3 ms·

> Of course I know charging an entire country's plugs isn't an overnight thing but it should be something under consideration. Of course changing an entire cou

> Of course I know charging an entire country's plugs isn't an overnight thing but it should be something under consideration. Of course changing an entire country from the (slightly more) dangerous 230 to the much safer 110 should be considered as well... In reality the plugs and also the voltage don't seem to be major safety issues. (Also fwiw US plugs are generally TRRs now which do prevent the more common situations.)

josephcsible 5y ago
Uh, 110 was a mistake for efficiency reasons and 230 is basically no more dangerous, since 110 is already lethal. If the US changes all our plugs, we should change to 230 for everything too.
- smolder 5y ago
  But 110 helps drum up the copper mining and wire making business!
- kortilla 5y ago
  Why not 480 by that logic?
  - josephcsible 5y ago
    At 480, you get the new hazard of arc flashes.
  - Ekaros 5y ago
    2 or 3-phase is good question as well. 230V on average is enough and if more is needed adding phases is better option.
justsomehnguy 5y ago
> (slightly more) dangerous 230 to the much safer 110 should be considered as well... Thanks, I prefer my kettle to boil in 3 minutes, not 30. And 110V is still way more than any "non-lethal" voltage. Considering what the most deaths from the contact with the electricity is the result of doing something extremely stupid - I don't think it would make a noticeable difference. More so, knowing people it would make more deaths, because "it is safer now!".
- kube-system 5y ago
  We have 240v appliances in the US. We have split phase power where we have 120v going to most things and 240v circuits run specifically to higher power devices. We just don’t put them in bedrooms and living rooms.
- jpindar 5y ago
  I have a 110 volt electric kettle, and it does not take 30 minutes to boil.
conk 5y ago
TRR won’t help if you deliberately half insert a plug and toss a penny in as suggested in this “challenge”. Also fwiw US residential power is 120/240V. Actual voltage can vary but should be within +/-5%.
- esprehn 5y ago
  UK voltage is 230 which is what I was referencing
rsynnott 5y ago
> Of course changing an entire country from the (slightly more) dangerous 230 to the much safer 110 should be considered as well... Eh. So, both are only dangerous where the electrical installation is defective. At that point they're differently dangerous. If someone is able to make contact with live (via for instance an exposed wire or defective plug design) then 230V is a bit more dangerous. If the wiring is marginal, then 110V is more dangerous (in that, with reasonable household wiring, it will heat more and is more liable to cause a fire). Given that I have a modern socket type (BS1363) I'm more comfortable with 230V, as, if there's botched wiring somewhere I can't see, it's somewhat less likely to be fire-hazard-y.

josephcsible 5y ago

Uh, 110 was a mistake for efficiency reasons and 230 is basically no more dangerous, since 110 is already lethal. If the US changes all our plugs, we should change to 230 for everything too.

smolder 5y ago
But 110 helps drum up the copper mining and wire making business!
kortilla 5y ago
Why not 480 by that logic?
- josephcsible 5y ago
  At 480, you get the new hazard of arc flashes.
- Ekaros 5y ago
  2 or 3-phase is good question as well. 230V on average is enough and if more is needed adding phases is better option.

justsomehnguy 5y ago

> (slightly more) dangerous 230 to the much safer 110 should be considered as well... Thanks, I prefer my kettle to boil in 3 minutes, not 30. And 110V is still way more than any "non-lethal" voltage. Considering what the most deaths from the contact with the electricity is the result of doing something extremely stupid - I don't think it would make a noticeable difference. More so, knowing people it would make more deaths, because "it is safer now!".

kube-system 5y ago
We have 240v appliances in the US. We have split phase power where we have 120v going to most things and 240v circuits run specifically to higher power devices. We just don’t put them in bedrooms and living rooms.
jpindar 5y ago
I have a 110 volt electric kettle, and it does not take 30 minutes to boil.

conk 5y ago

TRR won’t help if you deliberately half insert a plug and toss a penny in as suggested in this “challenge”. Also fwiw US residential power is 120/240V. Actual voltage can vary but should be within +/-5%.

esprehn 5y ago
UK voltage is 230 which is what I was referencing

rsynnott 5y ago

> Of course changing an entire country from the (slightly more) dangerous 230 to the much safer 110 should be considered as well... Eh. So, both are only dangerous where the electrical installation is defective. At that point they're differently dangerous. If someone is able to make contact with live (via for instance an exposed wire or defective plug design) then 230V is a bit more dangerous. If the wiring is marginal, then 110V is more dangerous (in that, with reasonable household wiring, it will heat more and is more liable to cause a fire). Given that I have a modern socket type (BS1363) I'm more comfortable with 230V, as, if there's botched wiring somewhere I can't see, it's somewhat less likely to be fire-hazard-y.