Japan's Massive Mistake of Building Two Incompatible Power Grids

Video written by Tristan Purdy

[leonzeltser]

"There is nothing more permanent than a temporary solution" -Russian proverb

[mel]

It was a blessing for Japanese manufacturers though: having both 50 and 60Hz grids at home encouraged manufacturers to make devices that could work on both frequencies, leading to easy exports around the world.

[generalcodsworth]

"Why do we need to synchronise the power grid?"

"Because in several decades, an earthquake might make a tsunami that might break a nuclear power plant that will screw a bunch of stuff up and then the other side won't be able to send power over to fill the deficit because they're incompatible"

"What the hell is nuclear power?"

"I have no clue, let's worry about this later"

[ClayKramer]

japan's most recognizable international mascot is an electric mouse

[Swotboy]

"Eastern electricity couldn't be easily transferred to the west."

This is backwards. Eastern Japan had the shortage.

[MaybEmmy]

This is almost definitely a biproduct of the research for the latest Wendover video

[Lagiacrus]

4:54 wrong way around my guy. Tsunami was in the east, so that side had the problems. Western electricity couldn't be sent.

[TheTexas]

“Just look at Japan”

Continues to look at the US and Canada

[Rudenbehr]

Anyone remember watching this before the Texas outage and appreciating the information now?

[jackherbic]

"Sone appliances wouldn't work at all if used on the wrong side"
*shows a gas stove

[NotGogo]

2:38 And often covering a gaggle of cooperating countries. And then... there is Texas

Edit: That pre-blackout comment aged as well as the Texan power grid

[docbrown]

"Japan has two grids" looks at the US having four one of which belongs to only texas

Edit: to everyone who said the us grids run on identical frequencies, that aged like milk after the Texas grid is dead now lol

[lordfluff]

The 50 Hz isn't lazy. It's just trying to get its YouTube career started.

[geoffk]

Actually, except for the tsunami in 2011, Japan's electric service is extremely reliable. Even then, it was mostly up, although there were some temporary shortages. It still makes no sense to have two grids, though.
Interestingly, Japan also distributes two incompatible types of natural gas. Depending on where you live, you need the right kind of gas appliances. The wrong kind won't work and can even be a dangerous hazard. I've never understood why this continues to persist.

[lordsiomai]

"and then there's Japan, split right down the middle into two seperate pieces, just like a picture of your divorced parents"

damn he really lost his chill now huh

[daisykumar]

Sam, you must consider paying your good jokes team a bit more and let the bad jokes team relax.

[ykakutani]

4:53 The problem should be that electricity in WESTERN Japan can't get to EASTERN Japan, right? The earthquake affected Eastern Japan and knocked out the nuclear power plant there, after all. Video has it the other way around

[XalphYT]

2:25 The Lone Star State and the Republic of Quebec both have their own energy grids. Why am I not surprised?

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[DarkMephiles]

"Their most recognizable international mascot is an Italian plumber." The giant radioactive lizard would like a word with you.