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In the UK the power is 240V, 50Hz.? Outlets are often wired in a ring, not just one linear connection.

Here we have 220V, 50Hz.? On the poles is 3 phase WYE, so 220V from any leg to the common and 380V from leg to leg.? A typical dacha (small "country house") is connected to one leg and the common with a 25 amp breaker and RCD (like a ground fault breaker in the usa). That's all the power you get.

Because of a series of murky events, we got all 3 phases so have 3 phase power for the workshop, our sauna, and the greenhouse heater.

Wiring up the milling machine to 380 volts seemed odd, at that voltage it only has a 5 amp breaker (well, three 5 amp breakers ganged together).

I'm still getting used to how thin wire is here, things use half the current and with the higher voltage can stand a greater voltage drop, hence thin wire.

One problem with 50Hz is motors and transformers need 20% more iron in them, making them bigger and more expensive.? In appliances like washing machines you'll find brushed motors instead of the induction motors the usa uses.? Our refrigerator has a tiny brushless DC motor (3 phase with VFD) as we use propane/butane for refrigerant instead of the fluorocarbons we had in California.? Propane/butane is more efficient and much lower pressure so refrigeration gear is pretty low power.

If we were doing power systems over, probably something like 240 Volts at 100Hz would be good.? It would certainly save a lot of iron and wasted wattage.? But, at least we're not in the part of Japan where I hear they have 100 Volts and 50Hz, worst of both worlds.