400/230V equipment meeting American Code and Standards!

[ElecDar]

We have a project where the client wants to follow the American Codes/Standards but with European voltage ratings i.e. 400/230V.

I know that most manufacturers now (e.g. Eton, GE..) produce products e.g. Circuit Breakers that are tested according to both European (IEC) and American Standards (UL, MEMA).

My question,

1.Is there any conflict with the American Code that prohibits the use of other voltages e.g. European voltage 400/230V for the design of the distribution network.

2.Is it possible to design & specify the equipment to be tested according to the American Codes/Standards but at 400/230V, is such equipment available.

 

[rbulsara]

1. No.
2. Yes. Your choices of mfr may get limited, but yes.

Rafiq Bulsara

http://www.srengineersct.com

 

[ElecDar]

Thanks Rafiq,
Just to clarify my point, if we take the MCCB as an example, the American manufacturers can provide either MCCB with breaking capacity to UL 489 listed for American voltage only 480,277V...or breaking capacity for European voltages 400, 230V... tested to IEC 60947-2.
i.e. there is no MCCB with breaking capacity to UL 489 listed for European voltages 400, 230V.

 

[rbulsara]

A couple of things. Most US MCCB have 600V, 480V and 240/120 V ratings. Some have specific 480Y/277 and 120/240, listed for use on grounded wye system only. Technically if a breaker is rated for SCCR at equal or higher than application voltage you are good. That would be the path of least resistance.

Many European breakers are and have been for a long time in US market (with UL ratings). They are originally tested to IEC standards to begin with. So it will not be a big deal to ask the mfr and sort it out. I have not paid attention if they specifically keep IEC labels on them here in the US.

So it comes down to speaking to your local rep or directly with factory tech support.

Rafiq Bulsara

http://www.srengineersct.com

 

[rbulsara]

Here is an example of SQ D breaker. I has both IEC and UL listing labels on it. Look at close up pictures.

http://static.schneider-electric.us...s/0250 A Frame PowerPact Q/0734CT0201R107.pdf

Rafiq Bulsara

http://www.srengineersct.com

 

[ElecDar]

I understand your argument related to SCCR from the technical point of view, but when I asked the manufacturer they replied that the MCCB will equally performed on the European voltages but they are not ul listed for these voltages.

 

[rbulsara]

Elecdor:

That is a baseless concern. Equipment listed for 480/277V would be perfectly acceptable for 400/230V use at the same current ratings. They need not be listed for every voltages below that. NEC does not specify exact voltage to be used, just lists different requirements for devices rated 600V and below and those above.

Also just because a device is to be used on 400/230V, need not meet IEC if not being installed in a location where IEC applies.

Rafiq Bulsara

http://www.srengineersct.com

 

[ElecDar]

That is what they said equally performed NOT UL listed for these voltages, what about the rest of the installation any problem with other European devices e.g. receptacle, switches, motors, lamps etc. with respect to the NEC requirements.

 

[jraef]

Re: CB ratings:
Your Eaton guy is just being a catalog reader without knowing how to interpret it. As Rafiq said, the safe bet is to use a breaker rated for a HIGHER voltage than what you are using, i.e. 480V because it's generally true that at a lower voltage, the AIC rating on the same breaker goes UP. For example: you have 30kA available fault current after your transformer that is supplying the 400/230V (because you will of course need one). If you look at a 480V breaker that is rated for 35kAIC at 480V, it will likely be rated for 65kAIC at 240V. That means it will cover you for anything below 35kAIC regardless of the voltage, as long as it's BELOW the voltage you selected at. AIC ratings have to do with the ENERGY in a fault, so the lower the voltage, the higher the current can be.

Re: other stuff:
There are several pitfalls for you here, the biggest one being frequency. 400/230V EU equipment will almost certainly be based on a 50Hz supply. That will affect motors and transformers, anything with a coil basically, so that includes relays, contactors etc. If your control system is 24VDC, that's a good thing because the 24VDC power supply will likely be 50/60Hz rated. Anything with power conversion equipment, i.e. VFDs, DC drives, servos / steppers etc. will also likely be OK but it's worth checking the converter units on smaller systems (like the servos and steppers) to make sure they don't have a switch to select for changing frequency. That's somewhat uncommon now, but it doesn't hurt to check. So that will pretty much leave you with AC motors and transformers. There is an FAQ for the Electric Motors forum written to address the motor issues, I suggest you read it. faq237-1224
Transformers are going to have similar issues, minus the speed concerns of course.

Receptacles are totally different here, if you want users to be able to plug something in, they will have to be changed to North American standards. Lamps will only be voltage dependent, so again it will depend on what you do with that up front.

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[rbulsara]

Elecdor:

Listed (UL listed or any other listing) device voltage and current ratings are their maximum ratings. They can be used at any system rated below that. So a UL listed device rated 65 kA SCCR at 480/277V covers the application at 400/230V at 65 kA.

Do you not use a device rated 22 kAIC at 240/120V for a 208/120V, 15 kA application? Do you not use 600V rated cables and fuse at 480V?

What you cannot do is use a device rated 65 kA at 240/120 and 35 kA at 480/277 for a 480/277, 65 kA application.

Take a deep breath, do something else for a while and come back to this.



Rafiq Bulsara

http://www.srengineersct.com

 

[rbulsara]

Beside the technical issues Jeff covered, look up the definition of 'Listed' in NEC Article 100. Depending up on the application and how they are used, your local AHJ may have their say in this.

If European devices (CE or IEC approved but not UL listed) are to used as part of an assembly (server rack) and to be used only by qualified people under supervised conditions, they may be acceptable, may be not. This may not apply to a general purpose receptacle where a janitor can hook up a vacuum cleaner.

For compliance with code and laws, you need to ask who has the authority over it in your jurisdiction.





Rafiq Bulsara

http://www.srengineersct.com

 

[ElecDar]

jraef:

The frequency is 60Hz, any specific requirement for the motors (400V – 60HZ).
Could you please elaborate on the Receptacles issue why they are totally different.
Can I specify European receptacles e.g. British type (13 amp) or German type (16 amp) and still comply with NEC, what about lighting switches, ballast..

 

[WoodrowJWeen]

We recently did a data center design here in US that had 480Y/277V, 60Hz service, generator, UPS, etc and then fed PDUs with 480Y/277 to 400Y/230V autotransformers. All computer equipment is fed single phase 230V with NEMA config receptacles. Advantage is lower xfmr losses over 480:208Y/120V xfmr and smaller branch circuits. Worked well.

 

[ElecDar]

Is the use of universal receptacle acceptable to the NEC, what about European type.

 

[jraef]

Could you please elaborate on the Receptacles issue why they are totally different

NEMA "standard" 5-15 plug, 120VAC:

They are just nowhere near the same. What are you going to pick?

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[ElecDar]

Universal receptacle

 

[jraef]

The danger of those things is that they do NOT prevent one from plugging in a NEMA 5-15 plug, which is strictly 120V, into a receptacle that is powered with 240V. And if you power the universal receptacle with 120V and it ends up in a country with 240V equipment, then you are under powering your equipment. Better to put the correct receptacle in for the destination where the system is going, that way if it moves to somewhere else, the installers are FORCED to make sure it is corect when they change it.

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