Grid voltage of countries around the world

The United States, Britain, and Germany are the first three countries in the world to have electricity. The voltage standards in the world are roughly inherited from these three countries. The United States was the first country to adopt alternators. At that time, it was limited by the insulation materials of generators. Only 110V alternators can be made, so a 110V grid was established, and this standard later affected Japan and Taiwan (110V). Some neighboring countries and regions that are deeply influenced by the United States, such as Canada, Mexico, Cuba, Colombia, the Cayman Islands and other countries, also adopt the standard of about 110V-120V.

Later, with the advancement of technology, 220V alternators were created. Therefore, European countries that established power grids directly adopted the most advanced 220V-240V technology at that time, while countries that had already adopted 110V-127V were all replaced by 220V power. The system was too expensive, so they had to use it to this day. Objectively speaking, the 220V system is more economical than the 110V system, and it can also directly separate the 220V single-phase power from the 380V power supply for civilian use without a transformer, which is more advanced than the 110V system.

The early voltage in the UK was 240V, and later it was changed to 230V in order to unify with the EU standard. Most Commonwealth countries and British overseas territories inherit this standard, such as Australia, New Zealand, India, Nigeria, etc. 240V, Malaysia, Singapore, Pakistan, etc. 230V. However, there are exceptions, such as Canada, Jamaica and other countries, which are 110V due to the influence of the United States; Hong Kong adopts the 220V standard considering the use of power supplied by mainland China. There are also Middle East countries from the end of the 19th century to the beginning of the 20th century, most of which belonged to the British sphere of influence, so most of the voltages also adopted British standards, around 230-240V.

The voltage in Germany is 230V. Affected by it, the voltage of almost the entire European continent is around 220V-230V. Most of their former colonies in Asia, Africa and Latin America also adopted this standard. Most of the former Soviet Union countries are 220V (Russia is gradually changing to 230V), and China, Mongolia, Vietnam, etc. are also 220V due to the implementation of the Soviet standard.

The output voltage of photovoltaic grid-connected inverter is wide, generally compatible with 220V to 240V, but not compatible with 110V

American household Split Phase system with 120/240V voltage

The general voltage of American household appliances is 110V, but most of the distribution boxes in the household use the Split Phase system, that is, there are two live wires. There are two types of three-phase voltage in the United States: 208V and 480V

Summary: Although the voltage level in the United States is different from that in China, it can still be used by modifying the inverter. The key is to obtain UL certification in the United States.

110-120V: North America such as the United States, Canada, Jamaica, Mexico, Cuba, Colombia, Cayman Islands, Japan, Taiwan and other countries and regions

230-240V: UK and most Commonwealth countries, most British overseas territories, most Middle Eastern countries

220-230V: China, Russia, continental European countries, member states of the former Soviet Union, and countries deeply influenced by the Soviet Union