Scott, Yes, indeed they do. In fact with the high voltage applied to 230V design centre equipment the result is for it to draw even more power, wastefully and expensively, as well as reduce service life. As an example, formerly electric fires could be rated at 240V 3kW, drawing 12.5A, within the rating of the standard UK 13A domestic socket. As a 230V nominal 3kW fire would draw just over 13A at that voltage, and even more at the "real" supply voltage of 240V (let alone the permitted max of 254V), UK 230V nominal fires now are designed for 2.75kW instead of 3kW!
The result of this is to give us substantial business for our energy saving voltage regulators, which reduce the supply to a regulated 220V or lower. That is why I gave a reference to the article on our website at http://www.claudelyons.co.uk/energy_saving.htm If you look at it, you'll see the title, tellingly, is "Energy Saving and Equipment Life Prolongation by Voltage Reduction". Apologies if this response is necessarily somewhat commercial, Scott, but the argument you give is precisely the rationale for our energy saving product line. Bill -- Bill Lyons - [email protected] / [email protected] From: Scott Xe <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]>, <[email protected]> Subject: RE: Domestic mains voltage List-Post: [email protected] List-Post: [email protected] List-Post: [email protected] Date: Sat, 24 Jan 2009 21:50:16 +0800 Hi Bill, Thanks for your update on it and useful to understand the direction. I am unsure if the mains supply companies follow a July 2005 DTI note "Electrical Supply Tolerances and Electrical Appliance Safety" points out that "Though the electrical supply is quoted as being over a range, it is preferable for power distribution companies to keep supply voltages as high as possible to minimise current in the supply network and hence delaying the need to make improvements in the supply infrastructure to increase current handling capability." Thru recent return record and investigation, the domestic mains voltage is at a higher side, > or = 250 Vac and the failure return rides up significantly. The manufacturers design their product at EU rated 230 Vac and assume the product operates at the highest voltage of 254 Vac occasionally. Now, the product is operating at the higher voltages all the time. It results in shortening its life or causing early failure. Luckily this will not happen in other European countries. Scott From: Bill Lyons [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Saturday, January 24, 2009 3:58 PM To: Scott Xe; [email protected] Subject: Re: Domestic mains voltage Scott, There will be no movement by the UK in the forseeable future. I append below a definitive response from the UK government's Department of Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) to a query I made last June. See also http://www.claudelyons.co.uk/energy_saving.htm Hope this helps. Bill -- William Lyons Claude Lyons Limited, Brook Road, Waltham Cross, Herts EN8 7LR, UK Direct Tel: +44 (0)1992 701 500 Mobile: +44 (0)7836 760 372 Switchboard: +44 (0)1992 768 888 Fax: +44 (0)1992 788 000 email: [email protected] URL: http://www.claudelyons.co.uk From: Scott Xe <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Subject: Domestic mains voltage List-Post: [email protected] List-Post: [email protected] List-Post: [email protected] Date: Sat, 24 Jan 2009 13:40:03 +0800 Understand the ultimate goal of nominal mains voltage in EU is 230 Vac +/-10%. Currently, UK is still 230 Vac +10/-6% according to law and other EU countries are 230Vac +6/-10%. Is there any update on the progress to the unified tolerance, +/-10%? Thanks & regards, Scott From: "Wickes Tim (EMU)" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Cc: "Enquiry Enquiry (IMSV01)" <[email protected]>; "Scott Giles (EMU)" <[email protected]> Subject: UK voltage range List-Post: [email protected] List-Post: [email protected] List-Post: [email protected] Date: 20 June 2008 07:54 Dear Mr Lyons Low Voltage The nominal voltage for single phase low voltage distribution in Europe is 230V. There is a bandwidth necessary to accommodate load and system variants. From 1st January 1995 to present day (from a single phase perspective) it is 230V -6%/+10% (216V to 253V) in UK, this being the first stage of European Harmonisation implementation). This voltage range is a statutory requirement. There is an intention to extend this range to 230V +/-10%, i.e. 207V to 253V. This was initially scheduled for 1st January 2003 and postponed until 1st January 2008. However, there is still some debate amongst stakeholders so although some British & European Standards quote 230V +/-10%, and information on various internet sites identify 230V +/-10%, the UK voltage range will remain at 230V -6%/+10% until further notice. The statutory document identifying the range is Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations (ESQCR) 2002 as amended, s27. There will be a trigger for change in this statutory document and this will probably be as a result of final agreed consensus (further committee work on CENELEC Harmonisation Document 472 and associated documents is a likely requirement) of all appropriate stakeholders. This range and its proposed staged implementation was agreed via long debate in the early 1990's between all stakeholders to accommodate both the 240V & 220V ranges used across Europe - the range for the 220V European stakeholders on 1st Jan 1995 was 230V -10%/+6% (207V to 244V). Prior to 1st January 1995 the UK range was 240V +/-6% (i.e. 226V to 254V). One of the main benefits for voltage harmonisation across Europe to 230V nominal has been the standardisation of electrical equipment in terms of voltage requirements across the EU, providing more choice, improved safety (all European appliances are now manufactured to the same voltage standard) and increased competition to all. I understand that other countries have also standardised to the European nominal 230V (for example, Australia), further enhancing competition via standardisation. High Voltage For completeness the bandwidths for High Voltage supplies are as follows: High Voltage operating below 132kV +/-6%, High Voltage operating at or above 132kV +/-10%. I trust this helps. Regards Tim Wickes Energy Markets Unit Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform 0207 215 2667 From: Bill Lyons [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: 19 June 2008 16:08 To: Enquiry Enquiry (IMSV01) Subject: Voltage range Dear Sirs, On page www.berr.gov.uk/energy/reliability/quality-continuity-supply/ your website states that the domestic supply "is set to change to 230 volts +/- 10% (207 to 253 volts) in 2008, this having been postponed >from 2003." Please could you confirm this change is to take place and advise the date on which it is due to occur, and any references to the regulations mandating it. Also, is this change for the UK only, or do you have information on the dates of implementation in other EU countries, or references to these? Many thanks William Lyons -- William Lyons, Chairman Claude Lyons Limited, Brook Road, Waltham Cross, Herts EN8 7LR, UK Direct Tel: +44 (0)1992 701 500 Mobile: +44 (0)7836 760 372 Switchboard: +44 (0)1992 768 888 Fax: +44 (0)1992 788 000 - This message is from the IEEE Product Safety Engineering Society emc-pstc discussion list. To post a message to the list, send your e-mail to <[email protected]> All emc-pstc postings are archived and searchable on the web at: http://www.ieeecommunities.org/emc-pstc Graphics (in well-used formats), large files, etc. can be posted to that URL. Website: http://www.ieee-pses.org/ Instructions: http://listserv.ieee.org/request/user-guide.html List rules: http://www.ieee-pses.org/listrules.html For help, send mail to the list administrators: Scott Douglas <[email protected]> Mike Cantwell <[email protected]> For policy questions, send mail to: Jim Bacher: <[email protected]> David Heald: <[email protected]>
