power supply question

[lightbringer]

I have a question, i have a dell dimension xps t550and I have a pent 3 550 in the system. Well, I was just curius as to the reason why the have a switch that changes the volatage on the power supply. there are two options 115 and 230 volts. Why the one that it was shipped at was 115... so why would the give you the option of changing this?

[Ed_S]

All power supplies I've seen have that, I think it's for foreign (non-USA) usage.

It's for the incoming power, not the output.

[lightbringer]

i see so is 115 usa or what? I have two systems here and they both have a 115 230 option... the default on both is 115 but then what is the 230 option for?

[This message has been edited by lightbringer (edited 01-30-2000).]

[daveleau]

Well Europe runs on 220V while we run on 110V in the US. i don't know where the extra 5V is ocming from. I'd like to hear the answer too sinceI am not one with electricity.
dave

[ram]

115v is 110v they just say 115v,we have 220v in america but its called 230v.Dont try running your PC on anything but 115v or youll fry it like an egg http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[jad1097]

There voltage varies depending where you live,how far you are from a transformer(voltage drop takes place ),etc.. The average voltage I have seen is between 115-125volts.And 220 is more like 240.
Most thing are under rated to allow for voltage drop,at least that is what I think.
Also take a digital multi-meter and I am sure the voltage in your house will be closer to 120.
I hope this answers you question. If not well it's 2am and I need to go to sleep.

Oh forgot to say I am an electrican. Ran a service truck for ten years.



[This message has been edited by jad1097 (edited 01-31-2000).]

[Dave_H]

I call it 110v and 220v too. But most ratings on newer appliances will have them listed as 115 and 230. Sometimes electritions will refer to standard current as 117v. Of couse the real value will vary from place to place and durring different times, for some reason, no one ever thought to agree on a "standard" value to call it.
If you wanted to get real technical, 110v means that the current has that "potential".
Because it will reach approx. 110v positive
and 110v negative, switching potentials between positive and negative 60 times a second in the U.S.A.
(Have I confused everybody yet?)
Now consider since the voltage switches from
+110 to -110, What is the adverage of it?
Did anyone say 0?
This explains why electricians can charge so much money for what they do. It's called the confusion factor.
Dave

[Butchk]

Isn't it also true that the 220 used on the power supply is 50 cycles not 60 like we have in the US. I might be wrong but that's what I heard. Any way have a great day Butchk http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[clc_electronic_phila]

Butchk is correct, The difference is USA vrs, Europa standards. In the USA we run between 107v and 120v @ 60 Hz.

[lightbringer]

Ok, thanks for all your help. However, one last thing. I di dnot know this nad while the system was powered down, I just wante dto see what it was before original post. I switched the tab to the 233... I did even know that I would find 233... and well before actually turning the power back on I did place it back on 115. My system's power supply has that flea power so when you unlug it and plus it back in the power supply feel but the system doe snto boot. Ny question is that as long as i did not power up with the 233 my system did not get harmed did it?
Thanks in advance

[Ygor]

Nope, no harm done.