General > General Technical Chat
The US electrical system
tooki:
--- Quote from: ciccio on June 24, 2020, 03:08:08 pm ---I'm shocked by the 200 Amps main breaker. Here in Italy a standard family has a 3.0 to 5.5 kVA contract, which means a 16 or 20 Amp breaker.
The new meters (the ones that allow for remote reading) are programmed for a maximum load of 3.3 kVA continous (in my case, with a 3.0 kVA contract) and it will trip if you drain more than the max for a long time (minutes?).
A contract with larger limits has higher costs.
I understand the US electric supply does not discourage customers from using a lot of energy (as long as they pay the bills), but in Europe a limited amouut of current to the users side allows for better planning of the network.
--- End quote ---
LOL what? I live in a one bedroom apartment, and in my panel, I have 3x 13A circuits for outlets and lights, then 3x 13A for the washer, dryer, and dishwasher, and then 16A three-phase for the oven and stove (hob). And this is considered on the weak side by today’s standards here in Switzerland. (And this is in an apartment with central hot water and radiator heat, so not heated by my own electrical.)
IanB:
So nobody has commented on his observation that 208 V provides 86.6% less power to heaters than 240 V? When in fact the ratio is 75%?
I would be bummed about that. 4500 W on the water heater at 240 V was reduced to 3380 W at 208 V.
I'm sure he meant to say 75% but somehow misspoke.
NiHaoMike:
--- Quote from: themadhippy on June 24, 2020, 09:44:47 pm ---7kw to dry yer clothes, aint you guys heard of washing lines
--- End quote ---
Modern heat pump dryers are pretty efficient, some even run on a normal 120V circuit.
--- Quote from: IanB on June 25, 2020, 03:42:53 am ---So nobody has commented on his observation that 208 V provides 86.6% less power to heaters than 240 V? When in fact the ratio is 75%?
I would be bummed about that. 4500 W on the water heater at 240 V was reduced to 3380 W at 208 V.
I'm sure he meant to say 75% but somehow misspoke.
--- End quote ---
The "2/3" 120/208V system is common in apartments and condos in densely populated cities. There, heating appliances running cooler keeps apartment owners happy by reducing maintenance costs.
james_s:
--- Quote from: IanB on June 25, 2020, 03:42:53 am ---So nobody has commented on his observation that 208 V provides 86.6% less power to heaters than 240 V? When in fact the ratio is 75%?
I would be bummed about that. 4500 W on the water heater at 240 V was reduced to 3380 W at 208 V.
I'm sure he meant to say 75% but somehow misspoke.
--- End quote ---
You can get 208V water heaters and room heaters, I don't know how often they actually get used in those applications but they are available. 208V is pretty much universal in larger apartment buildings, they're fed with 3 phase with 2 phases to each unit.
Bud:
--- Quote from: ciccio on June 24, 2020, 03:23:14 pm ---If you are in the US and you have an heater in a room, (e-g- an electric stove), it will be powered via a ridicolus plug at 120 V.
--- End quote ---
It is a 2 phase 240v plug. Typically used by electric dryers and kitchen stoves.
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