+12 votes
by (1.3k points)
Any downside to running all your server components that support 220v, at 220v? Figure if it’s going to be on all day long, may as well save on power bill if possible.  
Any downside to running all your server components that support 220v, at 220v?

8 Answers

+9 votes
by (670 points)
 
Best answer
You do not save anything on your power bill running at 240v vs 120v. The wattage is EXACTLY the same at either voltage.  
by (890 points)
@progress there will be a very slight savings with 220v as power supplies will run a tad more efficient.  
by (880 points)
The conversions are *slightly* more efficient, not enough to justify pulling new wiring, changing out power cords, and all that, but if its already there, its possibly the better choice.  
by (670 points)
@anticlastic so slight you really won’t see any savings at all.  
by (2k points)
And u risk getting shocked with 220 vs 110 :p
by (1.4k points)
@progress ever heard of “power factor”?  
+4 votes
by (630 points)
No, 220v is preferred
+2 votes
by (630 points)
If you are talking 220v 60hz and 110 60hz.  
0 votes
by (890 points)
No downside other that it is less safe if there would be a fault and the PDUs and cords can cost more.  
by (130 points)
220v cords use less copper / thinner as the current is half compared to 110volts. So in theory should be cheaper !  
by (3.6k points)
Why would it less safe? It would be the same as anywhere in the rest of the world
by (890 points)
@vine USA only uses 120V for regular outlets. You get shocked by that it, it will hurt but you are likely to live. 220V you are more likely to die.  
by (3.6k points)
Utter horse shit, we have lots of protection to prevent shocks, I know the USA use 120v, for example its impossible to put something in our sockets and get a shock , we have internal shutters. You can not touch the pins on a plug as they are covered in plastic , you see it's not the voltage that kills its poor installation and not thought out safe equipment
by (890 points)
@vine That response was utter horse shit.  
+2 votes
by (2k points)
Have lived in both 220 and 110, prefers 110 much more, less sparks, much safer!  
by (3.6k points)
It's not the voltage that's unsafe its the installation
+3 votes
by (3.6k points)
There is no downside at all in regard to the components as you will be the same as the rest of the world, but as to cost savings I really doubt you will save anything
+4 votes
by (1k points)
Volts x Amps = Watts. Higher V and lower A means same W. No savings. It still takes the same amount of energy to run them.  
by (1.7k points)
@oruro378 this is what ohms law says. Technically it's correct. In real practice the 240 will always be slightly more efficient. Less amperage means less copper needed. Less copper, less amperage = less resistance and heat. This is why our power lines are always high voltage. Bottom line if you have 220/240 available use it. This becomes even more true with 3 phase power and efficiency.  
by (1k points)
@snug51948 I know, but the marginal saving here in anything other than a server farm environment is pretty much inconsequential.  
by (1.7k points)
@oruro378 I agree. It would probably take a year or better to pay off the install of said receptacle. Motors are where you see the savings due to the windings.  
0 votes
by (1.9k points)
Server power supplies do run more efficiently at 220V.  
by (940 points)
@hadhramaut, some do. I once did a test. I had many different servers at my disposal and many watt meters. I found about 20% of the dual voltage ones I tested ran less efficiently at 220v. Of the two or three redundant systems, I found that some ran much less efficiently with two supplies vs one, and those less critical ones we decided to run with one. One box produced twice the best from the three PSUs as it did with two of them for instance and the incoming watts matched the increase pretty closely. Summary: you have to check.  
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