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Why Balcony Solar Panels Haven’t Taken Off in the US
(www.wired.com)
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this post was submitted on 20 May 2025
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American electrical systems are split phase 240V. If you want 240V, you just connect between both halves of the phase.
America has a lot of stupid, but the majority our electrical systems are very much NOT one of them.
I mean, your outlets definitely are, compared to what we have as a standard.
I will take Technology Connections' opinion on it over yours, but yes having two pin outlets where if you start plugging it in the live connection is exposed during the process is very much stupid
He did day that about our plugs a lot. Maybe you would you like a link to the technology connections video saying basically exactly what @chronicledmonocle@lemmy.world said about our split phase 120/240 setup then?
https://youtu.be/jMmUoZh3Hq4
Except with proper arc and ground fault protection on a circuit, which is mandatory on basically everything in North America now, you could half insert a plug and stick your tongue to it without getting a shock.
And that's better than 3 Phase 230V in what way?
Lower voltage is less deadly.
Having a multi grounded approach provides multiple layers of safety for shorts.
Just to name a few.
If Voltage of AC is above 50V, it will break your skin and then the current and time kills you.
https://www.electricaltechnology.org/2020/02/killer-current-voltage.html
Multiple grounds? There's only one ground. You're walking on it.
120V/240V, Split-Phase – Center-tapped
120V/208V, 3-Phase – Wye
120V / 208V & 240V, High Leg – Delta
https://www.electricaltechnology.org/2023/03/standard-voltage-levels-in-us.html
Neutral and Ground are bonded at the first point of disconnect, which provides two paths to ground in the event a ground is lost was my point. Not that there are somehow "two Earth's".
It's the same with 3 Phases, as seen in the source I provided.
Neutral doesn’t work as an extra safety line, because it's connected to neutral in the device, not to ground.
Maybe dont make ridiculous claims when you don't know what youre talking about. I hope you arent an electrician.
The majority of the rest of the world has 220-230v per phase, with three phases. using all three phases gives you access to ~400v
Most of Norway (my house included) is still stuck on IT, so 230V phase/phase.
The only place it really sucks is for modern induction hobs where 25A @ 230V is a bit low (5,75 kW, max on mine is 7,2 kW) and the EV charge box (3,6 kW or 7,2 kW max instead of 11 or 22 kW).
They are however changing to TN for new areas.
Upside is that the earth current will be very small when you have a fault, so the system can function with it. I believe this is why critical institutions like hospitals run IT and not TN/TT.
Yes, and where I work the HV line is several times that.
What? America has one of the most unsafe electrical systems in the world. You might as well just stick two unshielded wires out of the wall and be done with it, it would actually be more convenient about the same level of safety.
As for crossing the phases, yes you can do that but how many outlets are actually set up like that, you certainly won't find an outlook configured like that in a bedroom. Each household probably only has one or two 240 volt outlets.