----- Original Message ----- From: "J. van Baardwijk" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Brin-L" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Monday, March 11, 2002 3:06 PM Subject: Re: Power Supplies & Fuses
> At 18:52 11-3-02 +0100, Sonja van Baardwijk-Holten wrote: > > > > The question came up recently, so now I ask those on the European Power > > > standard. > > > Is the 220V you guys use, 220V to ground on one leg or is it 110V to ground > > > on 2 legs as it is in the US? IOW is it 220V with a neutral conductor or is > > > it 2 hot conductors? > > > >The Netherlands uses 220V with a live and a neutral wire. > > Bzzzt. Wrong. In the 1990's, the voltage was gradually increased from 220V > to 230V (because the entire European Union was going to 230V). Caused some > disturbance back then because people feared their electrical equipment > (designed for 220V) would be wrecked by 230V. I have not seen any evidence > that those fears were justified. > Someone may correct me if they have info to the contrary, but I was taught that there is an international manufacturing agreement stating electrical devices shall withstand operating voltages of =/- 10% of their rated operating voltage. 10V is less than 5%. In the US new equipment is now rated to run at 230V as opposed to the old standards of 240 or 220V. The electric code we use is now called the International Electric Code and is supposed to unify the electrical systems worldwide over the next few years. It wont be too long before you can buy a piece of equipment anywhere in the world and use it anywhere else in the world. Ever noticed the voltage switch on the back of all newer PC power supplies? xponent Electromagnetic Pressure Maru rob
