International Electrotechnical Commission

international standards development organization

Discussed in 5 episodes Wikidata (Q193858) →

Episodes

#5758: Why Your Outlet Is 120 Volts and Europe's Is 230

The US isn't really a 120-volt country — it's 120/240 split-phase. Here's the engineering logic behind the numbers on your panel.

Oct 7
#5609: IEC Cables: Terminate, Split, or Extend?

Rewireable C13 connectors, splitters, and the length ceiling — the practical answers to running power without daisy-chained plug strips.

Sep 27
#5732: Why You Own 40 Unlabeled Power Supplies

Three standards bodies tried to fix DC connectors. The box of mystery bricks in your closet is the result.

Oct 5
#5718: How Far Can You Run RCA, XLR, and 3.5mm Cables?

Published cable-length advice ranges from 3 meters to 200 feet. The physics explains why — and why the cable isn't the variable that matters.

Oct 4
#5126: The Volunteers Who Let Science Shock Them

Charles Dalziel's volunteers endured muscle-locking shocks to create the safety standards we rely on today. What do we owe them?

Sep 9