PRIMER FOR HOMEOWNERS:   The Electrical System.

The most important thing to find out about the electrical
system is whether it contains enough "Volts". These are little
tiny pieces of electricity shaped like arrows so you can tell in
which direction they are moving.

The standard measurement for Volts is "Amps", also called
"Watts", which travel around in what is called a "Circuit".
A typical circuit works as follows:-

At the Electricity Company, coal or oil is burned to set
fire to a Generator, which gives off electrical energy in the
form of sparks which are put into wires and travel to your home,
where the electricity waits in the wall until you turn on your
toaster. At this point it comes rushing out of the wire and into
the pieces of bread, and hence to your stomach. Here it remains
until a cool dry day when you are walking down the hallway
scuffing your feet on the carpet. When you touch the door
handle, the electricity leaps across to it where it remains for
ever, building up to tremendously high levels. Scientists are
concerned that some unscrupulous person(s) will soon discover how 
to release this potential energy. It has been calculated that 
the level stored in a single door knob of the average semi-
detached, would be sufficient to vapourise Greater London!

However, your immediate concern as a potential buyer, is
making sure that the house has the right number of Volts. See
the chart below depicting the most popular voltages currently
available on the housing market.

    		Popular Home Voltages.

    			115 volts
			230 volts
			9 volts *

   	 * Requires 9 volt battery, (not included).

Which voltage is right for you, more than anything else, is 
a matter of personal taste, and like most matters of personal
taste, is best left in the hands of a qualified Interior Designer. 


from "Homes and other black holes" by Dave Barry & Jeff MacNelly.