Definition of voltage ranges

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As per IEC voltage standards and recommendations:


Three-phase four-wire or three-wire systems Nominal voltage (V)

Single-phase three-wire systems Nominal voltage (V)

50 Hz 60 Hz 60 Hz
- 120/208 120/240
- 240 -
230/400(1) 277/480 -
400/690 (1) 480 -
- 347/600 -
1000 600 -

Fig. A1: Standard voltages between 100 V and 1000 V (IEC 60038 Edition 6.2 2002-07)

(1) The nominal voltage of existing 220/380 V and 240/415 V systems shall evolve toward the recommended value of 230/400 V. The transition period should be as short as possible and should not exceed the year 2003. During this period, as a first step, the electricity supply authorities of countries having 220/380 V systems should bring the voltage within the range 230/400 V +6 %, -10 % and those of countries having 240/415 V systems should bring the voltage within the range 230/400 V +10 %, -6 %. At the end of this transition period, the tolerance of 230/400 V ± 10 % should have been achieved; after this the reduction of this range will be considered. All the above considerations apply also to the present 380/660 V value with respect to the recommended value 400/690 V.




Series I Series II
Highest voltage for equipment (kV) Nominal system voltage (kV) Highest voltage for equipment (kV) Nominal system voltage (kV)
3.6 (1) 3.3 (1) 3 (1) 4.40 (1) 4.16 (1)
7.2(1) 6.6 (1) 6 (1) - -
12 11 10 - -
- - - 13.2 (2) 12.47 (2)
- - - 13.97 (2) 13.2 (2)
- - - 14.52 (1) 13.8 (1)
(17.5) - (15) - -
24 22 20 - -
- - - 26.4(2) 24.94 (2)
36 (3) 33 (3) - - -
- - - 36.5 34.5
40.5(3) - 35(3) - -

Fig. A2: Standard voltages above 1 kV and not exceeding 35 kV (IEC 60038 Edition 6.2 2002-07)

These systems are generally three-wire systems unless otherwise indicated.
The values indicated are voltages between phases.
The values indicated in parentheses should be considered as non-preferred values. It is recommended that these values should not be used for new systems to be constructed in future.
Note 1: It is recommended that in any one country the ratio between two adjacent nominal voltages should be not less than two.
Note 2: In a normal system of Series I, the highest voltage and the lowest voltage do not differ by more than approximately ±10 % from the nominal voltage of the system. In a normal system of Series II, the highest voltage does not differ by more then +5 % and the lowest voltage by more than -10 % from the nominal voltage of the system.
(1) These values should not be used for public distribution systems.
(2) These systems are generally four-wire systems.
(3) The unification of these values is under consideration.

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