What voltages for USA ?

[JesperMP]

Hi.

I am making a control system for a machine which shall be sold world-wide incl. USA.
For USA I am aware that UL508 entails several modifications to our control systems that are made to IEC standards. We are having a specialist deal with that.

The question for now, what voltages shall I aim for ?
I have noted these:

120/208 V (3-phase). Is this used in industrial applications ?
120/240 V (1-phase 3 wires). I think this is used in rural applications, not industrial.
277/480 V (3-phase). I think this is the main voltage used in industrial applications.
600 V (3-phase). Is this commonly used, or only rarely ?

Thanks in advance for any advice !

 

[hardaysknight]

If I am not mistaken, I believe that 600v 3 phase is used in Canada, while 277/480v 3 phase is mainly used in the US.

 

[JesperMP]

If I am not mistaken, I believe that 600v 3 phase is used in Canada, while 277/480v 3 phase is mainly used in the US.

I have a book with all the voltages of the world.
For the US there are the voltages mentioned.
For Canada there are 120/240V (1ph), 460V (3ph), 575V (3ph), 600V (3ph).
I take you comment as that you haven't seen 600V in the US.

 

[hardaysknight]

Yes, that is what I meant.

 

[Ken Moore]

I have worked at two plants in the USA that had 600v 3-ph. Both were very old, pre WW2. All plants built since the 70's, were 480/277(3ph). I see 120/208 in commercial sites, they can have 3-phase for coolers and HVAC, plus 120V without a transformer.

 

[HoldenC]

I've never seen 600V used here. As mentioned above, our Canadian factories used 600V.

277/480 is pretty widely used. I've rarely seen 208/120 used in industrial applications.

 

[hardaysknight]

I've never seen 600V used here. As mentioned above, our Canadian factories used 600V.

277/480 is pretty widely used. I've rarely seen 208/120 used in industrial applications.

We have 208/120 here, but I just started in this plant, and I have to say, there's not a lot of normal things here haha.

 

[geniusintraining]

I have not seen 600 but I worked on a OLD reciprocating compressor once (IR) it was 2160? I know it was over 2000 and I think it was 2160, the cylinders were about 3 feet tall and maybe 2ft across.

It had a time delay on the start, one morning I pushed the start button and started to walk out the room, then I remembered that I need to check the oil so I hit the stop button at the same time it started up.... there was a blue fire ball that lit up the whole room

 

[JesperMP]

Thanks to all for the comments.
I conclude that I can limit the voltage to 480V 3-phase.

N.B. a colleague swears that we have delivered a machine to the US with 575V. I am ignoring that ...

 

[LadderLogic]

The answer is: the first three are "yes". Actually, there is 3-phase 240V as well.

It has to be verified with each customer. Only they can tell you which power system is available at their location.

Most European machine builders I know build their machines to 400V and either provide their own transformer to match the customer supply or negotiate with the customer so the transformer would be provided by them.

I personally had to order and install transformers for Germany-built machines when they were moving form one of our company locations with 3 X 480V to another one with 3 X 240V systems. Alternatively, we had built a machine for Europe that was done 3X400V but had to use a transformer to run it in our place that is 3X208V.

 

[lfe]

Also be noted that while in Europe the terminals of triphase electric motors can be connected in star or delta, that is, at two voltages with a ratio of 1.73 between them, in the US there are also motors with windings switchable between series or parallel with voltage ratios of 2, for example 240/480V.

 

[dwoodlock]

480 is the most widely used that I've seen. Probably depends on the industry largely.

 

[Bit_Bucket_07]

I have a book with all the voltages of the world.
For the US there are the voltages mentioned.
For Canada there are 120/240V (1ph), 460V (3ph), 575V (3ph), 600V (3ph).
I take you comment as that you haven't seen 600V in the US.

I've encountered a 600 V service in the US at an old cotton mill years ago. The mill has long since been shuttered and demolished.

 

[mk42]

480 is definitely the most common here.


Make no assumptions about grounding style/quality etc tho. Thar be dragons.

 

[jstolaruk]

480vac 3ph is most common I've installed in the US and Mexico for the auto industry up to 1MW, after that it gets crazy expensive and delayed with 2160vac components. 600vac for Canada's auto industry. Obviously it will be plant specific.