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[Eric Fuller]

I think its time for me to explain about 220 current and why it is so different from 110 volt service. First of all, it's twice as big.
Secondly, it'll shock you more. Outside of that, 220 is really two 110 volt lines coming to your house from different parts of the globe.
The up and down 110 comes from the northern hemisphere, and the down and up version comes from below the equator.
Without trying to get technical, it all boils down to the direction water flows when it goes down the drain. In the top of the earth, it goes clockwise, while on the bottom of the earth it goes counter clockwise. Since most electricity is made from hydro dams, the clockwise flow gives you an up and down sine wave, while the counterclockwise version gives you a down and up sine wave. Between the two, you have 220 volts, while either individual side only gives you 110 volts.
This is particularly important to know when buying power tools- which side of the globe did they come from? If you get an Australian saw, for instance, it will turn backwards if connected to a US generated 110 volt source. Sure, you can buy backwards blades for it, but that is an unnecessary burden. Other appliances, like toasters cannot be converted from Australian electricity to American electricity, without horrible results. I knew one person who bought an Australian toaster by mistake and it froze the slices of bread she put in it.
If you wire your shop with 220 and accidentally get two US-generated 110 volt lines run in by accident, you can get 220 by using a trick I learned from an old electrician. Just put each source into its own fuse box and then turn one of the boxes upside down. That'll invert one of the two up and down sine waves to down and up, giving you 220. DO NOT just turn the box sideways, since that'll give you 165 volts and you'll be limited to just using Canadian tools with it.

[Robert Yarger]

I think the quality of shop electricity is also a big concern.  Know the source of your electric power.  I have found current flowing from coal power plants to be somewhat dirty while current from hydroelectic dams to be a bit watered down.  Neither alone is good for constant use on power equipment which is why it is prudent to switch back and forth between the two sources (thus alternating current).  The hydro power source will leave a bit of moisture in you electric wires, but the soot from the coal plant will dry this up.  In response, the hydro power if used frequently enough will wash out any excess carbon buildup inside the wires.

Most of us do not have to worry about such, but don't be fooled.  To save on money, your power company will sometimes choose power from only one source and not even tell you about it.  It is always wise to check from time to time that your shop electricity is fluctuating properly.

Of course the only way to ensure 100% that the electricity used in your equipment is both dry and clean is to run everything from a battery.  ("DC" current stands for Dry-Clean, it is right there in the name.)   

[FrankPotts]

The green lobby is trying to stop us using battery electricity as it is cruel. You should be using free range electricity, and only that fed on organically grown currants.

[Peter Wiltshire]

Watts all this talk about electricity?!?

[Robert Yarger]

Ohms, initally I has some resistance to posting my current opinon on electricity in the workshop, but the flux of the matter is that I thougt it prudent to relay the information. 

[Thargo]

Oh ladies this is sad.....

At least one of three things is happening here;

1. Eric and Robert have far too much time on their hands,
2. Eric and Robert have been into Robert's secret garden of 'magic' mushrooms again
   which is reacting badly to the fermented honey,
3. There is a seditious and sadistic plot against us poor Aussies. 

I don't know about our 'little brother' power supply in the US but DownUnder we treat the 240V power supply with a LOT of respect.  The short outcome of no respect......"FLASH AND YOU'RE ASH"......

[Robert Yarger]

Don't listen to him.  His electricty flows in the wrong direction anyway, being on the southern hemisphere.  Oh, but hey I was curious.  In school were your globes upside down?  Really, I'm not trying to be funny, I am curious.

[Thargo]

Hey, what's a 'school' and what do I do with it? 

We put the globes in upside down so the excess energy runs back into the glowy thingy which makes the light, that way we don't waste any and actually end up using less.  Ahhh, yes.....pretty clever eh.......?

Of course, you could always run an extension lead to your neighbour's place, that way you use even less.