ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade Non-US Electrical Systems & Trades A political "standard"

As I've mentioned before, supplies in the U.K. at one time varied between 200 and 250V. By the early 1970s all had been standardized at 240V (415V 3-ph) with an allowable tolerance of +/- 6%.

Over in Continental Europe, most countries standardized at 220V, one or two at 230V or 240V.

In the pursuit of getting everything into a European "one size fits all" mold, the various committees decreed that all countries in the E.U. should move toward 230V (400V 3-ph) becoming the standard.

Nothing has changed here, but officially our supplies are now designated as 230V. How come?

The authorities have altered the official specification to 230V +10% / -6%. It's planned that in a couple of years the tolerance will be widened to +/-10%.

"See Mr. International Committee, we've converted all our supplies to 230V!"

Well, politically, maybe, but from a technical point of view they're still 240V +/-6%.

LOL!
well it would seem that the politicians are standardized in thier BS wherever one goes

case in point, the 2002 NEC here, for the first time, says "International Electrical Code Series" right on the cover.

You said it! Just get any semi-official dept. involved and you can bet they'll turn out nonsense like this.

By the way, do you know any other specific countries which use the American NEC? I would guess that several of the Caribbean Islands and Central/South American countries follow it.

Good Q.
up until i recieved my 02' i had assumed the NEC to be simply a 'National Electrical Code'

I just reckoned that places using 120V small appliances with American plugs & recepts. & other U.S.-sourced equipment would quite likely use the NEC as well, though possibly with local variations or amendments.

That would include places like Bermuda, The Virgin Islands (U.S. & British), Cayman Islands, etc.

Anyone have any knowledge on this?

Someone had a link showing this. I can't remember where. I think it was on the Holt forum but I can't find it. I'll keep looking and post the link.

Nick, is it this one? http://kropla.com/electric2.htm

Steve,

This is one of several "World Power" lists I've seen, although I've found that these are not always completely accurate.

It doesn't indicate whether those paces using U.S. fittings follow the NEC though.

By the way, while you're looking at the drawings of the different plugs on ths site (crude, but they give a rough idea):

* Type G is the current British fused plug.

* Types D & M are the old 5A and 15A round-pin types (hence the fact that they are still found in many former British colonies).

* The old non-grounding 5A plug is similar to type C, but with larger pins spaced a little closer together.

No, the site I saw actually showed which countries have adopted the NEC. I am sure I got the link off of a thread.

I worked with a company from Germany, that made 'Air-knives ', and all their 3-phase motors were 380 volts. This is about 10 years ago now has that standard changed ?
We were told that you could run directly 380/480v motors and the relationship of 50/60 hz was supposed to be compatible.