In 2023, the Department of Energy decided that 230/460 motors could no longer have "208" listed on the nameplate. Often, the nameplate would state either "208-230/460" or "230/460, acceptable at 208". Now, a 208 volt facility must have 2 and 3 pole motors with a 200 or 208 volt rating on the nameplate. Sure, often times the 208 volt service will be well within the 10% lower limit range of a 230 volt motor. However, this removes any leaway in lower fluctuation you might see from 208 volts (from the utility, from voltage drop, etc.).
Anyway, a couple pump motors were installed on my current jobsite with a 208 volt, three phase service. The motor nameplates both had 230/460 listings. I verified with two separate Baldor Motot tech assistants (the manufacturer of these motors) that these motors are no longer considered acceptable for 208. They are currently being changed out for motors label "200 volts".
More recently, I found that both the supply and return motors in the air handler are also Baldor brand and 230/460 according to the nameplate. Yet, on the inside of return motor's access door, there is a sticker contradicting the voltage requirement. The manufacturer of the AHU added a label that states that both of the installed motors are 208v, 3-phase. When consulted, a tech assistant from the AHU manufacturer essentially stated in an email that the Department of Energy rule is all bark with no bite. It simply states, according to him, that 230/460 motors can no longer have the number "208" on their nameplate anymore. I called him and he said that we can continue to use these motors "off label", so to speak, just as we have for numerous decades. It is more of a "don't-ask/don't-tell" situation. I find this hard to believe. I do not necessarily care but want to do things correctly going forward. BTW, the above are not the technicians exact words but just what I gathered from the conversation.
I always believed it was technically against code to use an electrical item in a way that differs from its labeling. Isn't it going against the UL listing? I have called countless manufacturers in my career on some version of this subject and, a vast majority of the time, it is deamed acceptable to them to use the item "off label". I thought perhaps that the DOE was putting a stop to this practice but maybe this relatively new rule is all for show. I assumed it would be the UL and local inspectors that would finally step in but it might just be due to energy inefficiencies that something is MAYBE being done. A motor designed for 230 volts isn't going to run as efficient on 208. Anybody else running into this?
