The French electrical code: books and websites.

[RobertArthur]

France is a country rich in traditions and respect for its ‘patrimoine’. Alongside names such as Louis IV and Napoleon, one immediately thinks of all those stars from the past whom les citoyens et citoyennes still hold in high regard: Jean-Paul Belmondo, Alain Delon, Johnny Hallyday, Charles Aznavour, Edith Piaf, Catherine Deneuve, Dalida and so on.

But this also seems to be the case from time to time in the field of technology, if we look back a little.
Between 1986 and 1996, France switched from 220 V to 230 V to bring its standards into line with European norms. The switch from the former 110 V to 220 V, standardised by EDF in 1956, was historically driven by the need to improve the efficiency of the grid and reduce energy losses. Sometimes, even in technical journals or (thirty years later...) on the EDF and ENEDIS websites, old habits never die, when they still mention the 220-volt mains supply. Quote: ' Tout savoir sur le panneau solaire avec batterie 220V. Par La rédaction EDF solutions solaires 16 janvier 2025 - Mis à jour le 21 février 2026.' Three strikes and you're out.....

To err is human, a slip of the pen or a typo is easily made, I know that only too well myself, but every time I see something like that, I can’t help but smile. If I combine that with an apple a day, that should be enough to keep the doctor at bay for a while.