It was agreed a few years ago, by the European community members, that mains voltages should be harmonised to 230V. At that time the UK was 240V nominal and the rest of Europe 220V. Of course it isn't that easy to change a country's mains voltage overnight so a compromise was made. The UK would be 230V +10% -6% and the rest of Europe 230V +6% -10%.
Slowly but surely the voltages in the UK are coming down to 230V as the power companies modify their supply equipment. Two years ago 240-245V was common, I measured the voltage just now and it is 232.4V. For a product to be sold in Europe, if you assume a nominal voltage of 230V and test at +/- 10% you can't go wrong. Hope this helps. Regards Chris Colgan EMC & Safety TAG McLaren Audio Ltd mailto:chris.col...@tagmclarenaudio.com > -----Original Message----- > From: raymond...@dixonsasia.com.hk [SMTP:raymond...@dixonsasia.com.hk] > Sent: 01 August 2000 10:53 > To: emc-p...@ieee.org > Subject: Test voltage for products to the U.K. > > > > > A few years ago, BEAMA or other similar body has issued a memo to public > laboratories about testing voltage for products selling in the U.K. The > memo > says the U.K. mains is still 240Vac although the rated voltage is agreed > to be > 230Vac and the products have to be taken care the safety at 240Vac. Can > anyone > tell me where I can find a copy of this memo and if there is any updated > version > to replace this one. > > Thanks and regards, > > Raymond Li > Dixons Asia Ltd. > > > > ------------------------------------------- > This message is from the IEEE EMC Society Product Safety > Technical Committee emc-pstc discussion list. > > To cancel your subscription, send mail to: > majord...@ieee.org > with the single line: > unsubscribe emc-pstc > > For help, send mail to the list administrators: > Jim Bacher: jim_bac...@mail.monarch.com > Michael Garretson: pstc_ad...@garretson.org > > For policy questions, send mail to: > Richard Nute: ri...@ieee.org > ===================================================== Authorised on 08/01/00 at 13:55:49; code 37f48bf3C80619F4. ********************************************************************** The contents of this E-mail are confidential and for the exclusive use of the intended recipient. If you receive this E-mail in error, please delete it from your system immediately and notify us either by E-mail, telephone or fax. You should not copy, forward or otherwise disclose the content of the E-mail. TAG McLaren Audio Ltd, The Summit, 11 Latham Road Huntingdon, Cambs, PE29 6ZU Telephone : 01480 415600 (+44 1480 415600) Facsimile : 01480 52159 (+44 1480 52159) ********************************************************************** ------------------------------------------- This message is from the IEEE EMC Society Product Safety Technical Committee emc-pstc discussion list. To cancel your subscription, send mail to: majord...@ieee.org with the single line: unsubscribe emc-pstc For help, send mail to the list administrators: Jim Bacher: jim_bac...@mail.monarch.com Michael Garretson: pstc_ad...@garretson.org For policy questions, send mail to: Richard Nute: ri...@ieee.org
