Why pole pigs are rare in Europe

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: "Stephen Conner by way of Terry Fritz <teslalist-at-qwest-dot-net>" <steve-at-scopeboy-dot-com>

I found the following tidbit in the Encyclopaedia Britannica.

"The voltage for residential services in the United States is uniformly 120 
volts, and in Europe it is mostly 200 or 220 volts, a difference that leads 
to considerable variation in distribution methods.

In the United States the voltage is reduced in a distribution substation to 
2,400 to 13,800 volts, and a second reduction is made to utilization 
voltage by means of a number of small transformers mounted on poles, or 
situated in vaults, known as distribution transformers.

In Europe the subtransmission or primary distribution voltage is brought 
into a kiosk or vault and reduced to 220 volts, and a relatively large area 
is covered at 220 volts. Distribution transformer output in the U.S. ranges 
generally from 5 to 100 kVA, whereas in Europe it is generally from 50 to 
600 kVA."

So there you are. In the US, you have pole pigs. In Europe, we have giant 
ground hogs instead :) Luckily, scrap microwave ovens are just as common 
either side of the pond.

Steve C.