Which three countries use 120V60Hz and how is one of them divided in terms of electrical voltage and frequency?
Asked by Jen Ramirez 
6 months ago
Last Updated: June 24, 2024
Hey, did you know that there are only three countries in the world that use 120V/60Hz for their electricity? The rest of the world uses 240V/50Hz. Here’s a clue: one of those countries is divided, with half using 120/60 and the other half using 240/50. Can you guess which countries they are?
Any thoughts on Korea?
What’s the big deal?
In USA, Philippines, and Saudi Arabia, approximately half of the country
Isn’t it interesting that it’s just the USA?
What are the advantages of using 120 V compared to 240 V?
Eir Benny Nystad increased profits for copper mine owners…🤣
Eir Benny Nystad Higher voltage means less current required, making it more efficient. Our charges are based on current consumption.
Eir Benny Nystad at one point safety may have been a valid argument. However, with modern wiring methods and equipment, I don’t believe that’s the case anymore.
It’s not actually “more efficient” and it ends up using the same amount of power (wattage). Since we pay based on kWH and not current (amperage), the voltage doesn’t really matter.
Alright, genius…. Try doing the equation! I expected one or two know-it-alls. You should look up Ohm’s Law, you idiot!
Before you criticize, reconsider your position. We are charged based on watt-hours, not current. Watts equal volts multiplied by amps. Transitioning from 120V to 240V on a device consuming 1200W, for example, only affects the required wire size. At 120V, 1200W is 10A, at 240V it’s 5A. The running cost remains the same, only the wire size requirement changes. (This is a poor example since technically the wire size would be the same.)
I am fully aware of Ohm’s Law and how it operates. If you lower the current due to an increase in voltage, it forms an inverse proportional relationship. For instance, if you double the voltage, you cut the amperage in half. So, here’s an example – I have a 120V device running at 20A, which equals 2,400 watts. Now, if I run that same device at 240V, the amperage drops to 10A, resulting in the same power of 2,400 watts. The only exception is with a resistive load like a water heater, where increasing the voltage increases current due to fixed resistance, leading to an increase in wattage and potentially damaging the element. Decreasing the voltage lowers amperage and wattage. ive it a try using Ohm’s Law to prove me otherwise…
Study a bit more, my friend –
I heard it’s the USA, Mexico, and Brazil. Can you believe it?
USA, Canada, and …. ???
I’m thinking Mexico.
You wouldn’t believe it, but it’s the USA and St. Martin.
Hey, did you know that the countries included are the US, Canada, and Japan?
Hey, did you know that 120 volts is only used in certain military facilities in Okinawa? Everywhere else uses a 415/200 volt three-phase system, 200 volts three-phase, 200/100 volt split phase, or 100 volt single phase.
So, what’s up with North America? 🤔🤷♂️
Did you know that the list consists of the USA, Canada, and Mexico?
Probably the United States, Canada, and South Korea
Actually, that’s not accurate. There are even more countries involved.
American Samoa, Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada, Cayman Islands, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, uatemala, Liberia, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Nicaragua, Palau, Puerto Rico, Sint Maarten (Dutch), United States, and Venezuela. Are we really talking about three here?
Here come all the experts
The Philippines, USA, and Saudi Arabia make up half of the country, huh?
USA, Texas, and approximately half of Alabama trailers.