Sunday, May 16, 2010
Worldwide AC Voltages and Frequencies
Courtesy Ron Kurtus
Edited Modified by Kashif Shahzad
The voltage and frequency of alternating current (AC) electricity used in homes varies from country to country throughout the world. Typically either 110-volt AC (110V) or 220-volt AC (220V) are used. Note that 110 volts and 220 volts are averages, since the voltage does fluctuate during usage. Most countries use 50Hz (50 Hertz or 50 cycles per second) as the frequency of their AC. Only a handful use 60Hz. The United States uses 110V and 60Hz AC electricity.
How values were selected
The type of electricity delivered to homes and businesses was first direct current (DC) but then changed to AC electricity. The standard voltage level started at 110V, went to 240V, back to 110V, and then to 220V. The frequency started at 60Hz and then went to 50Hz in most areas.
Tesla starts AC
Early in the history or electricity, Thomas Edison's General Electric company was distributing DC electricity at 110 volts in the United States. Then Nikola Tesla the devised a system of three-phase AC electricity at 240 volts. Three-phase meant that three alternating currents slightly out of phase were combined in order to even out the great variations in voltage occurring in AC electricity. He had calculated that 60 cycles per second or 60Hz was the most effective frequency. Tesla later compromised to reduce the voltage to 110 volts for safety reasons.
Europe goes to 50Hz
With the backing of the Westinghouse Company, Tesla's AC system became the standard in the United States. Meanwhile, the German company AEG started generating electricity and became a virtual monopoly in Europe. They decided to use 50Hz instead of 60Hz to better fit their metric standards, but they kept the voltage at 110V.
Unfortunately, 50Hz AC has greater losses and is not as efficient as 60HZ. Due to the slower speed 50Hz electrical generators are 20% less effective than 60Hz generators. Electrical transmission at 50Hz is about 10-15% less efficient. 50Hz transformers require larger windings and 50Hz electric motors are less efficient than those meant to run at 60Hz. They are more costly to make to handle the electrical losses and the extra heat generated at the lower frequency.
Europe goes to 220V
Europe stayed at 110V AC until the 1950s, just after World War II. They then switched over to 220V for better efficiency in electrical transmission. Great Britain not only switched to 220V, but they also changed from 60Hz to 50Hz to follow the European lead. Since many people did not yet have electrical appliances in Europe after the war, the change-over was not that expensive for them.
U.S. stays at 110V, 60Hz
The United States also considered converting to 220V for home use but felt it would be too costly, due to all the 110V electrical appliances people had. A compromise was made in the U.S. in that 220V would come into the house where it would be split to 110V to power most appliances. Certain household appliances such as the electric stove and electric clothes dryer would be powered at 220V.
Frequency difference
Converters and transformers only change the voltage and not the frequency. The result is that a motor in a 50Hz appliance will operate slightly faster on 60Hz electricity. Likewise, a clock made for 60Hz will run slower in a country using the 50Hz frequency.
Most modern electronic equipment like computers, printers, DVD players and stereos are usually not affected by the frequency difference.
Output voltages
The single-phase voltage is the voltage between any phase wire and neutral. The three-phase voltage (which is equal to single-phase voltage x ) is the voltage between any two phase wires:
Single-phase voltage
Three-phase voltage (rounded)
100
173
110
190
115
200
120
208
220
380
230
400
240
415
277
480
347
600
Country listing
Of the over 200 countries listed below, less than 40 use 110V. Some countries use dual voltages. 43 countries use 60Hz, while the rest use 50Hz.
Country
Voltage
Frequency
Afghanistan
220V
50Hz
Albania
230V
50Hz
Algeria
230V
50Hz
American Samoa
120V
60Hz
Andorra
230V
50Hz
Angola
220V
50Hz
Anguilla
110V
60Hz
Antigua
230V
60Hz
Argentina
220V
50Hz
Armenia
230V
50Hz
Aruba
127V
60Hz
Australia
240V
50Hz
Austria
230V
50Hz
Azerbaijan
220V
50Hz
Azores
230V
50Hz
Bahamas
120V
60Hz
Bahrain
230V
50Hz
Balearic Islands
230V
50Hz
Bangladesh
220V
50Hz
Barbados
115V
50Hz
Belarus
230V
50Hz
Belgium
230V
50Hz
Belize
110/220V
60Hz
Benin
220V
50Hz
Bermuda
120V
60Hz
Bhutan
230V
50Hz
Bolivia
230V
50Hz
Bosnia
230V
50Hz
Botswana
230V
50Hz
Brazil
110-220V
60Hz
Brunei
240V
50Hz
Bulgaria
230V
50Hz
Burkina Faso
220V
50Hz
Burundi
220V
50Hz
Cambodia
230V
50Hz
Cameroon
220V
50Hz
Canada
120V
60Hz
Canary Islands
230V
50Hz
Cape Verde
230V
50Hz
Cayman Islands
120V
60Hz
Central Africa
220V
50Hz
Chad
220V
50Hz
Channel Islands
230V
50Hz
Chile
220V
50Hz
China
220V
50Hz
Colombia
110V
60Hz
Comoros
220V
50Hz
Congo (Zaire)
220V
50Hz
Cook Islands
240V
50Hz
Costa Rica
120V
60Hz
Côte d'Ivoire(Ivory Coast)
220V
50Hz
Croatia
230V
50Hz
Cuba
110/220V
60Hz
Cyprus
230V
50Hz
Czech Republic
230V
50Hz
Denmark
230V
50Hz
Djibouti
220V
50Hz
Dominica
230V
50Hz
Dominican Republic
110V
60Hz
East Timor
220V
50Hz
Ecuador
127V
60Hz
Egypt
220V
50Hz
El Salvador
115V
60Hz
Equatorial Guinea
220V
50Hz
Eritrea
230V
50Hz
Estonia
230V
50Hz
Ethiopia
220V
50Hz
Faeroe Islands
230V
50Hz
Falkland Islands
240V
50Hz
Fiji
240V
50Hz
Finland
230V
50Hz
France
230V
50Hz
French Guyana
220V
50Hz
Gaza
230V
50Hz
Gabon
220V
50Hz
Gambia
230V
50Hz
Germany
230V
50Hz
Ghana
230V
50Hz
Gibraltar
230V
50Hz
Greece
230V
50Hz
Greenland
230V
50Hz
Grenada
230V
50Hz
Guadeloupe
230V
50Hz
Guam
110V
60Hz
Guatemala
120V
60Hz
Guinea
220V
50Hz
Guinea-Bissau
220V
50Hz
Guyana
240V
60Hz
Haiti
110V
60Hz
Honduras
110V
60Hz
Hong Kong
220V
50Hz
Hungary
230V
50Hz
Iceland
230V
50Hz
India
240V
50Hz
Indonesia
230V
50Hz
Iran
230V
50Hz
Iraq
230V
50Hz
Ireland (Eire)
230V
50Hz
Isle of Man
230V
50Hz
Israel
230V
50Hz
Italy
230V
50Hz
Jamaica
110V
50Hz
Japan
100V
50/60Hz
Jordan
230V
50Hz
Kenya
240V
50Hz
Kazakhstan
220V
50Hz
Country
Voltage
Frequency.
Kiribati
240V
50Hz
Korea, South
220V
60Hz
Kuwait
240V
50Hz
Kyrgyzstan
220V
50Hz
Laos
230V
50Hz
Latvia
230V
50Hz
Lebanon
230V
50Hz
Lesotho
220V
50Hz
Liberia
120V
60Hz
Libya
127/230V
50Hz
Lithuania
230V
50Hz
Liechtenstein
230V
50Hz
Luxembourg
230V
50Hz
Macau
220V
50Hz
Macedonia
230V
50Hz
Madagascar
127/220V
50Hz
Madeira
230V
50Hz
Malawi
230V
50Hz
Malaysia
240V
50Hz
Maldives
230V
50Hz
Mali
220V
50Hz
Malta
230V
50Hz
Martinique
220V
50Hz
Mauritania
220V
50Hz
Mauritius
230V
50Hz
Mexico
127V
60Hz
Micronesia
120V
60Hz
Moldova
230V
50Hz
Monaco
230V
50Hz
Mongolia
230V
50Hz
Montserrat Islands
230V
60Hz
Morocco
220V
50Hz
Mozambique
220V
50Hz
Myanmar (Burma)
230V
50Hz
Namibia
220V
50Hz
Nauru
240V
50Hz
Nepal
230V
50Hz
Netherlands
230V
50Hz
Netherlands Antilles
127/220V
50Hz
New Caledonia
220V
50Hz
New Zealand
230V
50Hz
Nicaragua
120V
60Hz
Niger
220V
50Hz
Nigeria
240V
50Hz
Norway
230V
50Hz
Okinawa
100V
60Hz
Oman
240V
50Hz
Pakistan
230V
50Hz
Palmyra Atoll
120V
60Hz
Panama
110V
60Hz
Papua New Guinea
240V
50Hz
Paraguay
220V
50Hz
Peru
220V
60Hz
Philippines
220V
60Hz
Poland
230V
50Hz
Portugal
230V
50Hz
Puerto Rico
120V
60Hz
Qatar
240V
50Hz
Réunion Island
230V
50Hz
Romania
230V
50Hz
Russian Federation
230V
50Hz
Rwanda
230V
50Hz
St. Kitts & Nevis Islands
230V
60Hz
St. Lucia Island
240V
50Hz
St. Vincent Island
230V
50Hz
Saudi Arabia
127/220V
60Hz
Senegal
230V
50Hz
Serbia & Montenegro
230V
50Hz
Seychelles
240V
50Hz
Sierra Leone
230V
50Hz
Singapore
230V
50Hz
Slovakia
230V
50Hz
Slovenia
230V
50Hz
Somalia
220V
50Hz
South Africa
230V
50Hz
Spain
230V
50Hz
Sri Lanka
230V
50Hz
Sudan
230V
50Hz
Suriname
127V
60Hz
Swaziland
230V
50Hz
Sweden
230V
50Hz
Switzerland
230V
50Hz
Syria
220V
50Hz
Tahiti
110/220V
60Hz
Tajikistan
220V
50Hz
Taiwan
110V
60Hz
Tanzania
230V
50Hz
Thailand
220V
50Hz
Togo
220V
50Hz
Tonga
240V
50Hz
Trinidad & Tobago
115V
60Hz
Tunisia
230V
50Hz
Turkey
230V
50Hz
Turkmenistan
220V
50Hz
Uganda
240V
50Hz
Ukraine
230V
50Hz
United Arab Emirates
220V
50Hz
United Kingdom
230V
50Hz
United States
110/220V
60Hz
Uruguay
220V
50Hz
Uzbekistan
220V
50Hz
Venezuela
120V
60Hz
Vietnam
220V
50Hz
Virgin Islands
110V
60Hz
Western Samoa
230V
50Hz
Yemen
230V
50Hz
Zambia
230V
50Hz
Zimbabwe
220V
50Hz
Exceptions
Some countries can't decide on a standard.
Brazil
In Brazil, most states use between 110V and 127V AC electricity. But many hotels use 220V. In the capital Brasilia and in the northeast of the country, they mainly use 220-240V.
Japan
In Japan, they use the same voltage everywhere, but the frequency differs from region to region. Eastern Japan, which includes Tokyo, uses 50Hz. In western Japan, which includes Osaka and Kyoto, they use 60 Hz.
The reason for this is that after World War II, Britain was in charge of helping reconstruct Japan's electrical system in the easter part of the country and the United States set up the electricity in the western part of Japan. Since Great Britain (United Kingdom) had been using 60Hz before the war and had just switched over to the European 240V 50Hz, it is strange that they set up Japan at 100V and 50Hz, especially when the U.S. was using 60Hz.
Having different voltages and frequencies within the country not only must be confusing for the people but also can result in extra costs for appliances and adapters.
Summary
The voltage and frequency of AC electricity varies from country to country throughout the world. Most use 220V and 50Hz. About 20% of the countries use 110V and/or 60Hz to power their homes. 220V and 60Hz are the most efficient values, but only a few countries use that combination. The United States uses 110V and 60Hz AC electricity.
Courtesy Ron Kurtus
Edited Modified by Kashif Shahzad
The voltage and frequency of alternating current (AC) electricity used in homes varies from country to country throughout the world. Typically either 110-volt AC (110V) or 220-volt AC (220V) are used. Note that 110 volts and 220 volts are averages, since the voltage does fluctuate during usage. Most countries use 50Hz (50 Hertz or 50 cycles per second) as the frequency of their AC. Only a handful use 60Hz. The United States uses 110V and 60Hz AC electricity.
How values were selected
The type of electricity delivered to homes and businesses was first direct current (DC) but then changed to AC electricity. The standard voltage level started at 110V, went to 240V, back to 110V, and then to 220V. The frequency started at 60Hz and then went to 50Hz in most areas.
Tesla starts AC
Early in the history or electricity, Thomas Edison's General Electric company was distributing DC electricity at 110 volts in the United States. Then Nikola Tesla the devised a system of three-phase AC electricity at 240 volts. Three-phase meant that three alternating currents slightly out of phase were combined in order to even out the great variations in voltage occurring in AC electricity. He had calculated that 60 cycles per second or 60Hz was the most effective frequency. Tesla later compromised to reduce the voltage to 110 volts for safety reasons.
Europe goes to 50Hz
With the backing of the Westinghouse Company, Tesla's AC system became the standard in the United States. Meanwhile, the German company AEG started generating electricity and became a virtual monopoly in Europe. They decided to use 50Hz instead of 60Hz to better fit their metric standards, but they kept the voltage at 110V.
Unfortunately, 50Hz AC has greater losses and is not as efficient as 60HZ. Due to the slower speed 50Hz electrical generators are 20% less effective than 60Hz generators. Electrical transmission at 50Hz is about 10-15% less efficient. 50Hz transformers require larger windings and 50Hz electric motors are less efficient than those meant to run at 60Hz. They are more costly to make to handle the electrical losses and the extra heat generated at the lower frequency.
Europe goes to 220V
Europe stayed at 110V AC until the 1950s, just after World War II. They then switched over to 220V for better efficiency in electrical transmission. Great Britain not only switched to 220V, but they also changed from 60Hz to 50Hz to follow the European lead. Since many people did not yet have electrical appliances in Europe after the war, the change-over was not that expensive for them.
U.S. stays at 110V, 60Hz
The United States also considered converting to 220V for home use but felt it would be too costly, due to all the 110V electrical appliances people had. A compromise was made in the U.S. in that 220V would come into the house where it would be split to 110V to power most appliances. Certain household appliances such as the electric stove and electric clothes dryer would be powered at 220V.
Frequency difference
Converters and transformers only change the voltage and not the frequency. The result is that a motor in a 50Hz appliance will operate slightly faster on 60Hz electricity. Likewise, a clock made for 60Hz will run slower in a country using the 50Hz frequency.
Most modern electronic equipment like computers, printers, DVD players and stereos are usually not affected by the frequency difference.
Output voltages
The single-phase voltage is the voltage between any phase wire and neutral. The three-phase voltage (which is equal to single-phase voltage x ) is the voltage between any two phase wires:
Single-phase voltage
Three-phase voltage (rounded)
100
173
110
190
115
200
120
208
220
380
230
400
240
415
277
480
347
600
Country listing
Of the over 200 countries listed below, less than 40 use 110V. Some countries use dual voltages. 43 countries use 60Hz, while the rest use 50Hz.
Country
Voltage
Frequency
Afghanistan
220V
50Hz
Albania
230V
50Hz
Algeria
230V
50Hz
American Samoa
120V
60Hz
Andorra
230V
50Hz
Angola
220V
50Hz
Anguilla
110V
60Hz
Antigua
230V
60Hz
Argentina
220V
50Hz
Armenia
230V
50Hz
Aruba
127V
60Hz
Australia
240V
50Hz
Austria
230V
50Hz
Azerbaijan
220V
50Hz
Azores
230V
50Hz
Bahamas
120V
60Hz
Bahrain
230V
50Hz
Balearic Islands
230V
50Hz
Bangladesh
220V
50Hz
Barbados
115V
50Hz
Belarus
230V
50Hz
Belgium
230V
50Hz
Belize
110/220V
60Hz
Benin
220V
50Hz
Bermuda
120V
60Hz
Bhutan
230V
50Hz
Bolivia
230V
50Hz
Bosnia
230V
50Hz
Botswana
230V
50Hz
Brazil
110-220V
60Hz
Brunei
240V
50Hz
Bulgaria
230V
50Hz
Burkina Faso
220V
50Hz
Burundi
220V
50Hz
Cambodia
230V
50Hz
Cameroon
220V
50Hz
Canada
120V
60Hz
Canary Islands
230V
50Hz
Cape Verde
230V
50Hz
Cayman Islands
120V
60Hz
Central Africa
220V
50Hz
Chad
220V
50Hz
Channel Islands
230V
50Hz
Chile
220V
50Hz
China
220V
50Hz
Colombia
110V
60Hz
Comoros
220V
50Hz
Congo (Zaire)
220V
50Hz
Cook Islands
240V
50Hz
Costa Rica
120V
60Hz
Côte d'Ivoire(Ivory Coast)
220V
50Hz
Croatia
230V
50Hz
Cuba
110/220V
60Hz
Cyprus
230V
50Hz
Czech Republic
230V
50Hz
Denmark
230V
50Hz
Djibouti
220V
50Hz
Dominica
230V
50Hz
Dominican Republic
110V
60Hz
East Timor
220V
50Hz
Ecuador
127V
60Hz
Egypt
220V
50Hz
El Salvador
115V
60Hz
Equatorial Guinea
220V
50Hz
Eritrea
230V
50Hz
Estonia
230V
50Hz
Ethiopia
220V
50Hz
Faeroe Islands
230V
50Hz
Falkland Islands
240V
50Hz
Fiji
240V
50Hz
Finland
230V
50Hz
France
230V
50Hz
French Guyana
220V
50Hz
Gaza
230V
50Hz
Gabon
220V
50Hz
Gambia
230V
50Hz
Germany
230V
50Hz
Ghana
230V
50Hz
Gibraltar
230V
50Hz
Greece
230V
50Hz
Greenland
230V
50Hz
Grenada
230V
50Hz
Guadeloupe
230V
50Hz
Guam
110V
60Hz
Guatemala
120V
60Hz
Guinea
220V
50Hz
Guinea-Bissau
220V
50Hz
Guyana
240V
60Hz
Haiti
110V
60Hz
Honduras
110V
60Hz
Hong Kong
220V
50Hz
Hungary
230V
50Hz
Iceland
230V
50Hz
India
240V
50Hz
Indonesia
230V
50Hz
Iran
230V
50Hz
Iraq
230V
50Hz
Ireland (Eire)
230V
50Hz
Isle of Man
230V
50Hz
Israel
230V
50Hz
Italy
230V
50Hz
Jamaica
110V
50Hz
Japan
100V
50/60Hz
Jordan
230V
50Hz
Kenya
240V
50Hz
Kazakhstan
220V
50Hz
Country
Voltage
Frequency.
Kiribati
240V
50Hz
Korea, South
220V
60Hz
Kuwait
240V
50Hz
Kyrgyzstan
220V
50Hz
Laos
230V
50Hz
Latvia
230V
50Hz
Lebanon
230V
50Hz
Lesotho
220V
50Hz
Liberia
120V
60Hz
Libya
127/230V
50Hz
Lithuania
230V
50Hz
Liechtenstein
230V
50Hz
Luxembourg
230V
50Hz
Macau
220V
50Hz
Macedonia
230V
50Hz
Madagascar
127/220V
50Hz
Madeira
230V
50Hz
Malawi
230V
50Hz
Malaysia
240V
50Hz
Maldives
230V
50Hz
Mali
220V
50Hz
Malta
230V
50Hz
Martinique
220V
50Hz
Mauritania
220V
50Hz
Mauritius
230V
50Hz
Mexico
127V
60Hz
Micronesia
120V
60Hz
Moldova
230V
50Hz
Monaco
230V
50Hz
Mongolia
230V
50Hz
Montserrat Islands
230V
60Hz
Morocco
220V
50Hz
Mozambique
220V
50Hz
Myanmar (Burma)
230V
50Hz
Namibia
220V
50Hz
Nauru
240V
50Hz
Nepal
230V
50Hz
Netherlands
230V
50Hz
Netherlands Antilles
127/220V
50Hz
New Caledonia
220V
50Hz
New Zealand
230V
50Hz
Nicaragua
120V
60Hz
Niger
220V
50Hz
Nigeria
240V
50Hz
Norway
230V
50Hz
Okinawa
100V
60Hz
Oman
240V
50Hz
Pakistan
230V
50Hz
Palmyra Atoll
120V
60Hz
Panama
110V
60Hz
Papua New Guinea
240V
50Hz
Paraguay
220V
50Hz
Peru
220V
60Hz
Philippines
220V
60Hz
Poland
230V
50Hz
Portugal
230V
50Hz
Puerto Rico
120V
60Hz
Qatar
240V
50Hz
Réunion Island
230V
50Hz
Romania
230V
50Hz
Russian Federation
230V
50Hz
Rwanda
230V
50Hz
St. Kitts & Nevis Islands
230V
60Hz
St. Lucia Island
240V
50Hz
St. Vincent Island
230V
50Hz
Saudi Arabia
127/220V
60Hz
Senegal
230V
50Hz
Serbia & Montenegro
230V
50Hz
Seychelles
240V
50Hz
Sierra Leone
230V
50Hz
Singapore
230V
50Hz
Slovakia
230V
50Hz
Slovenia
230V
50Hz
Somalia
220V
50Hz
South Africa
230V
50Hz
Spain
230V
50Hz
Sri Lanka
230V
50Hz
Sudan
230V
50Hz
Suriname
127V
60Hz
Swaziland
230V
50Hz
Sweden
230V
50Hz
Switzerland
230V
50Hz
Syria
220V
50Hz
Tahiti
110/220V
60Hz
Tajikistan
220V
50Hz
Taiwan
110V
60Hz
Tanzania
230V
50Hz
Thailand
220V
50Hz
Togo
220V
50Hz
Tonga
240V
50Hz
Trinidad & Tobago
115V
60Hz
Tunisia
230V
50Hz
Turkey
230V
50Hz
Turkmenistan
220V
50Hz
Uganda
240V
50Hz
Ukraine
230V
50Hz
United Arab Emirates
220V
50Hz
United Kingdom
230V
50Hz
United States
110/220V
60Hz
Uruguay
220V
50Hz
Uzbekistan
220V
50Hz
Venezuela
120V
60Hz
Vietnam
220V
50Hz
Virgin Islands
110V
60Hz
Western Samoa
230V
50Hz
Yemen
230V
50Hz
Zambia
230V
50Hz
Zimbabwe
220V
50Hz
Exceptions
Some countries can't decide on a standard.
Brazil
In Brazil, most states use between 110V and 127V AC electricity. But many hotels use 220V. In the capital Brasilia and in the northeast of the country, they mainly use 220-240V.
Japan
In Japan, they use the same voltage everywhere, but the frequency differs from region to region. Eastern Japan, which includes Tokyo, uses 50Hz. In western Japan, which includes Osaka and Kyoto, they use 60 Hz.
The reason for this is that after World War II, Britain was in charge of helping reconstruct Japan's electrical system in the easter part of the country and the United States set up the electricity in the western part of Japan. Since Great Britain (United Kingdom) had been using 60Hz before the war and had just switched over to the European 240V 50Hz, it is strange that they set up Japan at 100V and 50Hz, especially when the U.S. was using 60Hz.
Having different voltages and frequencies within the country not only must be confusing for the people but also can result in extra costs for appliances and adapters.
Summary
The voltage and frequency of AC electricity varies from country to country throughout the world. Most use 220V and 50Hz. About 20% of the countries use 110V and/or 60Hz to power their homes. 220V and 60Hz are the most efficient values, but only a few countries use that combination. The United States uses 110V and 60Hz AC electricity.
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