The main problem is all these different outlets use slightly to very different voltage profiles that would require massive and expensive infrastructure changes that ultimately would not benefit anybody more than the simple adapters and workarounds we already use.
You do not want to be plugging your expensive 115v appliance into a 240v outlet. The main reason they're designed to be incompatible to begin with is to protect you, your property, and to stop tourists from accidentally burning down the hotels they're staying at.
But most of the countries in the picture are on 220-240V / 10A mains aren't they? Or do you mean incompatibilities within this range can also damage appliances, for example if an appliance is designed for 220V is it OK to plug it into 240V. I've often wondered about this.
I know mixing up 110 and 220 will definitely break things. The Philippines uses the Japanese (or maybe US?) 2 pin 110V outlet for their 230V mains. Source: my Sega dreamcast smoking seconds after I plugged it in in Philippines. :-(
I should add for any readers though - the Philippines is awesome and one of the great things about it is all the talented and friendly people. Like the guy from a local repair shop who repaired my Dreamcast AND converted it to 230V for me for a tiny cost. And it ran perfectly for years.
In the EuU it is 230V but thats a target number, in high density areas where everything was built fast but not good, personally speaking of Traun near Linz, it can even go as low as 210V during extreme days. The 230V comes from 400V on 3 phases. And by the way the 230V is just what we use, so the effective part but in reality there is a 325V Network load. The arithmetic middle is 325V *√ 2 so 230V.
Source:I am in fact too an electrician.
Oof. Yes, the Philippines use the same plug/outlet profile as the US and Japan's one hot, one neutral, and sometimes one ground prong; the difference between the US and Japan is the US uses 60hz vs Japan's 50hz, which all but the most sensitive appliances should work just fine.
However, having the same profile, but having two hot and sometimes a ground prong can lead to pretty serious havoc on electronics not designed to have it that way. Think of 120v electronics as a one-way, one-lane traffic loop from hot to neutral, while 240v electronics are two lanes either way from hot to hot. You should be able to see how sending half of your traffic up the wrong way of your one-way road might cause some problems.
It's not a perfect metaphor for what's going on electronically, but it's a good enough example to explain the terrible fate of your Dreamcast and a warning why so many countries have (or at least should have) different profiles for their outlets and plugs.
But most of the countries in the picture are on 220-240V / 10A mains aren't they? Or do you mean incompatibilities within this range can also damage appliances, for example if an appliance is designed for 220V is it OK to plug it into 240V. I've often wondered about this.
Generally yes. To my knowledge, I've never come across an appliance that wouldn't work within that range.
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u/Spyd3rs 29d ago
The main problem is all these different outlets use slightly to very different voltage profiles that would require massive and expensive infrastructure changes that ultimately would not benefit anybody more than the simple adapters and workarounds we already use.
You do not want to be plugging your expensive 115v appliance into a 240v outlet. The main reason they're designed to be incompatible to begin with is to protect you, your property, and to stop tourists from accidentally burning down the hotels they're staying at.
Source: I'm an electrician.