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> I'm also happy to see systems like this that run without exotic water cooling and 240V power. Always funny to see 240V power described as exotic (or at least

> I'm also happy to see systems like this that run without exotic water cooling and 240V power. Always funny to see 240V power described as exotic (or at least exotic-adjacent). It's the standard across practically the entire world except North and Central America!

unscaled 2y ago
That would actually be 230V in most countries to be nitpicky. And the split-phase nature of 240V in the US (or 200V here in Japan) does make it somewhat more exotic. I guess building codes may be more expensive when you've got two hot wires?
UltraSane 2y ago
Every home in the US with an electric stove or water heater is using 240v electricity. It isn't really very exotic. 3 phase power to homes IS very exotic though and I'm not sure why it would be useful in homes.
- ssl-3 2y ago
  In Norway, I understand that electric ranges are commonly cabled up with 3-phase wire that's about the size of a not-special extension cord here in the States. They accomplish this by using 400v. Meanwhile, also here in the States: The wiring for my very normal (240v) electric range is the size of a baby's arm and might be even stiffer. (That last claim may be a bit hyperbolic: I've bent at least my share of 6/3 wire, but I don't think I've ever bent a baby's arm.)
  - UltraSane 2y ago
    The 400v is the important part. Not common at all in US homes but is very common in US factories.
- kiney 2y ago
  3 phase power is near universal inncentral and northern europe. And it's useful for powering saunas, electric warm water or bigger tools
  - UltraSane 2y ago
    why? The benefits of 3-phase power are really only used by factories with lots of large electric motors. 3 phase has no benefit for resistance heating.
    - korhojoa 2y ago
      You can move more power per conductor with three conductors than with two. As a sidenote, my apartment has a 3x63A main fuse. Three-phase is everywhere here. Really convenient for ev charging too.
      - UltraSane 2y ago
        Delivering 100 amps over 240 volt is not an issue.
      - worthless-trash 2y ago
        And welding .. nice when you have to use it.
- methyl 2y ago
  Charging electric vehicles.
remram 2y ago
They actually distribute 240V in USAmerica, one neutral wire and two opposite-phase 120V wires. Outlets in homes are 120V but wiring 240V is not difficult. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Split-phase_electric_power https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Split-phase_electric_power This is different from Europe where we usually distribute 3 phases 130V.
- just6979 2y ago
  > but wiring 240V is not difficult. Most homes don't have more than a few 240v circuits, and they are usually always dedicated to a single device. My house has 4: range, oven, drier, water heater, all with only a single outlet. The concept of wiring split-phase 240V is not difficult, but getting 4-conductor 12-gauge wiring run to a new location in an existing building is not exactly easy. So, the power delivery type/format _isn't_ exotic, but the ability to use it in arbitrary locations in a [residential] building, compared to 120V being in every room (though perhaps not 120V/20A in every room)
  - ssl-3 2y ago
    Sure, but wiring 240v is still not difficult -- even in the States. The physical act of wiring 240v is on par with that of wiring 120v.
  - BizarroLand 2y ago
    I have 4 a well, but in my case it's Range/oven, Dryer, Water heater, and a 240v outlet in my garage that would be great for either recharging an electric vehicle or powering high voltage tools like a welder/plasma cutter.
- ta988 2y ago
  3 phases 230v you mean?
  - lioeters 2y ago
    > In Europe, three-phase 230/400 V is most commonly used. However, 130/225 V, three-wire, two-phase electric power discontinued systems called B1 are used to run old installations in small groups of houses when only two of the three-phase high-voltage conductors are used.
geerlingguy 2y ago
To be clear the water cooling part is what I meant to be 'exotic'. 240V is pretty prevalent in datacenters or network closets when specced, but is rarely seen outside of large appliance installs in US homes and small offices.

unscaled 2y ago

That would actually be 230V in most countries to be nitpicky. And the split-phase nature of 240V in the US (or 200V here in Japan) does make it somewhat more exotic. I guess building codes may be more expensive when you've got two hot wires?

UltraSane 2y ago

Every home in the US with an electric stove or water heater is using 240v electricity. It isn't really very exotic. 3 phase power to homes IS very exotic though and I'm not sure why it would be useful in homes.

ssl-3 2y ago
In Norway, I understand that electric ranges are commonly cabled up with 3-phase wire that's about the size of a not-special extension cord here in the States. They accomplish this by using 400v. Meanwhile, also here in the States: The wiring for my very normal (240v) electric range is the size of a baby's arm and might be even stiffer. (That last claim may be a bit hyperbolic: I've bent at least my share of 6/3 wire, but I don't think I've ever bent a baby's arm.)
- UltraSane 2y ago
  The 400v is the important part. Not common at all in US homes but is very common in US factories.
kiney 2y ago
3 phase power is near universal inncentral and northern europe. And it's useful for powering saunas, electric warm water or bigger tools
- UltraSane 2y ago
  why? The benefits of 3-phase power are really only used by factories with lots of large electric motors. 3 phase has no benefit for resistance heating.
  - korhojoa 2y ago
    You can move more power per conductor with three conductors than with two. As a sidenote, my apartment has a 3x63A main fuse. Three-phase is everywhere here. Really convenient for ev charging too.
    - UltraSane 2y ago
      Delivering 100 amps over 240 volt is not an issue.
    - worthless-trash 2y ago
      And welding .. nice when you have to use it.
methyl 2y ago
Charging electric vehicles.

remram 2y ago

They actually distribute 240V in USAmerica, one neutral wire and two opposite-phase 120V wires. Outlets in homes are 120V but wiring 240V is not difficult. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Split-phase_electric_power https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Split-phase_electric_power This is different from Europe where we usually distribute 3 phases 130V.

just6979 2y ago
> but wiring 240V is not difficult. Most homes don't have more than a few 240v circuits, and they are usually always dedicated to a single device. My house has 4: range, oven, drier, water heater, all with only a single outlet. The concept of wiring split-phase 240V is not difficult, but getting 4-conductor 12-gauge wiring run to a new location in an existing building is not exactly easy. So, the power delivery type/format _isn't_ exotic, but the ability to use it in arbitrary locations in a [residential] building, compared to 120V being in every room (though perhaps not 120V/20A in every room)
- ssl-3 2y ago
  Sure, but wiring 240v is still not difficult -- even in the States. The physical act of wiring 240v is on par with that of wiring 120v.
- BizarroLand 2y ago
  I have 4 a well, but in my case it's Range/oven, Dryer, Water heater, and a 240v outlet in my garage that would be great for either recharging an electric vehicle or powering high voltage tools like a welder/plasma cutter.
ta988 2y ago
3 phases 230v you mean?
- lioeters 2y ago
  > In Europe, three-phase 230/400 V is most commonly used. However, 130/225 V, three-wire, two-phase electric power discontinued systems called B1 are used to run old installations in small groups of houses when only two of the three-phase high-voltage conductors are used.

geerlingguy 2y ago

To be clear the water cooling part is what I meant to be 'exotic'. 240V is pretty prevalent in datacenters or network closets when specced, but is rarely seen outside of large appliance installs in US homes and small offices.