alt.energy.homepower

-> Daniel Who Wants to Know wrote:

-> > I recently lost 2 26W (100W equivelant) GE helical CFLs (FLE26HT3/2/SW) in
-> > day due to having a 10,800 BTUH window air conditioner on the same circuit
-> > causing low line voltage.

-> Just how low ? I've always thought that 120V circuits were nuts. Europe does
-> have this problem with our 230V circuits.

-> Graham

They have different problems. Europeans, with 220 (or so) volts, worry
about electrocution. North Americans, with 110 volts, worry about
fires. Lower voltage requires higher current to get the same power,
with a greater risk of overheating.

But what North Americans have that Europeans do not have, in domestic
situations, is a *choice* of voltages. 110 and 220 volts are both
directly available from the electricity supply that comes in to every
house, apartment, etc.. In practice, high-power appliances are run off
220 volts, to keep the current down. Low-power stuff, lights, home
electronics, etc., are run off 110.

It's actually a pretty good system.

dow