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Why USA use 110v/60Hz instead of 230V/50hz ?


Why USA use 110v/60Hz instead of 230V/50hz ?

 Look at this picture..


Well there is not any technical reason for this, its just historic.

We all know Thomas alva Edison   invented practical incandescent bulb that glows on direct current more than 1500hrs in 1880’s. Untill that bulbs were always connected to the  battery. So then he decides build a transmission system to implement his invention in all house hold and streets in America.
In 1882, he build power plant in Newyork which is said to be the first commercial power plant. Edison intended to give 100V supply to consumers and build a 110V dc generating powerplant so that extra 10V (which is 10%) will compensate the loss that occurs due to the resistance of the transmission lines.
But due to this low voltage, a high current flows through transmission lines and hence the I^2R losses increases resulting a  high voltage drop. Due to the drop, 110v was only capable for a transmission of nearly 1km and they also used thick copper conductors for transmission purpose
So Edison decides to build power plant for each and every 1km which is not economical and so meaned at that time but their is no alternative way to establish it.

On the other side experiments on alternating current was going popular in Europe countries. They introduced 110v/130Hz, on which same incandescent and carbon arc lamp will also work, but it is not the same case in dc motor. The reason they used 130Hz is to avoid the flickering on bulbs.
The Alternating Current system  are so welcomed at that time as it would step up or step down the voltages levels with help of transformer for efficient use of transmission systems.

In 1885 an American scientists named George Washington getting the pattern from former England scientist launched a transmission system in Newyork by stepping up and down from 1000v to 110v by transformer which became a huge success for him. But the problem with dc motor still continues as it is a necessary need for industrial purpose.

After the inventory of two phase system in 1888, the well known man Nikola tesla came into action with George, introduced his polyphase ac motor but due to high frequency the loss(hysteresis and eddy current) losses were high so decided to reduce the frequency but not too low so that he can avoid the flickering of bulbs. He sets the Frequency to 60hz (considering 60 cycles per second).
This is how they standardized 110v/60hz . 

So what about the Europian countries ?

They also reduced their frequency level to 50Hz according to their metric standards (eg., 1,2,5 rs coins or 10,20 or 50 rs notes) and so they were set to 120V  and 50 Hz until the big demolishment of second world war.
As most of the European countries were completely demolished during war, they decided to change from their 120v to 230v during their development after the war, which which would be more efficient for transmission and cost effective.

The Americans were also intended to change but it would cost a much higher than the costs involved  of their less efficiency system, as they need to completely re-engineer the transmission system and need to change all the appliance of households. And also the heat dissipated is set to their climatic conditions.
This 110V is also not harmful to human. 

But still they can get 220v supply by the use of three phase systems  for powering some appliances.

As India and other Asian countries were colonized by British they also follow the same system.

Hope you have learnt something new from this. If you have any doubts regarding the topic you can ask in the comment section.

Takecare...Cheers...Bye
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Location: India

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