22 Mar
2004
22 Mar
'04
5:20 a.m.
>>>> "der" == der Mouse
<mouse(a)rodents.montreal.qc.ca> writes:
> In the US, just one SPST should suffice, if
it's in the live wire.
der> ...and you use a three-wire grounded plug (which
admittedly
der> approximately all computer equipment does).
> You need DPST switches in much of Europe because
there you find
> unpolarized outlets.
der> And because in some parts of Europe you find balanced mains,
der> rather than hot-and-neutral mains. (That is, the two power
der> wires are each hot to ground, 180?? out of phase with respect to
der> one another, very much like what in North America would be a
der> 220V outlet.)
I don't think so. In Europe, plain old home service is 220 volts live
to neutral. If you have three phase, it's Y service, 220 volts phase
to neutral, 380 volts phase to phase. (UK is 240 and 415, otherwise
same story.)
paul