I am an American and I live in Morocco where we have 220 volt outlets. In America we have 110.
Besides 110 volts what is the practical difference? Is it better to supply homes with one over the other?
2007-07-31 10:47:23 · 6 answers · asked by ~~∞§arah T∞©~~ 6 in Home & Garden ➔ Other - Home & Garden
Okay, I have heard of a step-down converter (I use one here for some things I brought from America). It is obviously out in the open and I manually plug it in to the outlet.
Where in the house in America are these transformers or converters? Is it in the house or in the appliance?
In the house I grew up in we had only one outlet that was 220 and it was illegal to have. The appliances plugged into the same outlet as a lamp.
Can you explain more? Thanks
2007-07-31 10:54:28 · update #1
In the USA, there are two lines that feed the meter and enters the fuse box. Both these lines are energized. If a volt meter is used, you would be able to measure the voltage potential to ground of 110 volts. If you measured the voltage potential from one 110 line and the other 110 line, you would read a difference of 220 V. Large appliances require the 220 volts, like dryers, welders, and some air conditioners.
Earth Ground is part of the circuit from the generating station and your home. The current travels from the electric company, to the lights, and then through a line connected to a rod that goes into the ground in the house. There are many configurations that an electric grid can be wired and not everyone uses the same standard. You are at the mercy of your local electric company, regardless which country you are in.
2007-07-31 11:02:51 · answer #1 · answered by Mr Cellophane 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is safer to have 110 V outlets and you rarely need the higher voltage. Many US homes do have 210 V outlets which are necessary if you have an electric stove or electric dryer. In the US all you have to do is use two 110 V feed lines to get the 210 V outlet. OTher countries are just supplying more than is necessary to all of their outlets.
2007-07-31 10:55:14 · answer #2 · answered by Tesla 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There is only one major difference between American and other countries 220volt setup and that is the hz frequency which is the cycle that they operate at and American 220 runs at 60hz while most others run at 50hz and this will make a big difference in how well things operate. That is why they have a means to switch many things to the European or American 220volts.
2007-07-31 11:00:33 · answer #3 · answered by jack-o-trades 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's probably for the same reason that some countries drive on the left side of the road, when I visit my son in San Jose, it takes twice as long to boil l a kettle as it takes here in Scotland, so there are good points and bad points, voltage can be likened to water pressure, it pushes more power for use in a lot of applications
2007-07-31 14:41:34 · answer #4 · answered by John L 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Did we really have a 200 volt outlet that was illegal? Where?
2007-07-31 11:50:24 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Actually, in America, all homes are provided 220v, but we step it down in the box to 110v.
Your dryer and your stove in America (if they're electric) run on 220v.
In Europe, they just decided not to go through the "Step Down" process.
It actually doesn't make much difference one way or the other.
2007-07-31 10:51:38 · answer #6 · answered by jbtascam 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋