cause a lot of hum in certain Audio equipment,but at the same time is useful for discharging built up static.Australia and newzealand use 240v ,understandably being ex british colonies.
the reason why which Ive just noticed you can get from the gentleman above me.

Answer 5

It's the same power, double the voltage half the current.

For more voltage, you need more insulation. For more current you need thicker wires (and therefore more copper).

Electricity supply developed differently in the US and Europe. The US originally used cotton to insulate the wires (they had plenty of that). Cotton is only good for insulating up to about 120 volts, so the US standard of 110 volts came about. In Europe, cables were insulated with pitch or rubber which is good for higher voltages, so they settled on around 200 volts to save on copper. That's why the flex on US appliances is much fatter than the stuff used in Europe.

Answer 6

I am not sure why exactly they use 240V, but I can say inteligently that the higher the voltage the lower the amperage, they are inversly related. Which means you could use smaller gauge wire because the amperage decides how thick your wire will be. (Contrary to what some people were saying). And no they are not wasting energy, if you have to choose between higher voltage or amperage you want to use higher voltage amperage creates heat. The higher the amperage the more heat you create and the more "energy" you loose while transmitting that electricity.

Answer 7

Try checking out basic Physics - Ohms law. Georg Simon Ohm was the Bavarian (German) physicist who determined the mathematical law of electric currents called Ohm's Law.

You need to think about power, conventionally measured in Watts (a Scottish physicist).

Perhaps whilst you are brushing up on physics you might want to read up geography - Europe is not a country.

I wouldn't be so harsh on you if the premise behind your question wasn't so parochial.

Answer 8

Double the voltage does not mean double the power. As a matter of fact in most instances you actually use less power.

Answer 9

They're poor decision at one point in history may have led them to become more effecient in others. They use necular power and instead of paying to keep old fuel rods they charge them up and use reuse them. Never thought about effect of AC as opposed to DC with respect to voltage.

Answer 10

you might be right i work on building sight and all 240 v is took down too 110v not only because its safer but it saves on using energy iv had a shock off 110v and still here too tell the tale