2006-10-13 16:04:42 · 6 answers · asked by neeluaf 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Engineering
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.
The rest of the answer lies in the distribution of the electric, specifically transformers. A transformer converts electrical voltage through the windings on the metal of the transformer. So as you increase the loops of the transformer, the voltage is multiplied/divided by the number of loops. Therefore if the desired effect is 110V, it is most easily done with "stepped down" with 2 loops on a transformer. So for each loop, there is a multiple of 110V.
2006-10-14 06:05:15 · answer #1 · answered by mechberg 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Con Edison had already established 110 volts AC as a standard in America - Europe's standard became 220, which incidentally is a much more efficient voltage to transmit and use because it has much less amperage draw for a given power output. (This is why factories commonly use 220 and 440 volt power for their production machinery) Voltage times amps equals watts, which is what we pay for!
Just good ol' American stubbornness and entrepreneurial pride. Edison knew the higher the voltage (within reason) the more efficient the use - but the wheels of Con Edison were already in motion.
2006-10-13 16:34:26 · answer #2 · answered by LeAnne 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The a hundred and ten - 240 V, 50/60 Hz set is designed to artwork on a hundred and ten volts, 60 Hz as in the country or 220 V, 50 Hz as in India. So this could be mushy regardless of the low voltages experienced in India. despite if utilization at previous the 240 V greater shrink can harm the kit.
2016-12-08 14:28:08 · answer #3 · answered by kulpa 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
your house is always fed with 220 even if you have no 220 outlets. you get the 110 from going from either side of the line to the nuetral (ground) the white wire. 440 which would be more efficient is considered to be too dangerous a voltage for household use
2006-10-13 17:15:05 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
110 x 2 = 220. 220 is a common line voltage for large appliances in the house, like your dryer or an oven.
2006-10-13 16:12:01 · answer #5 · answered by sunseekerrv 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That just happens to be the common used voltages in the northern Amaricas. I have used 90VAC and had to adapt to it .
I believe it was General Electric that set the 110/120 volt standard.
2006-10-13 16:11:33 · answer #6 · answered by Robert F 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋