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Why doesn't the US use 230V the way (almost) everyone does?

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Treść została przetłumaczona polish » english Zobacz oryginalną wersję tematu
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  • #121 15788854
    Frog_Qmak
    Level 25  
    Oh yes ... you can (perhaps also) buy "kettles" operating on the principle of bouzals at the market. When my colleagues connected it to a socket on the trip (the tap water was highly mineralized), the wall was warm from the flow of electricity :D
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  • #122 15792834
    Polon_us
    Level 42  
    Fun fact or warning.

    European to American standard plug adapter with grounding.

    Bearing in mind the imminent arrival of the family to me, I looked around Polish stores a bit to find a suitable plug adapter for them.
    The equipment they bring with them can run at 110VAC. One of these devices requires an earth connection.
    During my search, I came across a MediaMarkt store that offered the miracle shown below;

    Why doesn't the US use 230V the way (almost) everyone does?

    Someone probably did not realize that the American 110VAC sockets have no pins.

    The US plug for 110VAC with ground looks like the picture below.

    Why doesn't the US use 230V the way (almost) everyone does?

    To be quite annoying, I will mention that this is a 110VAC 15A plug. 110VAC 20A plugs / sockets are still available.
  • #123 15793039
    michcio
    Electrician specialist  
    I wonder if this is simply due to the fact that the manufacturer has the ability to cast such and not other shapes of plugs - both adapters look like they should fit into the Schuko socket, while the American socket is flat and has no flanges or recesses. It's like someone just used different contacts.

    The opposite is true for 230 -> 120V adapters. The ones available in the States often look like this ...
    Why doesn't the US use 230V the way (almost) everyone does?
    ... which is why they do not fit into most European sockets that have been retracted / have a collar for years.
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Topic summary

The discussion revolves around the differences in electrical standards between the USA and other countries, particularly the use of 120V and 240V systems in the US compared to the 230V standard prevalent in Europe. Participants highlight that while 120V is common in American households, 240V is also available for high-power appliances. The conversation touches on the historical context of these standards, the infrastructure challenges in the US, and the implications for safety and efficiency. Comparisons are made with European systems, emphasizing the advantages of higher voltages in terms of energy efficiency and reduced copper usage in wiring. Concerns about the aging US electrical infrastructure and the costs associated with modernization are also discussed, alongside the complexities of plug and socket standards in different regions.
Summary generated by the language model.
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