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

Re:Why does the USA use 110V and UK use 230-240V? by chipsa on Wednesday August 30, 2023 @01:45AM (#37318140)

"Standardized". The allowable voltage for power is normally something like 6%. When they switched from the mis-mash of 220 and 240V to 230V, they specified the allowable voltage range was wide enough to encompass both of those, including the allowable voltage range for 240V. So largely it was just "Everything is 230V now, and try to make sure new stuff is actually 230V".

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Re:Why does the USA use 110V and UK use 230-240V? by tomatocracy on Wednesday August 30, 2023 @02:47AM (#37318503)

Yes. “Standardising” to 230V +/-10%, allows for 220/230/240V +/-6% (the previous standards used in different countries) to all coexist without actually changing any equipment.

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Re:Why does the USA use 110V and UK use 230-240V? by Maxion on Wednesday August 30, 2023 @04:03PM (#37328173)

My UPS most of the time reports just under 240v.

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