Scott et al,
As an outsider my recollection is that the decision to move from
220V in Continental Europe and 240V in the UK was enthusiastically voted in.
The implementatin was scheduled to be a one volt change per year
with both partine coming together after 10 years with a harmonized 220V
everywhere.
The Continental Europeean change seemed to proceed smoothly. I
don't know of any issues. The UK change seemed in trouble from the
beginning; uncertainty reigned. After a couple of years the UK gave up
trying and abandoned the agreement to change the voltage.
So now the Euro voltage is 230V everywhere except in the UK which is
still 240V.
Some European folks may have a better story but, I believe, the
result is as presented here.
The lesson learned here is that the system characteristics are
deeply embedded in the infrastructure and changing something as basic as the
voltage is anathema and plunges folks into an abyss from which they cannot
recover (at least for islands).
Don't hold your breath, Scott, awaiting this to get resolved.
Perhaps someone would like to recommend that we change to a common
frequency. I'd bet North Americans would like the rest of the world to
adopt the more reasonable value of 60 Hz since it's tied directly to the way
our clocks work.
:>) br, Pete
Peter E Perkins, PE
Principal Product Safety Engineer
PO Box 23427
Tigard, ORe 97281-3427
503/452-1201 fone/fax
[email protected]
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