CA-Delta;4682502; said:The advantages to 220v are reduced voltage drop and the ability to run more heaters on the same circuit. The cost to operate is the same.
Actually Brian , that's not accurate either. The limitations of a distribution panel are total rated amperage and number of spaces or lugs. A single phase 230v breaker uses two lugs or positions in a panel while a 120v breaker uses one. It makes no difference whether you fill the spaces with 40 120v breakers or 20 240v breakers. In the end it's all the same.Bderick67;4682608;4682608 said:by using 230v for high draw loads(clothes dryer and air conditioner) you don't use as much of your service.
CA-Delta;4683469; said:Actually Brian , that's not accurate either. The limitations of a distribution panel are total rated amperage and number of spaces or lugs. A single phase 230v breaker uses two lugs or positions in a panel while a 120v breaker uses one. It makes no difference whether you fill the spaces with 40 120v breakers or 20 240v breakers. In the end it's all the same.
The main breaker in the panel of the residence limits the panel not the breaker spaces. The branch circuit breakers are determined by the load requirements. BTW when speaking of breakers, amperage and number of poles is more accurate terminology. If your 230v loads were 120v they will use about twice as much amperage. So running your clothes dryer, cooking a meal in the oven on a hot summer day with the AC on may put a 60-70 amp draw on a typical 150a residential service whereas if they were all 120v the draw would be 120 to 140 amps of draw.
clarification : The reason large appliances are typically wired 230v is it is cheaper to run two smaller/low amperage wires than one large/high amperage wire.
Yes it is an advantage as I already eluded to that;
The advantage is that you can get more power(watts) out of a 20 amp 230v then out of a 110v while still using the same sized wire.
But not the only reason as I explained above
There is also a benefit to running motor circuits on 230v as the motor will run cooler thereby lasting longer.
The difference you will see between single phase motors whether single pole or two pole is negligible Unlike the difference you see with a 208v or 480v three phase motor.