My parent's first TV had a setting to change between 220/230/240 volts. It kept blowing valves (tubes for you Americans) regularly, until finally the repair guy measured the local voltage and found it to be 240V. Changed setting from 220 to 240 and problem was gone. Elsewhere in town the voltage actually was 220V.. and some places 210V or less. Heck, I lived a place with 190V. _That_ was when we needed the 100-240V 50/60Hz universal chargers.. but they were non-existent then. Now they're everywhere and you only need them when crossing the Atlantic!