Comments on: Commonly used AC voltage levels https://www.epanorama.net/blog/2011/09/13/commonly-used-ac-voltage-levels/ All about electronics and circuit design Sun, 26 Jul 2026 19:22:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.9.14 By: Tomi Engdahl https://www.epanorama.net/blog/2011/09/13/commonly-used-ac-voltage-levels/comment-page-2/#comment-1882110 Sun, 19 Jul 2026 08:40:07 +0000 http://www.epanorama.net/blog/?p=5784#comment-1882110 The claim says “A phase to ground isn’t 120V anywhere in Europe.”
​Actually, it is roughly 130V to ground in about 70% of Norway. Even outside of Norway, this setup isn’t some mythical configuration – vintage buildings across Europe still occasionally hide these legacy configurations behind their walls.

]]> By: Tomi Engdahl https://www.epanorama.net/blog/2011/09/13/commonly-used-ac-voltage-levels/comment-page-2/#comment-1882107 Sun, 19 Jul 2026 07:10:08 +0000 http://www.epanorama.net/blog/?p=5784#comment-1882107 The European System (TN / TT grids): Standard European domestic power is a 230V single-phase system (nominal voltage, often measuring up to 240V). This is delivered using a single Live conductor and a Neutral conductor. The Neutral is tied to Earth ground at the local distribution transformer. Therefore, the voltage from Live to Ground is exactly 230V- 240V, not 120V.
Because European domestic power is natively 230\text{V} single-phase (one Live, one Neutral), European distribution panels do primarily use space-saving single-pole breakers to protect the single Live wire on standard branch circuits.

Frequency (50Hz in Europe vs. 60Hz in North America) has absolutely zero effect on the Root Mean Square (RMS) value of a voltage waveform or the continuous wattage delivered to a purely resistive load.

Higher voltage (230\text{V} vs 120\text{V}) is the only reason Europe can provide higher continuous wattage with lower single-phase current (P=VI).

History:
In the mid-20th century, many European cities (including parts of Spain, France, the Netherlands, and even the UK) ran on a 230V / 127V delta or wye configuration. The systems are pretty much updated to favor of the standard 400V / 230V TN grid.

While the rest of Europe moved to the standard 230V TN system (where you get 230V from a single Live to a grounded Neutral, meaning 230V to ground), Norway and old 230V / 127V grids operate on a completely different blueprint: the IT (Isolément Terre) network.
To get 230V for appliances, you couldn’t just use one phase and a neutral. You had to connect the appliance across two separate out-of-phase Live wires (Phase-to-Phase voltage).

]]> By: Tomi Engdahl https://www.epanorama.net/blog/2011/09/13/commonly-used-ac-voltage-levels/comment-page-2/#comment-1880929 Wed, 01 Jul 2026 21:39:24 +0000 http://www.epanorama.net/blog/?p=5784#comment-1880929 Check out Three Phase Power tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9gm_NL7KyE&t=1s

]]> By: Tomi Engdahl https://www.epanorama.net/blog/2011/09/13/commonly-used-ac-voltage-levels/comment-page-2/#comment-1880928 Wed, 01 Jul 2026 21:37:47 +0000 http://www.epanorama.net/blog/?p=5784#comment-1880928 European and USA AC power
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1DhXAdWbma/
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1FXyqhSSqX/

]]> By: Tomi Engdahl https://www.epanorama.net/blog/2011/09/13/commonly-used-ac-voltage-levels/comment-page-2/#comment-1867483 Mon, 22 Dec 2025 22:45:40 +0000 http://www.epanorama.net/blog/?p=5784#comment-1867483 Pienoisjännitteellä (vanhempi nimitys suojajännite) tarkoitetaan tasajännitettä (DC) 120 volttiin asti ja vaihtojännitettä (AC) 50 volttiin asti. Tukesin mukaan pienoisjännite (suojajännite) on enintään 50 V vaihtojännitettä (VAC) tai 120 V tasajännitettä (VDC), ja se tuotetaan erillisellä muuntajalla verkkovirrasta, mikä tekee laitteista turvallisia koskettaa, koska ne ovat luokkaa III ja toimivat niin matalalla jännitteellä. Pienoisjännitteisiä laitteita, kuten monia koristevaloja, saa asentaa ja korjata itse ilman ammattilaisen pätevyyttä. Jännite, joka on niin pieni (max 50 VAC / 120 VDC), ettei se aiheuta hengenvaaraa. Pienoisjännite tunnetaan määräyksissä ja standardeissa nimellä ELV (Extra Low Voltage). IEC 61140 ja IEC 60364-4-41 määrittelevät ELV:n yleensä alle 50 V AC:ksi tai 120 V DC:ksi (rippeleetön).

]]> By: Tomi Engdahl https://www.epanorama.net/blog/2011/09/13/commonly-used-ac-voltage-levels/comment-page-2/#comment-1867062 Wed, 17 Dec 2025 23:32:21 +0000 http://www.epanorama.net/blog/?p=5784#comment-1867062 Three phase 600v in Canada

]]> By: Tomi Engdahl https://www.epanorama.net/blog/2011/09/13/commonly-used-ac-voltage-levels/comment-page-2/#comment-1867061 Wed, 17 Dec 2025 23:31:59 +0000 http://www.epanorama.net/blog/?p=5784#comment-1867061 480V three-phase power in North America (US/Canada) developed around similar times as European 380-400V, both emerging from early AC systems, with 480V becoming standard for US industrial/commercial use (60Hz) while Europe settled on 380V (later harmonized to 400V at 50Hz),

]]> By: erica https://www.epanorama.net/blog/2011/09/13/commonly-used-ac-voltage-levels/comment-page-2/#comment-1865113 Wed, 12 Nov 2025 07:10:32 +0000 http://www.epanorama.net/blog/?p=5784#comment-1865113 FG7H1OAR Cable is a European standard medium-voltage mining power cable rated at 8.7/15kV and 12/20kV, featuring HEPR insulation, PVC inner and outer sheaths, and steel wire braided armor.

]]> By: erica https://www.epanorama.net/blog/2011/09/13/commonly-used-ac-voltage-levels/comment-page-2/#comment-1864146 Fri, 24 Oct 2025 09:01:30 +0000 http://www.epanorama.net/blog/?p=5784#comment-1864146 658TQ Type SW4 Cable
is a British Standard armored cable rated at 0.6/1kV. For conductor cross-sections ranging from 1.0mm² to 1.5mm², the conductor consists of Class 2 or Class 5 tinned copper wire; For cross-sections of 2.5mm² and above, Class 2 tinned copper wire is used. It features EPR insulation, galvanized steel wire braided armor, and an HOFR sheath.

]]> By: erica https://www.epanorama.net/blog/2011/09/13/commonly-used-ac-voltage-levels/comment-page-2/#comment-1861983 Tue, 16 Sep 2025 04:17:42 +0000 http://www.epanorama.net/blog/?p=5784#comment-1861983 Power cables are classified according to voltage.

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