Why does the USA use 110V and UK use 230-240V?

Re:Why does the USA use 110V and UK use 230-240V? by jqpabc123 on Tuesday August 29, 2023 @08:09AM (#37306518)

Plugs are only part of the safety issue.

Wire insulation deteriorates over time. Rodents like to chew through it. Water can find it's way in through plumbing or roof leaks. Higher voltage is more likely to start a fire in these instances.

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Re:Why does the USA use 110V and UK use 230-240V? by izacus on Tuesday August 29, 2023 @11:51AM (#37309725)

Are there any stats showing that Europe has more issues with electricutions and electrical fires?

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Re:Why does the USA use 110V and UK use 230-240V? by jqpabc123 on Tuesday August 29, 2023 @01:05PM (#37310808)

According to the European Fire Safety Alliance:

    The total number of fires of electrical origin in the EU is estimated to be 273,000 per year.

According to the US National Fire Protection Assocation:

    Fire departments responded to an estimated average of 46,700 home fires involving electrical failure or malfunction each year in 2015–2019.

Stats aside, which do you think will cause a bigger spark, 110 or 220?

https://www.europeanfiresafetyalliance.org/publications/whit...

https://www.nfpa.org/News-and-Research/Data-research-and-too...

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Re:Why does the USA use 110V and UK use 230-240V? by bluGill on Tuesday August 29, 2023 @04:05PM (#37313173)

Those numbers are not the same. EU is covering everything, while US only home fires. And there is a significant population difference in play as well.

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