110V vs. 120V

[itat]

On many, many posts, members here seem to use “110” when the current “alternating current” standard is 120V. It’s become a pet peeve for me. I wondered why so many people say 110V so I asked professor Google and it recommended this interesting video explaining 110 vs 120 and 220 vs 240. I figured I can’t be the only one wondering why people seem to use both so here is a link to that YouTube video.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=RugwZbd0ECc

[TacomaJoe]

I'm a 120 guy, however being 70 years old, I was exposed to 110 as well. I can relate to my past traffic signal work, the lamps we used in the signals were all rated at 130 volt. The trick being that a 130V lamp running on 120V will last much longer before burning out. Of course that was the old days when we used lamps, now we LED modules that last forever.

In a similar vein, what do you have on the DC side. Everyone says 12 volt DC, but if mine was at 12V, I'd start my trouble shooting. I'm looking at 13.25 right now.

Another wrench to throw in from my street lighting days was 208VAC which is coming from a 240V 3 phase set up. Our streetlights are 120V, 208V or 240V for the typical lights. The old old system, series lighting (think old Christmas lights) used a single wire running up the street and each lamp was about 22V.

[D W]

Had the 110V Vs. 120V conundrum explained to me many, many years ago in high school physical science class. Don't really give it much thought anymore.

[Boomerweps]

When I was a lad, 115VAC was the listed standard on electrical and electronics gear.

[NMWildcat]

Most appliances are built to work with 105v to 126v. In the US, 110 and 120 is the same exact physical outlet. Yes, the standard is 120v for voltage on a single hot wire in respect to neutral even though it will likely measure 115v or less at the outlet or end of an extension cord. So sure, the correct terminology is 120v, but everybody knows exactly what someone means when they say 110v or 115v instead.
I have better things to get my chonies in a bunch over

[itat]

Oh, I totally understand that they mean the same thing but I just didn’t know where the 110 originated. I am younger than the average FRF member so I guess that may be why I hadn’t been exposed to the history even though I took electrical shop in high school.

[Chuck_S]

Like he says in the first minute of the video "we're all talking about the same thing." The details for we mere mortals are true trivia and covered in the rest of the video. My voltage in my office right this minute is 122.4v.

Watts are volts x amps and watts are watts regardless of the voltage. If we need 2400 watts that's 20a at 120v but 22a at 110. Still a low number. But if campground voltage drops very low -- I saw 90v once -- we need more amps and amps cause heat which can melt plugs and sockets. That s 27a by the way, nearly full capacity for a 30a camper.

I told my bride that when she got to age 40 I was gonna trade her in for two 20s. She told me I wasn't wired for 220.

-- Chuck

[D W]

Originally Posted by itat

Oh, I totally understand that they mean the same thing but I just didn’t know where the 110 originated. I am younger than the average FRF member so I guess that may be why I hadn’t been exposed to the history even though I took electrical shop in high school.

It stems from a time, back in the day, when the grid had less than efficient transmission lines. Fast forward to today and our current transmission lines are now out of date according to the demand. We haven't built any new transmission lines in the U.S. in almost 40 years, for reasons that I won't get into.

[NMWildcat]

Originally Posted by itat

Oh, I totally understand that they mean the same thing but I just didn’t know where the 110 originated. I am younger than the average FRF member so I guess that may be why I hadn’t been exposed to the history even though I took electrical shop in high school.

You trying to say most of us in here are old geezers? You are probably correct
My wife just bought me a shirt that says, "Built in the 50s, original and unrestored. Some parts still in working order."
My smartass grandson asked if that was 1750 or 1850.....

[KMP44]

Originally Posted by Chuck_S

I told my bride that when she got to age 40 I was gonna trade her in for two 20s. She told me I wasn't wired for 220.

-- Chuck

Now that's funny!

[Theo]

Being a septuagenarian, it wasn't until high school that my physics teacher explained the 120V thing. I'm just glad that we went with Tesla's transmission scheme instead of Edison's!

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by Theo

Being a septuagenarian, it wasn't until high school that my physics teacher explained the 120V thing. I'm just glad that we went with Tesla's transmission scheme instead of Edison's!

If we were really smart we would have adopted the European (and other countries) voltage standard.

They use a 230 volt AC standard for lighting and small appliances. 400 volts for heavy duty items like pump/compressor motors, etc.

Smaller wires (translating to less copper) are possible throughout the system and a whole bunch of other savings.

We're still stuck back in the early 1900's.

[jbflag21ds]

The various words we use to describe it may be one thing, but when doing the math you need to use the correct numbers if you are at the edge of wire/break sizing.

[lwbfl]

It's kinda like "hot water heater". It's not correct (unless you have a temp booster) but we all know what they mean. Firearm vs Weapon, Pistol -vs- Revolver......

[dsjohns71]

Originally Posted by itat

Oh, I totally understand that they mean the same thing but I just didn’t know where the 110 originated. I am younger than the average FRF member so I guess that may be why I hadn’t been exposed to the history even though I took electrical shop in high school.

I’m with ya itat, it’s a pet peeve of mine too and see on here all the time and wanna say something, but just chuckle and move on..

[Larry L]

Since voltage out of the hole in the wall can vary from 115 to 125 depending on many factors, any number will do. When I was young, many circuits were labeled 117 VAC at 60 Cycles.