Electricity "Voltage" In Panama & The Americas

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Cousin_from_UK New member

Member since 10 June 2021

Cousin_from_UKNew member06 July 2021 02:21:57

Hi Everyone

As you may have gathered I'm from the UK, so I do not have the up, as my American cousins do.

I was always under the impression that in your part of the world Electricity is 110V and in Europe and other regions it's 240v.

I have only recently realised that some houses also run 220v, and 240v??

1) Is this the case for most people or just the fortunate? Panama & USA\Canada ?

2) Are the sockets that provide 220v different to the 110v ones, so you don't fry your 110 appliances?

I am aware that in the West you run on 60hz while Europe is 50hz. So my 240v 50hz items should be useless over there (rather not use a step up transformer).

3) Is 220v/240v only for air conditioning units, water heaters, electric ovens, dryers, kettles and other high energy appliances, where 110v is just not powerful enough?

I've browsed through panafoto.com many time and seen a few 240v items such as water heaters

Just like to know if this setup is regular in the States and in middle and working class Panama ?
Thanks

adriano72 Active member

Member since 07 February 2015

adriano72Active member02 August 2021 20:23:44

In Panama most appliances big and small run on 110V -- my Fridge, ACs, washer & dryer, etc. all run on 110V.

Dennis Melton Member

Member since 07 July 2021

Dennis MeltonMember05 August 2021 03:03:03

Panama's residential electrical system is the same as the USA. ie. single phase 60 cycle 120/240 ±5% https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrica … th_America

Yes, 120 outlets are configured different for 240 outlets.

financialadvisoruganda New member

Member since 24 March 2016

financialadvisorugandaNew member21 September 2021 11:56:19

...just to add onto what everybody else have said, apart from actual appliances needing to run off 110V here in Panama, most modern electronics like laptops, gaming consoles, phone chargers and similar which uses a "power adaptor" are usually designed to run off either 220 or 110V.

Although it's usually very small print, this is usually indicated on the power adaptor if you want to make 100% sure.

Just don't try a 220V / European or South African desktop PC in Panama or the US as the internal power supply is usually configured for local domestic use in the country of origen...at least the last time I owned a desktop, which was a few years ago.

Watch out for older type TVs as well...more modern units might be cross compatible over 110V / 220V , but be sure to check the technical power specs. More often than not you can Google specs and even find PDF manuals online at times.

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