What is Residential Voltage?
The voltage delivered to your home will vary slightly depending on how far the wires travel from the utility transformer. Equipment is designed to work within a certain tolerance band for this voltage.
Your voltmeter should read within a few volts of 120 VAC. This is a good voltage for most appliances.
Volts
Voltage is a measure of the electric potential energy that exists to push electrons from one point in a circuit to another. The higher the voltage, the more potential energy there is. This energy can then be used to do work. A household AA alkaline battery offers 1.5 volts, while residential electrical systems generally offer 120 volts.
Ideally, the voltage that arrives at your house should be within a few volts of the nominal standard of 120/240 volts set by national standards. If you have a digital multimeter, P2 Electrical Contracting can check the current voltage at your home’s electrical outlets by measuring the voltage between the hot and neutral wires of a receptacle. You’ll want to test it at different times of the day for several days to see if there are any variations in the readings.
The actual voltage at a residence depends on its distance from the electric utility transformer. Consequently, it can be as high as 240 volts if the house is close to the transformer and as low as 117 volts if the house is some distance away.
Residential voltage in the US typically ranges from 120 volts for household appliances to 208 volts for larger equipment. Some larger commercial buildings use three-phase power systems with voltage levels up to 600 volts for lighting and other electrical needs.
The volt is an SI base unit, defined as the electric potential difference (also called electromotive force) across a resistance of 1 ohm when a current of 1 ampere dissipates 1 watt of power. The volt is also the base unit for other SI quantities related to electricity, such as amps and watts.
The term volt was originally coined by Sir Isaac Newton in his 1709 publication titled A Treatise on Electricity and Magnetism. The word was later adopted by the International System of Units as the standard unit of measurement for electricity and other electrical quantities. In the United States, the volt is regulated by state and federal laws and regulations.
Amps
The amount of electricity that flows through a circuit wire at any given time is measured in amps. Amps are the flow of electrons that pass along electric wiring, and when they reach their limit, they will trip the breaker or cause heat to build up on the conductor matrix. Amps must be carefully matched with the breaker and wire rating to avoid a fire hazard.
When you turn on a light, fan, TV or any other appliance in your home, it pulls amps from the house wiring. Your breaker box should have a number marking how many amps can be used, usually 200 for 200-amp service or 100 for 100-amp service. If you have an energy meter installed in your breaker box, the meter will show you the actual amperage usage throughout a day or week.
Voltage is a similar concept to water pressure. The higher the voltage, the more power that can be transmitted at a given time. Ideally, the voltage at your wall outlets should be consistent and within a few volts of 120 VAC depending on how many and what types of appliances you use in your home and how far away you are from the last transformer.
There are two different types of electrical currents: direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC). Most digital devices in your home and office operate on DC, while AC is the most common household voltage. Both types of current have their advantages, but AC can generate more heat than DC and changes the direction of current in a wire periodically.
When it comes to amperage, the voltage that runs through your electrical system is like a hose’s water pressure. The higher the amperage, the more pressure that is exerted on the conductors in your home’s wiring. The resulting current is what powers your appliances, and when the current is too low, it won’t be enough to do the job or you may experience a tingle when touching an outlet or wire. The lower the amperage, the more diluted the electrons are and the less power they can transfer.
Frequency
When you are talking about electricity, frequency refers to how many waves occur in one second. Worldwide, each country has a set frequency that it uses for power, which is generally 60 Hz (in North America) or 50 Hz (in Europe and Japan).
In the United States, standard residential voltage is 120 volts AC for outlets and light fixtures. The majority of homes also have 220 volt electrical service available, which can be used for larger appliances like electric dryers, washing machines and air conditioners.
The frequency at which your home is supplied with energy has a direct impact on the efficiency of your appliances. The higher the frequency, the greater the amount of energy that is lost as heat, which increases the operating cost for your electricity bill. During an inspection, we check both the voltage and frequency of your electrical system to make sure that it is running within acceptable limits.
For example, the maximum measurable reading at a receptacle in your home should be within a few volts of 120 VAC, or 118-122 VAC depending on your load and how far you are from the power utility transformer. When you see a receptacle reading higher than this, it means that your electric service is delivering more voltage than necessary and that your appliances are using more electricity than they should.
It may seem strange that there are so many differences in the standards for voltage and frequency around the world, but in truth, these differences have their roots in the very first days of electrification. At that time, so many frequencies were used that a single value could not be agreed upon; as the century progressed, however, most areas moved closer and closer to a uniform standard. Today, it is rare for a person to travel and experience any major differences in power voltages. If you do, it will probably be a good idea to bring along a small portable voltage detector for your convenience.
Phase
When we turn on a light or boil a pot of water, we are performing a simple action that relies on a complex process. Electrical voltage is a key ingredient in that process, from the generation of electricity at power stations to the delivery of it to our homes and businesses. But electrical voltage can be confusing, especially since standards vary by country. For example, in some parts of the world, the standard household voltage is 220-240 volts, while in others, it's 120 volts.
When talking about residential voltage, we're referring to the amount of alternating current (AC) that is supplied by a utility company to your home or business. Electricity is produced by rotating mechanical energy–such as that found in a crank or turbine engine–that is converted into ac voltage by transformers. This ac voltage is used by the majority of devices in your home and business, including lights, appliances, computers and other electronics.
For most households, the ac voltage that is delivered by the utility is single phase. The circuit consists of two wires, neutral and power, with the power wire carrying the voltage. This is common in homes with electric stoves, clothes dryers and washing machines. However, if you have high-powered equipment such as electric motors, you may use a three-phase power system.
There are also different voltage levels depending on the needs of the device and how it is connected. For instance, 347V AC is a high voltage level that's typically used to power large motors. 600V AC is another high-voltage level that's commonly used in industrial applications.
It's important to remember that there are two sets of standards for voltage: the "Distribution Voltage" that your utility is delivering to you, and the "Utilization Voltage" that your devices are designed to work on. The "Distribution Voltage" is supposed to be within +-5% of its stated value, while the "Utilization Voltage" is only supposed to be +-10% of its stated value.
It's interesting to note that some people can get into religious wars over whether a 220 voltage system is two or three phases, even though it's all about the same thing. In fact, a 220 volt system consists of two 120 volt segments that are 180 degrees out of phase with each other, and they add up to make 240 volts when referenced from a common star point that's located at the center-tap on your residential step-down transformer.
The voltage delivered to your home will vary slightly depending on how far the wires travel from the utility transformer. Equipment is designed to work within a certain tolerance band for this voltage. Your voltmeter should read within a few volts of 120 VAC. This is a good voltage for most appliances. Volts Voltage is…