Worldwide single phase primary voltages and frequencies

[DarkMatter]

Curious as to what is being used where? Here's a list!

Voltage tolerances are the standard plus or minus10%, but the
underdeveloped nations on the list can vary to a greater degree, and
typically do.

Frequency tolerances are defined more locally to their geographical
region, but again, non-industrialized nations are where the greatest
deviances are found.

North America

The United States: 120V/60Hz
Canada: 115V/60Hz
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Central America

Anguilla 230V/50Hz
Antigua (Leeward Islands) 230V/50Hz
Bahamas 115V/60Hz
Barbados 115V/50Hz
Belize (formerly British Honduras) 110-220V/60Hz
Bermuda 115V/60Hz
Costa Rica 120V/60Hz
Cuba 115-120V/60Hz
Dominica 110-220V/60Hz
Dominican Republic 110V/60Hz
El Salvador 115V/60Hz
Grenada 230V/50Hz
Guadeloupe 220V/50Hz
Guatemala 115V/60Hz
Haiti 110V/60Hz
Honduras 110V/60Hz
Jamaica 110-220V/50Hz
Martinique 220V/50Hz
Mexico 120V/60Hz
Montesserrat 230V/60Hz
Netherlands Antilles 110-127V/50Hz
Nicaragua 120V/60Hz
Panama 110-120V/60Hz
Puerto Rico 120V/60Hz
St. Kitts & Nevis 230V/60Hz
St. Lucia 240V/50Hz
St. Vincent 230V/50Hz
Trinidad & Tobago 115-230V/60Hz
Virgin Islands 120V/60Hz
------------------------------------------------------

South America:

Argentina 220V/50Hz
Bolivia 110V/50Hz
Brazil 110-127-220V/60Hz
Chile 220V/50Hz
Columbia 110-120V/60Hz
Ecuador 110-120V/60Hz
French Guiana 220V/50Hz
Guyana 110V/60Hz & 240V/50Hz
Paraguay 220V/50Hz
Peru 220V/60Hz
Surinam 110-127V/60Hz
Uruguay 220V/50Hz
Venezuela 120V/60Hz
-----------------------------------------------------

Europe:

Albania unknown
Austria 220V/50Hz
Azores 220V/50Hz
Belgium 220V/50Hz
Bulgaria 220V/50Hz
Channel Islands 210- 240V/50Hz
Czechoslovakia 220V/50Hz
Denmark 220V/50Hz
Faeroe Islands 220V/50Hz
Finland 220V/50Hz
France 220V/50Hz
Germany (DR:East) 220V/50Hz
Germany (FR:West) 220V/50Hz
Gibraltar 240V/50Hz
Greece 220V/50Hz
Greenland 220V/50Hz
Hungary 220V/50Hz
Iceland 220V/50Hz
Ireland, Republic of (South) 220V/50Hz
Isle of Man 240V/50Hz
Italy 220V/50Hz
Luxembourg 220V/50Hz
Majorca Island 220V/50Hz
Malta 240V/50Hz
Monaco 220V/50Hz
Netherlands 220V/50Hz
Northern Ireland 230V/50Hz
Norway 220-230V/50Hz
Poland 220V/50Hz
Portugal 220V/50Hz
Romania 220V/50Hz
Spain 220V/50Hz
Sweden 220V/50Hz
Switzerland 220V/50Hz
United Kingdom 220-240V/50Hz
Yugoslavia 220V/50Hz
--------------------------------------------------------------

African Countries:

Algeria 127-220V/50Hz
Angola 220V/50Hz
Benin 220V/50Hz
Botswana 220V/50Hz
Burundi 220V/50Hz
Cameroon 127-220V/50Hz
Central African Republic 220V/50Hz
Chad 220V/50Hz
Congo 220V/50Hz
Dahomey 220V/50Hz
Djibouti 220V/50Hz
Egypt 110-220V/50Hz
Ethiopia 220V/50Hz
Gabon 220V/50Hz
Gambia 230V/50Hz
Ghana 240V/50Hz
Guinnea 220V/50Hz
Ivory Coast 220V/50Hz
Kenya 240V/50Hz
Lesotho 230V/50Hz
Liberia 120V/60Hz
Libya 110-115V/50Hz
Malagasy Republic 127-220V/50Hz
Malawi 230V/50Hz
Mali 220V/50Hz
Mauritania 220V/50Hz
Mauritius 230V/50Hz
Morocco 110-127V/50Hz
Mozambique 220V/50Hz
Namibia (South West Africa) 220V/50Hz
Niger 220V/50Hz
Nigeria 230V/50Hz
Rwanda 220V/50Hz
Senegal 110V/50Hz
Seychelles 240V/50Hz
Sierra Leone 230V/50Hz
Somalia 220V/50Hz
South Africa 220V/50Hz
Sudan 240V/50Hz
Swaziland 220V/50Hz
Tanzania 230V/50Hz
Togo 127-220V/50Hz
Tunisia 127-220V/50Hz
Uganda 240V/50Hz
Upper Volta 220V/50Hz
Zaire 220V/50Hz
Zambia 220V/50Hz
Zimbabwe 220V/50Hz
---------------------------------------------------

The Middle East:

Abu Dhabi 240V/50Hz
Afghanistan (probably destroyed) 220V/50Hz
Bahrain 230V/50Hz
Canary Islands 127-220V/50Hz
Cyprus 240V/50Hz
Iran 220V/50Hz
Iraq 220V/50Hz
Israel 230V/50Hz
Jordan 220V/50Hz
Kuwait 240V/50Hz
Lebanon 110-220V/50Hz
Muscat 240V/50Hz
Oman 240V/50Hz
Pakistan 230V/50Hz
Qatar 240V/50Hz
Saudi Arabia 127-220V/60Hz
Syria 220V/50Hz
Turkey 220V/50Hz
United Arab Emirates 220V/50Hz
Yemen Arab Republic 220V/50Hz
---------------------------------------------------

Australia and the Pacific:

Australia 240-250V/50Hz
Fiji Islands 240V/50Hz
Guam (mariana Islands) 120V/60Hz
New Caledonia 220V/50Hz
New Zealand 230V/50Hz
Papua New Guinea 240V/50Hz
Solomon Islands 240V/50Hz
Tahiti 127V/60Hz
Tonga 230V/50Hz
Western Samoa 230V/50Hz
----------------------------------------------------

East and South Asia

Bangladesh 230V/50Hz
Brunei 240V/50Hz
Burma 220V/50Hz
Cambodia 120-220V/50Hz
China, People's Republic of 220V/50Hz
Hong Kong 220V/50Hz
India 230V/50Hz
Indonesia 127-220V/50Hz
Japan 100-200V/50Hz or 60Hz
Korea (North) 220V/60Hz
Korea (South) 110-220V/60Hz
Laos 220V/50Hz
Macao 115-220V/50Hz
Malaysia 240V/50Hz
Nepal 220V/50Hz
Philippines 110-220V/60Hz
Sabah (North Borneo) 240V/50Hz
Singapore 230V/50Hz
Sri Lanka 230V/50Hz
Taiwan 110V/60Hz
Thailand 220V/50Hz
Former U.S.S.R. 127-220V/50Hz
Viet Nam 120V/50Hz
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bibliography:

Several sources were referenced
Since the data is not of a proprietary nature, there is no need to
reference them, however, they can be provided upon request.

Also, infrastructure changes in some nations may have changed their
power schema, though it is not high in likelihood.

For most third world, and developing countries, electrical service
is a relatively new part of their infrastructures. In some locations
multiple developments could have been put in place, and some cities or
buildings have multiple generating providers and distribution systems,
and schemas for service. Voltages given in the table are the most
common in use for each country.

 

[Uwe Hercksen]

Europe:

Albania unknown
Austria 220V/50Hz
Azores 220V/50Hz
Belgium 220V/50Hz
Bulgaria 220V/50Hz
Channel Islands 210- 240V/50Hz
Czechoslovakia 220V/50Hz
Denmark 220V/50Hz
Faeroe Islands 220V/50Hz
Finland 220V/50Hz
France 220V/50Hz
Germany (DR:East) 220V/50Hz
Germany (FR:West) 220V/50Hz
Gibraltar 240V/50Hz
Greece 220V/50Hz
Greenland 220V/50Hz
Hungary 220V/50Hz
Iceland 220V/50Hz
Ireland, Republic of (South) 220V/50Hz
Isle of Man 240V/50Hz
Italy 220V/50Hz
Luxembourg 220V/50Hz
Majorca Island 220V/50Hz
Malta 240V/50Hz
Monaco 220V/50Hz
Netherlands 220V/50Hz
Northern Ireland 230V/50Hz
Norway 220-230V/50Hz
Poland 220V/50Hz
Portugal 220V/50Hz
Romania 220V/50Hz
Spain 220V/50Hz
Sweden 220V/50Hz
Switzerland 220V/50Hz
United Kingdom 220-240V/50Hz
Yugoslavia 220V/50Hz
--------------------------------------------------------------

Hello,

very old list, there is no more an east and west Germany.
Germany was reunited 14 years ago.
Most european countries now have 230 V instead of 220 V.

Bye

 

[DarkMatter]

Hello,

very old list, there is no more an east and west Germany.
Germany was reunited 14 years ago.
Most european countries now have 230 V instead of 220 V.

Bye

No shit, but their electrical infrastructures are likely to be the
same, and are referred to with the old segratatory lines, even if the
grids have been hooked together since. You should post the CURRENTLY
used schema, if it is different, for either or both.

And yes many Euro nations have gone up from 220 to 230 and some went
down from 240 to 230, the new int. std.

But your "most" remark is kind of vague. If you have an updated,
corrected list post it, don't just mouth off half assed about it.

 

[Andrew Gabriel]

And yes many Euro nations have gone up from 220 to 230 and some went
down from 240 to 230, the new int. std.

But your "most" remark is kind of vague. If you have an updated,
corrected list post it, don't just mouth off half assed about it.

I think all CENELEC countries are 230V now (which is all the EU,
and more besides). The tollerances vary though, and in all cases
include their previous nominal value (but not necessarily the
extremes of the previous tollerance limits). There was an interim
period which was supposed to be from 1995-2002 where all former
220V countries became 230V +6%/-10% and all former 240V countries
became 230V +10%/-6%. All the EU (and maybe all CENELEC -- not sure)
was due to become 230V +/-10% tollerance at the beginning of this year,
but that has been postponed as many countries couldn't do it in time.

In practice, most peoples' mains voltage in these countries as
measured is unchanged, but goods have to be manufactured to cover
the whole range, as part of the open market between EU countries.

 

[Rusty]

I think all CENELEC countries are 230V now (which is all the EU,
and more besides). The tollerances vary though, and in all cases
include their previous nominal value (but not necessarily the
extremes of the previous tollerance limits). There was an interim
period which was supposed to be from 1995-2002 where all former
220V countries became 230V +6%/-10% and all former 240V countries
became 230V +10%/-6%. All the EU (and maybe all CENELEC -- not sure)
was due to become 230V +/-10% tollerance at the beginning of this year,
but that has been postponed as many countries couldn't do it in time.

In practice, most peoples' mains voltage in these countries as
measured is unchanged, but goods have to be manufactured to cover
the whole range, as part of the open market between EU countries.

Thank you Andrew. I presume Dark Matter means absence of Grey
Matter. It certainly seems that way.

 

[DarkMatter]

I think all CENELEC countries are 230V now (which is all the EU,
and more besides). The tollerances vary though, and in all cases
include their previous nominal value (but not necessarily the
extremes of the previous tollerance limits). There was an interim
period which was supposed to be from 1995-2002 where all former
220V countries became 230V +6%/-10% and all former 240V countries
became 230V +10%/-6%. All the EU (and maybe all CENELEC -- not sure)
was due to become 230V +/-10% tollerance at the beginning of this year,
but that has been postponed as many countries couldn't do it in time.

In practice, most peoples' mains voltage in these countries as
measured is unchanged, but goods have to be manufactured to cover
the whole range, as part of the open market between EU countries.

Cool. Quite informative!

 

[DarkMatter]

Thank you Andrew. I presume Dark Matter means absence of Grey
Matter. It certainly seems that way.

**** YOU, TROLL BOY! Take note where he stated that in most places
it is still as I stated, you retarded ****!

Also note where I stated that things may be different in a note at
the bottom of my post.

You contribute NOTHING. You are on par with a pile of fresh stool.

Take a hike, dipshit.

 

[Don Kelly]

Curious as to what is being used where? Here's a list!

Voltage tolerances are the standard plus or minus10%, but the
underdeveloped nations on the list can vary to a greater degree, and
typically do.

Frequency tolerances are defined more locally to their geographical
region, but again, non-industrialized nations are where the greatest
deviances are found.

North America

The United States: 120V/60Hz
Canada: 115V/60Hz
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

At this point, I notice the first error. Canada is 120V/60Hz and has been so
before the US effectively standardised to that level. Further on, I notice
the same thing that has been mentioned by others- that is the EU countries
are now standardised to 230V 50Hz.
For your information Albania (unknown on your list) is nominally 220V/50Hz
and Australia is now officially 230V/50Hz.

I also note that this information in your list has been asked for and given
many times in the past using the on line reference http://kropla.com which
keeps up to date and is used by Fodor's for their information. This site
also includes information on the type of plugs used in the different
countries as well as other information for travellers such as TV standards.

Your effort is appreciated and the variations you have listed are generally
within tolerable limits as indicated by Andrew Gabriel.
Also even though standardisation exists, in many regions the standards are
wish lists rather than practice.

..--
Don Kelly
[email protected]
remove the urine to answer

 

[Cameron Dorrough]

Curious as to what is being used where? Here's a list!

<snip>

Tahiti 127V/60Hz

A minor nit-pick - Tahiti is the same as France (ie. 230V/50Hz).. and has
been for a very long time. You're not even close on this one.

HTH,
Cameron

 

[B J Conner]

Isn't it amazing what those engineers at work will show you if your nice to
them. Keep it up and they may show you more stuff. They might even show
you how to google.
ou can find the same stuff here
http://kropla.com/electric2.htm
or you can look in the CIA The World Factbook
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/

 

[DarkMatter]

Isn't it amazing what those engineers at work will show you if your nice to
them. Keep it up and they may show you more stuff. They might even show
you how to google.
ou can find the same stuff here
http://kropla.com/electric2.htm
or you can look in the CIA The World Factbook
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/

The only place that you fucked up is where you munged my nym, you
retarded troll ****!

Your mother should be jailed as a felon for the crime of not
flushing your lame, piece of shit ass, the moment you exited her lame,
piece of shit ass.

 

[Uwe Hercksen]

But your "most" remark is kind of vague. If you have an updated,
corrected list post it, don't just mouth off half assed about it.

Hello,

this list is better:
http://www.kropla.com/electric2.htm
But the information is from 1998, there may have been some changes in
the meantime.

Bye

 

[Uwe Hercksen]

No shit, but their electrical infrastructures are likely to be the
same, and are referred to with the old segratatory lines, even if the
grids have been hooked together since. You should post the CURRENTLY
used schema, if it is different, for either or both.

Hello,

the power grids of the former east and west Germany were coupled
together in 1995. In september, there were 3 power lines between the
former parts, a fourth line followed later. The introduction of 230 V
instead of 220 V was started also 1995 in both former parts of Germany.

Bye

 

[Don Kelly]

snip
snip

Still 240 in aus at the moment, hasn't changed just yet. 250 is no
longer used as the nominal voltage though, pity really would have been
better to make it all 250 volts instead of dropping it.

Most times Ive measured voltage around the place, its often close to
250. Distribution transformers are usually aimed at 433 output (250
single phase) to give a nominal of 240 volts to the consumers.

Western Australia I think used to have a nominal voltage of 253 volts
(from 440 volts 3 phase) though on paper its now 240 like the rest of
the country. Im told the voltage at power outlets there ccan still be
up around 260 volts, which is getting kind of high.

The change got delayed a bit, I think we change in 2006 or something.

Out of interest, is the US planning on changing to 115/230 from
120/240?

----------
My source (kropla) indicated 230 as the new standard in OZ but also did
indicate that many parts are still using the old 240 standard (to be
different from the Pommies?) . It appears that the change is upcoming rather
than in existence.If it is in error, I apologise. I do note that whether
you use one or the other, they are both within the 6% margin allowed in OZ.
Regarding 250 vs 230V - it is cheaper and easier to march in step with (most
of) the rest of the world (North America being the main exception).

As to the US-to the best of my knowledge it is 120/240 and has been that
for some time.

 

[Cameron Dorrough]

----------
My source (kropla) indicated 230 as the new standard in OZ but also did
indicate that many parts are still using the old 240 standard (to be
different from the Pommies?) . It appears that the change is upcoming rather
than in existence.If it is in error, I apologise. I do note that whether
you use one or the other, they are both within the 6% margin allowed in

OZ.

Don, you are quite correct. Down Here we are still officially using 240V
(and up to 260V at the end of long service lines under no-load conditions!)
but a change to 230V is coming, mainly driven by manufacturers refusing to
make higher-rated equipment when the European 230VAC is not that much
different.

In fact, most new appliances for sale in Oz are only 230V rated - they just
don't tell the customers - because, as you said, 230V is within the 6%
margin.

Cameron

 

[Cameron Dorrough]

A minor nit-pick - Tahiti is the same as France (ie. 230V/50Hz).. and has
been for a very long time. You're not even close on this one.

Sorry guys - I've just checked and Tahiti is actually 220V/60Hz.. But it's
still run by the French! ;-)

Cameron

 

[DarkMatter]

Sorry guys - I've just checked and Tahiti is actually 220V/60Hz.. But it's
still run by the French! ;-)

Cameron

If one looks the list over, one can immediately see what occurred
post WWII.

The Brits, and the US split up nearly every locale that saw action.
As each nation was industrialized, nearby nations, and the nation
supplying the assistance surely played a hand in the decisions for
arriving at a schema in each location.

It is easy to spot those that followed the Russian schema as well.


Tahiti doesn't follow the "French" standard as they did not have
one, in that they themselves *follow* a standard which they themselves
did NOT author.

Other "rifts" are apparent as well.

A LOT *has* changed since the data was compiled, as I stated in the
post.

 

[Andrew Gabriel]

If one looks the list over, one can immediately see what occurred
post WWII.

The Brits, and the US split up nearly every locale that saw action.
As each nation was industrialized, nearby nations, and the nation
supplying the assistance surely played a hand in the decisions for
arriving at a schema in each location.

Goes back way before WWII -- I don't think there have been many
significant changes since WWII except small voltage adjustments.
British system is used in most of the former British Empire countries.

 

[Don Kelly]

Goes back way before WWII -- I don't think there have been many
significant changes since WWII except small voltage adjustments.
British system is used in most of the former British Empire countries.

-----
Andrew - you are absolutely correct. In fact it goes back before WWI to the
colonial era. -"sun never sets on the empire...."etc. time. It happens that
the major population regions of the world were affected more by the British
or European countries than by the US. The main exception is Canada which
stayed with the neighbor to the south in this respect.
I note that GEC or ALSTROM have had a greater impact world wide than GE or
Westinghouse. I also note that such outfits as Siemens, ASEA, Brown Boveri,
etc - all good European outfits have made inroads in the North American
market (admittedly mostly after WWII) because what they had to offer was
better in many situations.
There is a tendency, in this group, to think that all innovations and
advances originate in the US. 'Tain't so.

An example is in the development of high voltage, high interrupting capacity
circuit breakers -look up old AIEE papers on air blast breakers and the
discussions (i.e. fights) which are more intereating than the papers
themselves.

Don Kelly
[email protected]
remove the urine to answer

 

[John G]

Snip...

There is a tendency, in this group, to think that all innovations and
advances originate in the US. 'Tain't so.

Don Kelly
[email protected]

I thought all ameriCans believed the world was flat and started at Manhattan
and finished at Los Angles.

Joke!