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Electricity around the world

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  • 15-08-2010 11:12am
    #1
    Hoagy
    Registered Users Posts: 708 ✭✭✭


    I came across this interesting site which list the various electrical systems around the world.

    World Standards


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    #2
    Davy
    Registered Users Posts: 19,340 CMod ✭✭✭✭Davy


    That doesn't even mention the grid side of things and the transmission system, simply the consumer end of line voltage so theirs even more figures out there :)


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    #3
    Solair
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,230 ✭✭✭Solair


    The world has pretty much settled on two standards:

    1) 230V (220/240V) 50Hz - European influenced standards.

    2) 120V (110-120V) 60Hz - US influenced standards.

    There were some other quirky systems in the past, but they've almost all died out e.g. 127V 50Hz (Still found in some areas of the Caribbean and Middle East). This was an old European standard which was abandoned.

    The majority of the globe uses 230V 50Hz.

    This explains all (and has some maps!)

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mains_power_around_the_world

    South America and Africa are pretty much the only places where you seem to get both systems.

    Also, Japan has a rather odd setup.

    100V 50Hz and 60Hz depending on which part of the country you are in. So, all Japanese appliances are 50-60Hz compatible.

    Also, even though Japan uses US-style sockets and plugs, their voltage is substantially lower than the US and Canada i.e. 100V rather than 120V. This means that you can't always use a Japanese appliance in the US/Canada, nor can you safely use them with a step-down transformer in Europe unless it's specifically for Japanese appliances.

    It's always one to remember if you've bought some electronic equipment in Japan as you can very easily fry it with the wrong transformer.

    Also, in terms of plugs/sockets - the German-style 2-pin side earthed 16amp plug is the most common for 230V. It's most definitely the de facto standard in Europe.

    Also, the French system is 100% compatible with it now that the modern European plugs contain both types earthing contacts.

    Only odd balls in the EU are Ireland, UK, Malta and Cyprus (using UK-type plugs) and Denmark and Italy using their own systems.


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