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From: ken@rochester.UUCP (Ipse dixit)
Newsgroups: net.travel
Subject: Re: Higher Voltage in Europe etc
Message-ID: <16222@rochester.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 16-Mar-86 18:20:56 EST
Article-I.D.: rocheste.16222
Posted: Sun Mar 16 18:20:56 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 19-Mar-86 01:46:37 EST
References: <2682@pucc-h> <5170001@acf4.UUCP> <365@vger.UUCP> <1209@alvin.mcnc.UUCP> <1299@cvl.UUCP> <16209@rochester.UUCP>
Reply-To: ken@rochester.UUCP (Ipse dixit)
Distribution: na
Organization: U of Rochester, CS Dept
Lines: 21
Keywords: 220v, appliances

>As for the 110/220 problem, you could try this if you are really desperate,
>but I don't recommend it:  in Holland, and probably other Continental
>European countries (but not Britain!), there are three wires, viz +110,
>-110, and ground.  Normal usage is between +110 and -110 giving a 220 gap.

Nope - the wires are live, neutral and ground. Live is 220vac above
ground. Neutral is close to but not at ground potential. Ground is for
safety shielding. If you tried to connect an appliance between neutral
to ground, it wouldn't run. If you connected it between live and ground
you would blow a fuse, trip a circuit breaker, or worse.

1. Do without unnecessary appliances. Failing that:

2. Get dual voltage appliances or a voltage converter for a short trip.

3. Buy new appliances when you get there - it doesn't cost that much.

	Ken
-- 
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