One of the exciting things about the history of electricity is that innovations in the development of electrical equipment often occurred concurrently around the world. As a result, there are some significant differences found among electrical outlets in North America and many countries in Europe. Most of the differences have to do with construction, but some involve the strength of the current that the outlets are constructed to manage.
One of the most immediate differences in electrical outlets around the world have to do with the voltage of the current that is used in various countries. The standard in North America is 110 to 120 volts, while the European standard is 220-240 volts. This necessitates a difference in the way outlets are constructed in Europe and in North America. Understanding the voltage of the current that is supplied by the outlet is very important, as travelers may find that appliances such as hair dryers and small appliances will not work with the electrical outlets.
Along with the different voltage, there is also a difference in the frequency, or cycles per second, of the electric power available in many parts of Europe and in North America. The standard in North America is 60Hz, while the European standard is 50Hz. This means that even if the voltage is compatible, there may still be a problem if the traveler uses an appliance that is not constructed to work with that particular frequency.
Beyond the voltage and frequency of electrical power, there are significant differences in the actual appearance of electrical outlets around the world. The United States and Canada tend to make use of only two versions of outlets. The basic usage outlet accommodates a two-pin construction, with one flat pin slightly larger than the other flat pin. For more heavy duty usage, there is a three prong design that adds a third pin that is rounded in nature.
Various countries in Europe make use of an eclectic blend of two and three pin electrical outlets. The pins may be arranged in just about every combination imaginable. This situation often means that adapters are necessary in order to use appliances that were manufactured in a different country even when the current level and type are compatible.
Moja ya mambo ya kuvutia kuhusu historia ya umeme ni kwamba ubunifu katika maendeleo ya vifaa vya umeme mara nyingi ilitokea wakati huo huo duniani kote. Kwa sababu hiyo, kuna tofauti kubwa kati ya vituo vya umeme katika Amerika Kaskazini na nchi nyingi za Ulaya. Tofauti nyingi zinahusiana na ujenzi, lakini zingine zinahusisha nguvu ya mkondo ambao viwanja vya kuuza vimejengwa kusimamia. Moja ya tofauti za moja kwa moja katika viunganishi vya umeme duniani kote ni voltage ya sasa inayotumiwa katika nchi mbalimbali. Kwa mfano, katika nchi za Ulaya, voltage ya umeme ni volts 110-120 na katika nchi za Ulaya, volts 220-240 ni volts. Hii inahitaji tofauti katika njia maduka ni kujengwa katika Ulaya na katika Amerika ya Kaskazini. Kuelewa voltage ya sasa ambayo ni zinazotolewa na outlet ni muhimu sana, kama wasafiri wanaweza kupata kwamba vifaa kama vile dryers nywele na vifaa vidogo si kazi na outlets umeme. Pamoja na voltage tofauti, kuna pia tofauti katika mzunguko, au mzunguko kwa sekunde, ya nguvu ya umeme inapatikana katika sehemu nyingi za Ulaya na Amerika ya Kaskazini. Kwa mfano, kiwango cha Amerika ya Kaskazini ni 60Hz, na kiwango cha Ulaya ni 50Hz. Hii inamaanisha kwamba hata kama voltage ni sambamba, bado kunaweza kuwa na tatizo kama msafiri anatumia kifaa ambacho hakijengwa kufanya kazi na mzunguko huo maalum. Mbali na voltage na mzunguko wa umeme, kuna tofauti kubwa katika muonekano halisi wa viingilio vya umeme duniani kote. Marekani na Kanada huwa na kutumia matoleo mawili tu ya maduka. msingi matumizi outlet anakaribisha mbili-pin ujenzi, na moja gorofa pin kidogo kubwa kuliko nyingine gorofa pin. Kwa matumizi zaidi nzito, kuna muundo wa pembe tatu ambayo inaongeza pini ya tatu ambayo ni ya mviringo katika asili. Nchi mbalimbali za Ulaya hutumia mchanganyiko wa viunganishi vya umeme vya pini mbili na tatu. Pini hizo zaweza kupangwa katika karibu kila mchanganyiko unaoweza kuwaziwa. Hali hii mara nyingi inamaanisha kwamba adapters ni muhimu ili kutumia vifaa ambavyo vilitengenezwa katika nchi tofauti hata wakati kiwango cha sasa na aina ni sambamba.