The legal standard in the U.K. was changed to 230V +10%/-6% some years ago, with the aim of it becoming 230V +/-10% at some point in the future.

For all practical purposes though, we're still on 240V +/-6%. I don't know if any utilities have actually started installing new xfmrs to give a nominal 230/400V, but cewrtainly in this area I've not seen any. Allowing for voltage sag during periods of heavy demand, everything I see is still a nominal 240/415V.

Out of curiosity, I just checked the line voltage in my home. I'm reading 227V, but this is mid-day on a Saturday when it's always low (no city gas here, so lots of electric stoves running, and it's a chilly day, so probably extra heat turned up as well). During low-load periods it normally sits arounds 242-243V. Average-load periods (e.g. late evening) seem to be around 237-238V most of the time.

Yeah, I know.... It's sad. Nothing better to do of an evening that sit around monitoring the utility line voltage. [Linked Image]


[This message has been edited by pauluk (edited 03-08-2003).]