Hello all, a bit off-topic, but I have a question about power in the USA...

On of my brothers is moving to Silicon Valley (he has a 3 year work visa
and his new company will sponsor him for a permanent work visa) and has
a lot of expensive 220-240V Hi-Fi & AV equipment. One of his mates has
said that houses often have 240V in the garage and kitchen. So what we
want to know is whether the power is coming in to the house at 240V and
then being stepped down so he would be OK running a 240V circuit to the
lounge or whether it is stepped up for the garage making this a bad idea.

To bring this nearer to on-topic, do they have silicon chips and
microfiche for supper in Silicon Valley?