Scott, et al,
My Australian colleague provided this comment:
Thanks for the heads up on the note below. I hadn't seen it, but I'm happy
to comment, as power quality is one of my local technical committees.
The plan to convert to an actual line voltage delivery at 230 V in Australia
never got implemented. Although we still have 230 V (nominal) +10%/-6% (i.e.
216 V to 253 V) as the requirement, in most cases this is actually
delivered at around 240 V at the consumer mains (i.e. at the building
switchboard). With the installation of distributed small generation systems
(SGS) being more common now (typically comprised of domestic and commercial
solar roof panels) connected to the mains, this 240 V may be a little higher
as an effect of the solar invertors delivering local power to the mains.
The applicable standard is AS/NZS 60038:2012 - Standard Voltages, which is a
modified version of IEC 60038:2009.
What most folk don't really realise is there's a further 5% drop permitted
in the Wiring Rules within the consumer installation to the furthest end, so
the voltage minimum to the equipment at the wall socket outlet in theory
might be as low as 205 V on a heavily loaded circuit (i.e. 230 V - 6% - 5%).
This is called the "lowest utilization voltage" in the standard.
While the "highest utilization voltage" at the equipment is still 253 V from
the power utilty, SGS might push the local 253 V upper limit a little higher
again, but the power utilities have little or no control over that.. I
understand that SGS invertors are supposed to limit how much higher they can
push the mains voltage, and won't deliver power if the mains already exceeds
the limit - which can vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. This can
sometimes result in the invertor not delivering power at all in spite of the
availability of free input power.
Off-grid power systems (such as in remote mining communities) might also
have differing limits and stability characteristics too, however those are
private systems not covered by this standard.
Regards,
Paul
:>) br, Pete
Peter E Perkins, PE
Principal Product Safety Engineer
PO Box 23427
Tigard, ORe 97281-3427
503/452-1201 fone/fax
[email protected]
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