# 220v looks like a 110 plug? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 12, 2010, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/220v-looks-like-a-110-plug/546397 "2010-07-12T15:27:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/220v-looks-like-a-110-plug/546397/1 "2010-07-12T15:27:17Z")
Just watched a guy melt a computer. He plugged in a computer to a power strip and it went FZZZZT POP!. Come to find out the power strip is plugged into a 220 outlet. The outlet looks like I would expect any 220 (bigger, different plug configuration). I don’t understand why the power strip would be allowed to look like a normal 110. Its just perfect for disaster. Is there any way a standard looking female receptical would be anything but assumed to be 110? ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/220v-looks-like-a-110-plug/546397/2 "2010-07-12T15:43:03Z")
Where are you located? In the US, the plugs and receptacles don’t look anything alike and unless someone was creating their own power strip it seems impossible for this to occur. If someone’s making their own, than anything goes. ---
**Author:** ![Running\_with\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Running\_with\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Running_with_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/220v-looks-like-a-110-plug/546397/3 "2010-07-12T15:45:58Z")
Only if it was wired incorrectly. Assuming you’re talking about the US, there are several different plug styles used for 220V (depending on the current). [This article](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrical_outlets) lists a good number of them. It’s possible that a “combination duplex outlet” (scroll down in the article) was wired with 220V to be used with a [NEMA 6-15](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NEMA_connector) 15A/220V plug. This plug was commonly used with high-BTU air conditioners, and has two blades in the same plane, plus a grounding pin (as opposed to the [NEMA 5-15](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NEMA_connector) that we’re all familiar with, that has two parallel blades in two different planes). Edit: read your OP a little more closely. Sounds like someone purposely swapped a plug or wire on the power strip, but I can’t imagine why. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/220v-looks-like-a-110-plug/546397/4 "2010-07-12T15:46:51Z")
That’s kind of odd, too, as most modern electronics I’ve seen have dual voltage transformers, accepting a line voltage of either 100-120V AC or 200-240V AC. None of my electronic equipment requires a separate voltage convertor when I go abroad, just a plug convertor. So I also wonder what kind of computer and power supply was being connected to this that it only took 110V. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/220v-looks-like-a-110-plug/546397/5 "2010-07-12T15:51:38Z")
i would guess a modified power strip with a changed plug. the 220/240 have a horizontal blade in the small sized configurations. ---
**Author:** ![Running\_with\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Running\_with\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Running_with_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/220v-looks-like-a-110-plug/546397/6 "2010-07-12T15:52:11Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > That’s kind of odd, too, as most modern electronics I’ve seen have dual voltage transformers, accepting a line voltage of either 100-120V AC or 200-240V AC. None of my electronic equipment requires a separate voltage convertor when I go abroad, just a plug convertor. So I also wonder what kind of computer and power supply was being connected to this that it only took 110V. Most desktops don’t have auto-adjusting power supplies; you need to flip a switch to go from 110 to 220. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/220v-looks-like-a-110-plug/546397/7 "2010-07-12T15:52:41Z")
I think a better question is: What devices were plugged into the plug strip? ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/220v-looks-like-a-110-plug/546397/8 "2010-07-12T15:53:41Z")
> [@Running\_with\_Scissors](#): > > Most desktops don’t have auto-adjusting power supplies; you need to flip a switch to go from 110 to 220. I wouldn’t say “most.” Only cheap PCs with low-cost power supplies. ---
**Author:** ![JKilez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e5b9ba/32.png) [@JKilez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKilez)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/220v-looks-like-a-110-plug/546397/9 "2010-07-12T15:56:50Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > I wouldn’t say “most.” Only cheap PCs with low-cost power supplies. So you \*would \*say “most,” then. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/220v-looks-like-a-110-plug/546397/10 "2010-07-12T15:59:16Z")
> [@Running\_with\_Scissors](#): > > Most desktops don’t have auto-adjusting power supplies; you need to flip a switch to go from 110 to 220. Yeah, I briefly wondered if it was just for portable devices, but I checked the desktops in the house and all the peripherals connected to them, and every single power transformer I have accepts 100-240V, with no switches to flip or anything. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/220v-looks-like-a-110-plug/546397/11 "2010-07-12T17:10:11Z")
Never mind. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/220v-looks-like-a-110-plug/546397/12 "2010-07-12T17:34:30Z")
I actually had this happen to me: Our server rack had a big UPS in the bottom row. One outlet was a large 220 connector. We had a power distribution box plugged into this outlet. The power outlets on this box were standard hooded IEC connectors, and the servers are all auto-sensing, so everything worked fine. Until I plugged in a terabyte RAID array, which was 110 volt fixed. Made quite a noise. ---
**Author:** ![Waffle\_Decider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/77aa72/32.png) [@Waffle\_Decider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waffle_Decider)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2010, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/220v-looks-like-a-110-plug/546397/13 "2010-07-13T00:11:30Z")
Heh, this has also happened in the lab where I work. We converted one of the wall outlet to a 220 outlet ourselves for some test equipment that required it. We thought it was on its own circuit, but we were wrong. One of the other regular wall outlets in the lab also got inadvertently converted to 220, but no one knew about it, and it still looks like a regular 110 socket. Thanks to switching power supply, everything was fine for several months. Until one day someone plugged in the toaster oven that we used for soldering SMT components. That was… bad. ---
**Author:** ![panamajack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/47e85d/32.png) [@panamajack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panamajack)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2010, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/220v-looks-like-a-110-plug/546397/14 "2010-07-13T00:21:47Z")
Just wondering - are there actually places in the US still using 110V? ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2010, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/220v-looks-like-a-110-plug/546397/15 "2010-07-13T00:24:50Z")
looks like some institutions would be well to get a neon voltage tester and use it where the wiring has been altered or nonstandard. if something is altered or nonstandard it only makes sense to prominently label it. because of safety issues and the cost of destroyed equipment i would think using receptacles that meet the standards is best. people have died or been injured or expensive equipment destroyed because of such money saving efforts. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2010, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/220v-looks-like-a-110-plug/546397/16 "2010-07-13T00:25:17Z")
Everywhere. 220v is far less common. ---
**Author:** ![retterath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/919ad9/32.png) [@retterath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/retterath)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2010, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/220v-looks-like-a-110-plug/546397/17 "2010-07-13T00:25:22Z")
110v is pretty much standard household voltage here. Aside from the stove and dryer. ---
**Author:** ![panamajack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/47e85d/32.png) [@panamajack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panamajack)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2010, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/220v-looks-like-a-110-plug/546397/18 "2010-07-13T00:55:10Z")
I should have been more clear - I mean actually having 110V, and not 120V. (I guess what I’m saying is that it strikes me as odd that we still say ‘110V’ when it hasn’t been that way for a while. But I don’t really know how long it’s been for some people.) ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2010, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/220v-looks-like-a-110-plug/546397/19 "2010-07-13T01:10:04Z")
> [@panamajack](#): > > I should have been more clear - I mean actually having 110V, and not 120V. (I guess what I’m saying is that it strikes me as odd that we still say ‘110V’ when it hasn’t been that way for a while. But I don’t really know how long it’s been for some people.) 110V used to be the number, now it is 120V, plus or minus 10% (so 110V is still an acceptable value). for lots of adults it was 100V for much of their life and so it still gets referred to as such, also because few have cause to measure an actual value rather than just know it is in a range. it was a change that had little effect or notice. ---
**Author:** ![UncleFred](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f0a364/32.png) [@UncleFred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleFred)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2010, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/220v-looks-like-a-110-plug/546397/20 "2010-07-13T01:31:58Z")
I’m not sure I followed the description, but is it possible the power strip was designed to plug into a 240/220 with ground, and then it had the 120/110 outlets on the ‘legs’ or ‘halves’ of the 240/220? (I once put together a 4 outlet box like that for some temporary work.) That wouldn’t explain the computer blowing up, but it might explain why a strip with 120/110 outlets had a plug for 240/220. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/220v-looks-like-a-110-plug/546397.md?page=2)