On Mon, 6 Jul 2009 04:44:03 +0000 (UTC), "Geoffrey S. Mendelson"
wrote:

Doug Miller wrote:
Yes, I'm afraid you are missing the point. Different locations, even though
attached to the same local grid, may have different supply voltages because
they are receiving those supplies through different transformers.

I got that. What is wrong is that the person who wrote that originally (was
it you?) used that to explain why a regular house outlet could be 220 volts
on one side of town, and 240 volts on another, both connected to the same
"grid".

There's going to be some variation, but not that much.

Geoff.
Depends entirely where you are. I've seen wider variations than that.
GENERALLY the power company will correct if the voltage is "out of
tolerance" but you don't count on it in some third world countries. Or
some older inner-city areas.

My current line voltage is 116. I have seen 123, and 108 and just
about anything in between in sites seviced by the same power utility
here in Ontario - but generally 117 is pretty standard.