Re:Why does the USA use 110V and UK use 230-240V?
by coding123 on Tuesday August 29, 2023 @02:08PM
(#37311647)
Just for knowledge sake: you are correct that there are 4 wires:
1 - hot 1 120 v
2 - hot 2 120 v
3 - neutral
4 - ground
The hot 1 and 2 are 180 degrees out of phase with each other which is why 240v appliances can consider having those 2 wires (and at least the neutral) to be a 240v appliance.
And to be more pedantic about it, the ground is not provided not by the power company but the ground. I have 3 lines coming from the grid to my pole, line 1, 2 and the neutral that is created by the transformer. The ground comes from my ground - a long copper wire that goes a few feet down and back up. All ground connections in the (future) house will go there. Ground is also bonded with neutral at the box on my pole.
And to be more pedantic about it, the ground is not provided not by the power company but the ground. I have 3 lines coming from the grid to my pole, line 1, 2 and the neutral that is created by the transformer. The ground comes from my ground - a long copper wire that goes a few feet down and back up. All ground connections in the (future) house will go there. Ground is also bonded with neutral at the box on my pole.