Background of Worldwide AC

Voltages and Frequencies

Reference : Ron Kurtus

 50 Hz Vs 60 Hz
The standard voltage and frequency of
alternating current (AC) electricity used in homes
varies from country to country throughout the
world. Typically, either 110-volt AC (110V) or 220-
volt AC (220V) voltages are used. Also, most
countries use 50Hz (50 Hertz or 50 cycles per
second) as the AC frequency. Only a handful use
60Hz. The standard in the United States is 120V
and 60Hz AC electricity. However, due to
fluctuations, the average measured voltage is 117
VAC.
 How values were selected

Tesla starts AC
Early in the history of electricity, Thomas Edison's General Electric
Company was distributing DC electricity at 110 volts in the United
States. Then Nikola Tesla devised a system of three phase AC
electricity at 240 volts. Three-phase meant that three alternating
currents slightly out of phase were combined in order to even out
the great variations in voltage occurring in AC electricity. He had
calculated that 60 cycles per second or 60Hz was the most effective
frequency. Tesla later compromised to reduce the voltage to 120
volts for safety reasons.
With the backing of the Westinghouse Company, Tesla's AC system
became the standard in the United States. Westinghouse chose 60
Hz because the arc light carbons that were popular at that time
worked better at 60 Hz than at 50 Hz.
 Europe goes to 50Hz and 230V

Meanwhile, the German company AEG started

generating electricity and became a virtual
monopoly in Europe. They decided to use
50Hz instead of 60Hz to better fit their metric
standards, but they stayed with 120V.
Europe stayed at 120V AC until the 1950s, just
after World War II. They then switched over to
230V for better efficiency in electrical
transmission.
 U.S. stays at 120V, 60Hz

The United States also considered converting

to 220V for home use but felt it would be too
costly, due to all the 120V electrical appliances
people had. A compromise was made in the
U.S. in that 240V would come into the house
where it would be split to 120V to power most
appliances. Certain household appliances such
as the electric stove and electric clothes dryer
would be powered at 240V.
 Exceptions

For various reasons, Brazil and Japan have multiple standards.

Brazil
In Brazil, most states use between 110V and 127V AC electricity. But many hotels
use 220V. In the capital Brasilia and in the northeast of the country, they mainly
use 220-240V. All operate at 60 Hz.
Japan
In Japan, they use the same voltage everywhere, but the frequency differs from
region to region.
Eastern Japan, which includes Tokyo, uses 50Hz. In 1895, Japan purchased 50 Hz
electrical generators for Tokyo from the German company AEG. This was the same
as what was done in Europe. In 1896, the American company General Electric
provided 60Hz generators to cities in western Japan, which includes Osaka and
Kyoto.
It is unfortunate that they did not coordinate their efforts. Having different
voltages and frequencies within the country not only must be confusing for the
people but also can result in extra costs for appliances and adapters.
 Comparison
Frequency
60Hz
With 60Hz, the transformers can be smaller and less expensive than
for a 50Hz transformer. Although the difference is small, it can add
up in a system with many transformers. Using 60Hz results in less
flicker on lamps, but that really is not a factor these days.
Hum and frequency noise are more readily audible with 60Hz and
its harmonics than with 50Hz.
50Hz
With 50Hz, electric power transmission over long lines favors it over
60Hz. The effects of the distributed capacitance and inductance of
the line are also less at the lower frequency.
Although 50Hz transformers require more copper and iron, 60Hz
transformers require more expensive plates to prevent eddy current
losses.
 Voltages

Over the years, the trend has been towards

higher voltages. Although lower voltages are
safer, that is less of a concern these days with
strict codes and regulations.
In the United States, 2-wire 120 volt service has
been replaced with 3-wire 120/240 voltages or
with three phase 120/208 voltages. In Europe
many supplies were changed from 3 phase 4 wire
at 127/220 volt to 3 phase 4 wire at 220/380 volt.
In the UK most early supplies were 3 wire DC at
120 volts, but that was later changed to 240 volts.
 When visiting another country

Bringing an electrical appliance from one country to another may require some special converters,
transformers and adapters to allow the appliance or device to work properly.
Converters
Converters are typically used to decrease the AC voltage from 220V to the 110V level needed by the
appliance.
They are only used for simple electrical products such as hair dryers, steam irons, shavers, or small
fans. They are only used for short periods of time, can only be used for ungrounded appliances, and
must be unplugged from the wall when not in use.
Converters cannot be used by electronic devices such as radios or computers. A transformer is used
for those devices. The reason is that a converter simply cuts the AC sine wave in half, reducing the
voltage. Electronic devices need the full sine wave to function properly.
Some converters will also change AC to DC. An example is converting 120V AC to 12V DC.
Transformers
Transformers are used to increase or decrease the voltage and should be used with electronic
devices such as radios, televisions, computers and other devices having electronics circuitry.
Transformers are more expensive than converters. They can also be used with electric appliances
and may be operated continually for many days. A device like a hair dryer does not have any
electronic circuitry. It simply has a heating element and electric fan, so it can use either a converter
or transformer.
 When visiting another country
Dual voltage devices
Some devices have a built-in converter or transformer, such that they are called
dual voltage devices. Most laptop battery chargers and AC adapters are dual
voltage, so they can be used with only a plug adapter for the country you are
visiting.
Plug Adapters
Outlet plugs are different in the various countries. Plug adapter must often be
used when visiting a different country. These adapters do not convert electricity.
Rather, they simply allow a dual voltage appliance, transformer or converter from
one country to be plugged into the wall outlet of another country.
Frequency difference
Converters and transformers only change the voltage and not the frequency. The
result is that a motor in a 50Hz appliance will operate slightly faster on 60Hz
electricity. Likewise, a clock made for 60Hz will run slower in a country using the
50Hz frequency.
Most modern electronic equipment like computers, printers, DVD players and
stereos are usually not affected by the frequency difference.
 Summary

The voltage and frequency of AC electricity

varies from country to country throughout the
world. Most use 230V and 50Hz. About 20% of
the countries use 110V and/or 60Hz to power
their homes. 240V and 60Hz are the most
efficient values, but only a few countries use
that combination. The United States uses
120V and 60Hz AC electricity.