Understand Voltage Selection Implications

What happens here

The master electrician elaborates on why a higher voltage like 480 volts is generally preferred for commercial applications compared to the 120/208 volts observed. He explains that higher voltage leads to lower current for the same amount of power delivered. Lower current results in less heat loss in the conductors and allows for smaller wire sizes, making the system more efficient and cost-effective. Furthermore, a higher voltage service can accommodate more total electrical load. He concludes that using 120/208V for a commercial service, especially if future demands like EV charging were to be added, would severely limit its capacity and could have been better handled by a 480V service stepped down to 120/208V where needed.

Goal: Grasp the technical and practical reasons why higher voltage (e.g., 480V) is generally preferred for commercial electrical services.