2007-04-27 01:13:16 · 10 answers · asked by sandfly1234 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Engineering
Almost everyone besides the US uses 240. Nobody knows for sure exactly why, but there are a lot of theories. A few of them that I remember are:
- The US used to standardize everything different from the British to cut down on imports without tariffs. For example, their screws tighten counter clockwise, ours tighten clockwise. They drive on the left, we drive on the right. 120 was just following that trend.
-Even in the US, some appliances (Like ovens and furnaces) still use 240V. Oil, coal, and gas companies saw electricity as a threat to their business and pushed for the 120V standard, making it more inconvenient to stop using their fuels.
-Thomas Edison was a proponent of using DC instead of AC power, and would electrocute animals (including an elephant) to scare people away from AC. Even though lower voltage doesn't necessary mean you're safer, electricity was a new concept at the time and people figured that 120 was safer than 240.
2007-04-27 07:33:16 · answer #1 · answered by System Id 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because the USA chose to standardize on 110 volts and Australia choose 240.
However there are advantages to both. 110 volts is safer if you should accidentally make contact with the voltage. however the higher voltages present less line loss when transmitted, which allows for the use of smaller wires per unit of power.
Both countries when transporting power across large distances really step up the voltage, for less loss and more efficient use of resources.
2007-04-27 01:17:11 · answer #2 · answered by Brian K² 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it will work fine just flick the switch to change the volts running it at 220 volts compared to the 240 would cause any damage to the speaker
2016-05-20 04:15:41 · answer #3 · answered by annis 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because the UK used 240v and they followed the 'Mother Country'.
Canada and Mexico use 110-120V, which makes sense.
2016-07-03 13:40:10 · answer #4 · answered by Markey 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
simple, It's because every country want to be different. Different languange, different culture, ect, then it's effecting also in electrical standard. Just all same human habit.
2007-04-27 03:49:13 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Americas is 50% cheaper
2007-04-27 01:16:52 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
That's what they used when they first constructed them and the convention stuck.
2007-04-27 02:29:30 · answer #7 · answered by Gene 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it depends on location, the government, and the power station. and also the price.
2007-04-27 01:18:19 · answer #8 · answered by Matthew N 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
nothing but tradition only
2007-04-27 01:19:41 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
?
2007-04-27 01:33:52 · answer #10 · answered by Pete S 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋