The US electrical system is not 120V on HackerTube: recommended by 4 Hacker News commenters across 4 separate months, 2021–2026.
explainer · intro · evergreen
Technology Connections explains that US household power is split-phase, with two 120V legs that combine to 240V for large appliances. It covers the breaker panel and how the system works.
HN commenters point to it to correct misconceptions about US voltage and to explain 240V availability in American homes.
“There's a lot of misconceptions about US electricity. This video does a nice job at pointing out the good and the bad.”
8 Hacker News comments link this video. Each one links back to its thread.
Huh, what?! Mega TIL moment for me as an Australian with an electric kettle and dryer plugged into whatever power socket I wish! Reminds me of this great Technology Connections video: ▶ this video
in “Serving AI from the Basement – 192GB of VRAM Setup” · View on HN
Single family homes in America are 240v rails for large appliances, like stoves/ovens, furnaces, and dryers (two-phase). Technology Connections (YouTube) explains this fairly well: > ▶ this video
in “A US federal agency is considering a ban on gas stoves” · View on HN
There's a lot of misconceptions about US electricity. This video does a nice job at pointing out the good and the bad. ▶ this video
in “A looming copper crunch and why recycling can’t fix it” · View on HN
Relevant video: Technology Connections, "The US electrical system is not 120V", where there is a (long) discussion of how the breaker panel works and how you get 240V. ▶ this video
in “Museum of Plugs and Sockets” · View on HN
> Also our infra not being 240v is hurting us. The rest of the world can just plug in overnight to any regular outlet and it is good enough for almost any commute. US homes don't need any significant accommodations for 240 volt infra. Plenty of US home appliances are already 240 volt; this is a solved problem. ▶ this video
in “California leaders report four to six weeks worth of gasoline and diesel supply” · View on HN
A 2022 Technology Connections video explores various ways to boil water: [link] And a 2020 video about different voltages in the US electrical systems: ▶ this video
in “My car charger can boil water really fast [video]” · View on HN
The US (and CA) runs on 240V as well, it's just split in half for smaller appliances. See requisite Technology Connections video: * ▶ this video My stove and clothes dryer are certainly not 120V.
in “USB 4 version 2 promises 80 Gbps speeds over existing cables” · View on HN
There's probably a large overlap between software people and people who subscribe to Technology Connections: ▶ this video
in “A lightning bolt would be worth only about a nickel (2015)” · View on HN