What is the difference and which is better between 110volts and 220volts?

Question

Explain the pro's and con's of each please if you would. This is for a diversity paper and just trying to get some info on them.

Answer 1

I assume you are trying to compare and contrast the power distribution systems between the US and the rest of the world. The US uses 120V 60Hz, the UK uses 240V 50Hz, continental europe uses 230V 50Hz, and a lot of countries use 220V 50Hz. Only the US and neighboring countries use the American system. There are a few (I think parts of Brazil) that use 220V 60Hz.

One is not "better" than the other. First lets define power. Power is energy per unit time. Power is the ability to do work, and the purpose of a POWER distribution system. Power = Voltage X Current. Voltage in and of itself does not infer power unless the current is known. Also note, that if the voltage is doubled and the current is halved then the power is the same.

The best answer as to why there are different systems is arbitrarily. At the beginning there were several systems at different voltages, and frequencies used in both Europe and the US. As time went on, standards started to develop because electrical appliance manufacturers would make their stuff compatible with the biggest electric company - meaning that other electric companies would have to come up to speed so that their customers could use new devices. There was no specific reason at the time that the US be the same or different from Europe - it just kind of ended up that way. At this point it is too expensive to change because all the wiring is in place, and people own appliances that won't run on the opposite system.

In general, countries in the western hemisphere tend to use the US system because they got "stuff" from the US, whereas countries in the eastern hemisphere tend to use the european system because back in the beginning (especially colonial days) their "stuff" came from Europe.

The European system (220-240) is more efficient, because energy losses in the wire are due to current. For a given application, appliances in Europe use half the current (because the voltage is doubles). The American system is not as sensitive to insulation on the wire itself. This is not an issue today with modern plastics, but 100 years ago when they used woven cloth to cover wires it could have een a big deal. The European system can use smaller and lighter wires (due to the higher voltage/lower current) but the American system can use smaller transformers (due to the higher frequency). The hjigher frequency (60Hz) also allows motors and generators to be smaller and use less raw materials.

Looking at it objectively, the European 220-240V 50Hz system is more efficient in terms of wire sizes, and losses in the wiring for a given application. On the other hand, transformers must be physically larger and heavier due to the lower frequency so in the end it is close to a draw. The reality is changing things is more expensive than not changing so it is going to stay the way it is for a while.

Now, another good questions is what would we do if we had it to do over again? A good place to look would be aircraft and ships - they don't care about being compatable with existing equipment as the entire ship is built at once. They use a 400Hz system. I would probably choose about 500V 400Hz for a distribution system. Any higher in frequency would cause EMI problems and it would be unreasonable to expect tradesmen to install it properly. Any higher in voltage would require better insulating plastic than is in common use.

The other reality is that people that think "more voltage is less safe" or "higher frequency is less safe" without being able to identify what either quantity actually means will never go away.

Answer 2

I don't really see a "pro" for 110Volt. Some people think it is less dangerous than 220 Volt, but you can die from 110V just as well....
I see an advantage in 220Volt, in that the copper wires can be thinner, because the current is lower in order to achieve the same wattage.
So less copper = less cost for wiring a 220 Volt house.
And less current means less line losses along the wiring.

Answer 3

220 is the standard for most of the rest of the world, outside of the U.S. and the Americas. All of Europe. As for the advantages, consider the amount of copper in buildings in the U.S. Homes, offices, factories, everything. Now, mentally, cut it in half. That is the advantage. The Europeans use it as safely as we use 110. We use 110 for historical reasons.

Answer 4

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Answer 5

110V is a must for older homes where the wiring is not capable of handling the higher voltage of 220V. It also holds true for older appliances. If you were starting from scratch you would probably make everything 220 or even 440 to save money on copper.

Answer 6

110v is a regular household plug which you plug your TV stereo and coffee maker etc.. 220v is your stove and clothes dryer.
not really sure of any pros or cons but hope this helps out..

Answer 7

110 is equivalent to one phase of 220v which is just two phases of 110v The only advantage is that you have twice the power of a single phase using a lower current level ( a single phase of 110 has to provide twice the current for the same power level as 220v