Professional Documents
Culture Documents
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Page 11.1
Section
11
Standard Voltages and Voltage Drop
11.1.0
11.1.1
11.1.2
11.1.3
11.1.4
11.1.5
11.1.6
11.1.7
11.1.8
11.1.9
11.1.10
11.1.11
11.1.12
11.1.13
11.1.14
11.1.15
11.1.16
11.1.17
11.1.18
11.1.19
11.1.20
11.1.21
11.1.22
11.1 23
11.1.24
11.1.25
11.1.26
11.1.27
11.1.28
11.1.29
11.1.30
11.1.31
11.1.32
11.1.33
11.1.34
11.1.35
11.1.36
Introduction
System Voltage Classes
Standard Nominal System Voltages in the United States
Standard Nominal System Voltages and Voltage Ranges
Principal Transformer Connections to Supply the System Voltages of
Table 11.1.3
Application of Voltage Classes
Voltage Systems Outside the United States
System Voltage Tolerance Limits
Standard Voltage Profile for a Regulated Power-Distribution System,
120-V Base
Voltage Profile of the Limits of Range A, ANSI C84.1-1989
Voltage Ratings of Standard Motors
General Effect of Voltage Variations on Induction Motor Characteristics
Voltage-Drop Calculations
Voltage-Drop Tables
Voltage Drop for AL Conductor, Direct Current
Voltage Drop for AL Conductor in Magnetic Conduit, 70 Percent PF
Voltage Drop for AL Conductor in Magnetic Conduit, 80 Percent PF
Voltage Drop for AL Conductor in Magnetic Conduit, 90 Percent PF
Voltage Drop for AL Conductor in Magnetic Conduit, 95 Percent PF
Voltage Drop for AL Conductor in Magnetic Conduit, 100 Percent PF
Voltage Drop for AL Conductor in Nonmagnetic Conduit, 70 Percent PF
Voltage Drop for AL Conductor in Nonmagnetic Conduit, 80 Percent PF
Voltage Drop for AL Conductor in Nonmagnetic Conduit, 90 Percent PF
Voltage Drop for AL Conductor in Nonmagnetic Conduit, 95 Percent PF
Voltage Drop for AL Conductor in Nonmagnetic Conduit, 100 Percent PF
Voltage Drop for CU Conductor, Direct Current
Voltage Drop for CU Conductor in Magnetic Conduit, 70 Percent PF
Voltage Drop for CU Conductor in Magnetic Conduit, 80 Percent PF
Voltage Drop for CU Conductor in Magnetic Conduit, 90 Percent PF
Voltage Drop for CU Conductor in Magnetic Conduit, 95 Percent PF
Voltage Drop for CU Conductor in Magnetic Conduit, 100 Percent PF
Voltage Drop for CU Conductor in Nonmagnetic Conduit, 70 Percent PF
Voltage Drop for CU Conductor in Nonmagnetic Conduit, 80 Percent PF
Voltage Drop for CU Conductor in Nonmagnetic Conduit, 90 Percent PF
Voltage Drop for CU Conductor in Nonmagnetic Conduit, 95 Percent PF
Voltage Drop for CU Conductor in Nonmagnetic Conduit, 100 Percent PF
Voltage-Drop Curves for Typical Interleaved Construction of Copper
Busway at Rated Load
11.1
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Section Eleven
11.1.37 Voltage-Drop Values for Three-Phase Busways with Copper Bus Bars, in
Volts per 100 ft, Line-to-Line, at Rated Current with Balanced Entire
Load at End
11.1.38 Voltage-Drop Values for Three-Phase Busways with Aluminum Bus
Bars, in Volts per 100 ft, Line-to-Line, at Rated Current with Balanced
Entire Load at End
11.1.39 Voltage-Drop Curves for Typical Plug-In-Type CU Busway at Balanced
Rated Load
11.1.40 Voltage-Drop Curves for Typical CU Feeder Busways at Balanced Rated
Load Mounted Flat Horizontally
11.1.41 Voltage-Drop Curve versus Power Factor for Typical Light-Duty Trolley
Busway Carrying Rated Load
11.1.42 Voltage-Drop Curves for Three-Phase Transformers, 225 to 10,000 kVA,
5 to 25 kV
11.1.43 Application Tips
11.1.44 Flicker of Incandescent Lamps Caused by Recurrent Voltage Dips
11.1.45 Effect of Voltage Variations on Incandescent Lamps
11.1.46 General Effect of Voltage Variations on Induction Motor Characteristics
11.1.47 Calculation of Voltage Dips (Momentary Voltage Variations)
11.1.0
Introduction
An understanding of system voltage nomenclature and preferred voltage ratings of
distribution apparatus and utilization equipment is essential to ensure the proper
design and operation of a power-distribution system. The dynamic characteristics
of the system should be recognized and the proper principles of voltage regulation
applied so that satisfactory voltages will be supplied to utilization equipment
under all normal conditions of operation.
11.1.1
Medium voltage. A class of nominal system voltages greater than 1000 V but less
than 100,000 V.
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(continued)
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Section Eleven
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11.1.4
(From IEEE Std. 241-1990. Copyright 1990 IEEE. All rights reserved.)
In general, equipment rated for use in the United States cannot be used outside the
United States, and vice versa. If electrical equipment made for use in the United
States must be used outside the United States, or vice versa, information on the
voltage, frequency, and type of plug required should be obtained. If the difference
is only in the voltage, transformers generally are available to convert the supply
voltage to the equipment voltage.
11.1.7
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Section Eleven
Range B is provided to allow limited excursions of voltage outside the range A limits
that necessarily result from practical design and operating conditions. The supplying
utility is expected to take action within a reasonable time to restore service voltages
to range A limits. The user is expected to take action within a reasonable time to
restore utilization voltages to range A limits. Insofar as practical, utilization
equipment may be expected to give acceptable performance outside range A but
within range B. When voltages occur outside the limits of range B, prompt corrective
action should be taken.
The voltage tolerance limits in ANSI C84.1-1989 are based on ANSI/NEMA
MG1-1978, Motors and Generators, which establishes the voltage tolerance limits
of the standard low-voltage induction motor at 10 percent of nameplate voltage
ratings of 230 and 460 V. Since motors represent the major component of utilization
equipment, they were given primary consideration in the establishment of this
voltage standard.
The best way to show the voltages in a distribution system is by using a 120-V base.
This cancels the transformation ratios between systems so that the actual voltages
vary solely on the basis of voltage drops in the system. Any voltage may be converted
to a 120-V base by dividing the actual voltage by the ratio of transformation to the
120-V base. For example, the ratio of transformation for a 480-V system is 480/120,
or 4, so 460 V in a 480-V system would be 460/4, or 115 V.
The tolerance limits of the 460-V motor as they relate to the 120-V base become
115 V 10 percent, or 126.5 V, and 115 V 10 percent, or 103.5 V. The problem is
to decide how this tolerance range of 23 V should be divided between the primary
distribution system, the distribution transformer, and the secondary distribution
system that make up the regulated distribution system. The solution adopted by
American National Standards Committee C84 is shown in Table 11.1.8.
(From IEEE Std. 241-1990. Copyright 1990 IEEE. All rights reserved.)
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TABLE 11.1.9
(From IEEE Std. 241-1990. Copyright 1990 IEEE. All rights reserved.)
TABLE 11.1.10
(From IEEE Std. 241-1990. Copyright 1990 IEEE. All rights reserved.)
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Section Eleven
(From IEEE Std. 241-1990. Copyright 1990 IEEE. All rights reserved.)
11.1.13
Voltage-Drop Tables
These tables, reading directly in volts, give values for the voltage drop found in
aluminum and copper cables under various circumstances.
1. In magnetic conduit, ac
a. 70 percent power factor (PF)
b. 80 percent power factor
c. 90 percent power factor
d. 95 percent power factor
e. 100 percent power factor
2. In nonmagnetic conduit, ac
a. 70 percent power factor (PF)
b. 80 percent power factor
c. 90 percent power factor
d. 95 percent power factor
e. 100 percent power factor
3. In direct current (dc) circuits
All voltage drops are calculated at 60 Hz and 60C. This temperature represents a
typical conductor temperature encountered in service. No error of practical significance is involved in using the table for any conductor temperature of 75C or less.
Space limitations make it necessary to prepare the following pages with the
Ampere Feet column in abbreviated form. For example, reference to the proper
table will show that the voltage drop encountered in a 253,000 Aft circuit using
1000 Kcmil aluminum cable would be (for 80 percent power factor, magnetic conduit)
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11.9
17.6 4.4 0.3, or 22.3 V. These voltage drops are the individual drops given by the
table for 200,000, 50,000, and 3000 Aft, respectively, for a total of 253,000 Aft. Note
that the length of run refers to the length of the physical circuit, i.e., circuit feet, not the
footage of conductor.
Factors are given at the bottom of each table to make the tables usable in any of
the common ac circuits.
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TABLE 11.1.15 Voltage Drop for Aluminum Conductor in Magnetic Conduit (Power Factor, 70%; Single Phase,
2 Wire; 60 Cycles)
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TABLE 11.1.16 Voltage Drop for Aluminum Conductor in Magnetic Conduit (Power Factor, 80%; Single Phase,
2 Wire; 60 Cycles)
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TABLE 11.1.17 Voltage Drop for Aluminum Conductor in Magnetic Conduit (Power Factor, 90%; Single Phase,
2 Wire; 60 Cycles)
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TABLE 11.1.18 Voltage Drop for Aluminum Conductor in Magnetic Conduit (Power Factor, 95%; Single Phase,
2 Wire; 60 Cycles)
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TABLE 11.1.19 Voltage Drop for Aluminum Conductor in Magnetic Conduit (Power Factor, 100%; Single Phase,
2 Wire; 60 Cycles)
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TABLE 11.1.20 Voltage Drop for Aluminum Conductor in Nonmagnetic Conduit (Power Factor, 70%; Single
Phase, 2 Wire; 60 Cycles)
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TABLE 11.1.21 Voltage Drop for Aluminum Conductor in Nonmagnetic Conduit (Power Factor, 80%; Single
Phase, 2 Wire; 60 Cycles)
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TABLE 11.1.22 Voltage Drop for Aluminum Conductor in Nonmagnetic Conduit (Power Factor, 90%; Single
Phase, 2 Wire; 60 Cycles)
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TABLE 11.1.23 Voltage Drop for Aluminum Conductor in Nonmagnetic Conduit (Power Factor, 95%; Single
Phase, 2 Wire; 60 Cycles)
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TABLE 11.1.24 Voltage Drop for Aluminum Conductor in Nonmagnetic Conduit (Power Factor, 100%; Single
Phase, 2 Wire; 60 Cycles)
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TABLE 11.1.25
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TABLE 11.1.26 Voltage Drop for Copper Conductor in Magnetic Conduit (Power Factor, 70%; Single Phase,
2 Wire; 60 Cycles)
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TABLE 11.1.27 Voltage Drop for Copper Conductor in Magnetic Conduit (Power Factor, 80%; Single Phase,
2 Wire; 60 Cycles)
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TABLE 11.1.28 Voltage Drop for Copper Conductor in Magnetic Conduit (Power Factor, 90%; Single Phase,
2 Wire; 60 Cycles)
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TABLE 11.1.29 Voltage Drop for Copper Conductor in Magnetic Conduit (Power Factor, 95%; Single Phase,
2 Wire; 60 Cycles)
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TABLE 11.1.30 Voltage Drop for Copper Conductor in Magnetic Conduit (Power Factor, 100%; Single Phase,
2 Wire; 60 Cycles)
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TABLE 11.1.31 Voltage Drop for Copper Conductor in Nonmagnetic Conduit (Power Factor, 70%; Single
Phase, 2 Wire; 60 Cycles)
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TABLE 11.1.32 Voltage Drop for Copper Conductor in Nonmagnetic Conduit (Power Factor, 80%; Single
Phase, 2 Wire; 60 Cycles)
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TABLE 11.1.33 Voltage Drop for Copper Conductor in Nonmagnetic Conduit (Power Factor, 90%; Single
Phase, 2 Wire; 60 Cycles)
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TABLE 11.1.34 Voltage Drop for Copper Conductor in Nonmagnetic Conduit (Power Factor, 95%; Single
Phase, 2 Wire; 60 Cycles)
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TABLE 11.1.35 Voltage Drop for Copper Conductor in Nonmagnetic Conduit (Power Factor, 100%; Single
Phase, 2 Wire; 60 Cycles)
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Page 11.33
(From IEEE Std. 241-1990. Copyright 1990 IEEE. All rights reserved.)
(From IEEE Std. 241-1990. Copyright 1990 IEEE. All rights reserved.)
11.33
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Section Eleven
(From IEEE Std. 241-1990. Copyright 1990 IEEE. All rights reserved.)
11.1.39 Voltage-Drop Curves for Typical Plug-inType CU Busway at Balanced Rated Load, Assuming
70C (158F) as the Operating Temperature
11.1.39
(From IEEE Std. 241-1990. Copyright 1990 IEEE. All rights reserved.)
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Page 11.35
(From IEEE Std. 241-1990. Copyright 1990 IEEE. All rights reserved.)
(From IEEE Std. 241-1990. Copyright 1990 IEEE. All rights reserved.)
11.35
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Section Eleven
11.1.43
Application Tips
1. Always locate the source of the low-voltage supply (service transformer and service
equipment, distribution transformers, distribution panels, generators, and UPS
systems) as close to the center of load as possible.
2. When you oversize a feeder or branch circuit for voltage drop compensation,
note it as such on the design drawings. This prevents confusion for the electrical
contractor(s) bidding on and/or installing the work.
3. Rule of thumb. When the distance in circuit feet equals the nominal system
voltage (e.g., you are at 120 circuit feet and the nominal system voltage is 120 V),
it serves as a flag that you should check the voltage drop. In practice, experience
generally has shown that it is safe to go another 50 percent in circuit feet without
a voltage-drop problem (180 circuit feet for the example given).
4. As is the case with short-circuit calculations, the only significant circuit impedance
parameters generally needed for the voltage-drop calculations are those of
transformers, busways, and conductors in conduit. Devices such as switches,
circuit breakers, transfer switches, etc. contribute negligible impedance and
generally can be ignored.
5. The NEC recommends (not mandatory) that the voltage drop from the point
of service entrance to the furthest extremity of the electrical distribution system not exceed 5 percent. With this guideline, it is generally good practice to
limit the voltage drop to distribution panels to a maximum of 2 to 3 percent,
leaving the remaining 2 to 3 percent for the smaller branch circuits to the
extremities of the system. For example, limiting the voltage drop to 2 percent to
a distribution panel would allow up to 3 percent voltage drop for the branch circuits served by that panel.
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Page 11.37
(From IEEE Std. 241-1990. Copyright 1990 IEEE. All rights reserved.)
(From IEEE Std. 241-1990. Copyright 1990 IEEE. All rights reserved.)
11.37
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Section Eleven
(From IEEE Std. 241-1990. Copyright 1990 IEEE. All rights reserved.)
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11.39
One slightly more accurate method of calculating voltage dip for a quick calculation
is to ratio the inrush current or kVA to the available short-circuit current or kVA (if
known) 100 percent, to that point in the system of concern. This takes into
account all impedance to the point in the system.
When the amount of the voltage dip in combination with the frequency falls within
the objectionable range, then consideration should be given to methods of reducing
the dip to acceptable values, such as using two or more smaller motors, providing a
separate transformer for motors, separating motor feeders from other feeders, or
using reduced-voltage motor starting.