terry had written:

I just checked (India) for example and one site says;
"Remember, no matter what type of plug an outlet might accept, voltage
in India is 230 v 50 Hz." India has about three times the population of
all of North America.
..
The point being (India, or anywhere else for that matter) that it is
fairly easy (via internet) to find out the voltage and frequency of
various electricity supplies around the world.

On another (technically oriented) news group we have just finished a
discussion about 25 cycle supplies that were not uncommon in some parts
of North America up to at least the 1950s and 1960s; with the result
that there is still equipment around that uses it!

Some aircraft, from the mid 1940s onward, used (and probably still do?)
400 hertz at 115 volts.

Again there have been certain instances where the normal standards are
'mixed'. For example there are company towns, in this part of north
America, which until recent years, were supplied from a local mill that
operates at 50 hertz (cycles) but with the 'normal' North American 110
volts! On 50 all 'normal' 60 hertz clocks, including those that were
used as timers on many North American style stoves/ranges/electric
cookers ran 17% slow and so were not usable!

In Japan AIUI their normal voltage is not 110 to 117; but 100 volts?
However Japanese and other Asian manufacturers seem to have had no
trouble manufacturing equipment for many voltages/frequencies.

So depending where you live in the world your mileage (voltage) may
vary but it's fairly easy to find out?

And don't mention DC (Direct Current) non alternating voltages; very
uncommon today AIUI. But were in use in parts of the UK for example
until at least the 1960s. You could 'draw' quite a spark/arc at 230
volts DC when switching off something! Especially if it was something
inductive like say a motor.

Terry again.