110-220 Volt Definition

Collapse
This topic is closed.
X
X
 
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
  • Ken Massingale
    Veteran Member
    • Dec 2002
    • 3862
    • Liberty, SC, USA.
    • Ridgid TS3650

    110-220 Volt Definition

    There have been several electrical discussions recently. After many hours of intense research, I finally can provide the TRUTH!!!
    Now everyone can possess the whole of human knowledge on the subject
    (Actually, I stole this off another site)[)]

    I think its time for me to explain about 220 current and why it is so different from 110 volt service. First of all, it's twice as big.

    Secondly, it'll shock you more. Outside of that, 220 is really two 110 volt lines coming to your house from different parts of the globe.

    The up and down 110 comes from the northern hemisphere, and the down and up version comes from below the equator.

    Without trying to get technical, it all boils down to the direction water flows when it goes down the drain. In the top of the earth, it goes clockwise, while on the bottom of the earth it goes counter clockwise. Since most electricity is made from hydro dams, the clockwise flow gives you an up and down sine wave, while the counterclockwise version gives you a down and up sine wave. Between the two, you have 220 volts, while either individual side only gives you 110 volts.

    This is partiularly important to know when buying power tools- which side of the globe did they come from? If you get an Australian saw, for instance, it will turn backwards if connected to a US generated 110 volt source. Sure, you can buy backwards blades for it, but that is an unnecessary burden. Other appliances, like toasters cannot be converted from Australian electricity to American electricity, without horrible results. I knew one person who bought an Australian toaster by mistake and it froze the slices of bread she put in it.

    If you wire your shop with 220 and accidentally get two US-generated 110 volt lines run in by accident, you can get 220 by using a trick I learned from an old electrician. Just put each source into its own fuse box and then turn one of the boxes upside down. That'll invert one of the two up and down sine waves to down and up, giving you 220. DO NOT just turn the box sideways, since that'll give you 165 volts and you'll be limited to just using Candian tools with it.

  • Pappy
    The Full Monte
    • Dec 2002
    • 10453
    • San Marcos, TX, USA.
    • BT3000 (x2)

    #2
    After 2 hours on a pressure washer trying to clean the engine parts and bay on my truck, I needed that!
    Don, aka Pappy,

    Wise men talk because they have something to say,
    Fools because they have to say something.
    Plato

    Comment

    • monte
      Forum Windbag
      • Dec 2002
      • 5242
      • Paw Paw, MI, USA.
      • GI 50-185M

      #3
      I think you have it Ken!
      Monte (another darksider)
      Reporting Live from somewhere near Kalamazoo

      http://community.webshots.com/user/monte49002

      Comment

      • Perfidiajoe
        Veteran Member
        • Jan 2004
        • 1170
        • Copiague, New York, USA.

        #4
        But why can't I ever get new electricity, whenever I get the bill from the power company, it states electricity used. I want new electricity!!! And since it's A.C. current does it go back to them, & do they sell me the same electricity over again, is that what they mean used?
        It's got to be us, because there are a lot more of them!

        Comment

        • Ken Weaver
          Veteran Member
          • Feb 2004
          • 2417
          • Clemson, SC, USA
          • Rigid TS3650

          #5
          Oh - so that's how it works
          Ken Weaver
          Clemson, SC

          "A mistake is absolute proof that someone tried to do something!

          Comment

          • stewchi
            Established Member
            • Apr 2003
            • 339
            • Chattanooga, TN.

            #6
            I count 7 rules/laws broken, who's got eight?

            Comment

            • cdmango
              Established Member
              • Jan 2003
              • 106
              • Burlington, Ontario, Canada.

              #7
              I can vouch for the 165 volts here

              Oh, yeah ... to clarify, water at the equator just drops straight down the drain ...
              Gary



              Flexible people don\'t get bent out of shape.

              Comment

              • ElRay
                Established Member
                • Jan 2003
                • 367
                • NoIL

                #8
                quote:Originally posted by stewchi

                I count 7 rules/laws broken, who's got eight?
                Did you count the clockwise/counter-clockwise spinning water, even fools some science teachers, example of bad science?

                Ray

                "A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects."
                --- Robert A. Heinlein

                Comment

                • meika123
                  Senior Member
                  • Dec 2002
                  • 887
                  • Advance, NC, USA.
                  • BT3000

                  #9
                  You guys have entirely "[u]TOO MUCH</u>" free time on your hands.


                  Dave in NC
                  Stress is when you wake up screaming and then you realize you haven't fallen asleep yet.

                  Comment

                  • glencross
                    Established Member
                    • May 2005
                    • 105
                    • canoe, british columbia, Canada.

                    #10

                    165 in canada? WHAT PART?!*

                    Comment

                    • Stick
                      Senior Member
                      • Sep 2003
                      • 872
                      • Grand Rapids, MB, Canada.
                      • BT3100

                      #11
                      quote:Originally posted by glencross


                      165 in canada? WHAT PART?!*
                      Newfoundland, I bet. They do everything half way between the rest of us! (Like their half hour time zone) No, wait. That would make theirs 180V. LOL!

                      Comment

                      • LinuxRandal
                        Veteran Member
                        • Feb 2005
                        • 4889
                        • Independence, MO, USA.
                        • bt3100

                        #12
                        So 208 3 phase, had to do with the Philidelphia experiment and getting the third phase from an alternate reality then, huh?
                        She couldn't tell the difference between the escape pod, and the bathroom. We had to go back for her.........................Twice.

                        Comment

                        • pierhogunn
                          Veteran Member
                          • Sep 2003
                          • 1567
                          • Harrisburg, NC, USA.

                          #13
                          I would spray my Mt. Dew on my keyboard, but it is just too darn tasty, but that was funny, I don't care who you are

                          Dan in PROC
                          It's Like I've always said, it's amazing what an agnostic can't do if he dosent know whether he believes in anything or not

                          Monty Python's Flying Circus

                          Dan in Harrisburg, NC

                          Comment

                          • Stick
                            Senior Member
                            • Sep 2003
                            • 872
                            • Grand Rapids, MB, Canada.
                            • BT3100

                            #14
                            quote:Originally posted by LinuxRandal

                            So 208 3 phase, had to do with the Philidelphia experiment and getting the third phase from an alternate reality then, huh?
                            I hope not. I have 208-3Ø on the farm, as well as 600V and 480V

                            Comment

                            • mater
                              Veteran Member
                              • Jan 2004
                              • 4197
                              • SC, USA.

                              #15
                              I guess that explains it Ken.
                              Ken aka "mater"

                              " People may doubt what you say but they will never doubt what you do "

                              Ken's Den

                              Comment

                              Working...