Voltage Levels to IEC 60038 

By on

The standard aims to consolidate AC and traction voltages within the industry and defines the following bands:

  • band 1 - A.C. systems 100 V to 1000 V
  • band 2 - A.C and D.C traction systems
  • band 3 - A.C. systems above 1 kV to 35 kV
  • band 4 - A.C. systems above 35 kV to 230 kV
  • band 5 - A.C. systems above 245 kV

A.C. systems 100 V to 1000 V

Nominal Voltage, V
Three-phase four-wire or three-wire systems Single-phase three-wire systems
50 Hz 60 Hz 60 Hz
- 208/120 240/120
- 240 -
400/230 4808/277 -
690/400 480 -
- 600/347 -
1000 600 -

Supply voltage range ±10 % at the supply terminals
Supply terminal to final equipment maximum 4% voltage drop

A.C and D.C traction systems

Voltage, V
Lowest Nominal Highest Frequency
D.C. Systems
(400) (600) (720)
500 750 900
1000 1500 1600
2000 3000 3600
A.C. Single Phase Systems
(4750) (6250) (6900) 50 or 60
12000 15000 17250 16 2/3
19000 25000 27500 50 or 60

Bracketed are non preferred and should not be used if possible

A.C. systems above 1 kV to 35 kV

Voltage, kV
Series I Series 2
Highest Nominal Highest Nominal
3.6 3.3 3 4.40 4.16
7.2 6.6 6
12 11 10
13.2 12.47
13.97 13.2
14.52 13.8
(17.5) (15)
24 22 20
26.47 24.94
36 33
36.5 34.5
40.5 35

 It is recommended that only one series be used.

A.C. systems above 35 kV to 230 kV

Voltage, kV
Highest Nominal Voltage, V
(52) (45)
7.25 66 69
123 110 115
145 132 138
(170) (150)
245 220 230

Only one series should be used in each country

A.C. systems above 245 kV

Recommended in each geographical group only one of the following be used:

  • 245 kV - 300 kV - 262 kV
  • 362 kV - 420 kV
  • 420 kV 550 kV

 

Highest Voltage, kV
(300)
362
420
550
800
1050
1200


Steven McFadyen's avatar Steven McFadyen

Steven has over twenty five years experience working on some of the largest construction projects. He has a deep technical understanding of electrical engineering and is keen to share this knowledge. About the author

myElectrical Engineering

comments powered by Disqus



Write your best report

Years ago I was told that you should always try to write the best report you can.  Many years later I still think on this as one of the better pieces of...

Photovoltaic (PV) - Electrical Calculations

Photovoltaic (PV) cells (sometimes called solar cells) convert solar energy into electrical energy.  Every year more and more PV systems are installed...

Switchboard - Forms of Internal Separation

IEC 61439 'Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies', specifies standard arrangements of switchboard (call forms of internal separation). The...

Back to basics - the Watt (or kW)

When thinking about watts (W) or kilowatt (kW = 1000 W) it can be useful too keep in mind the fundamental ideas behind the unit. Watt is not a pure electrical...

Surface Treatment – Ladders, Trays and Baskets

Steel ladders, trays and baskets form the backbone of cable containment systems. Often these items need some form of surface treatment to prevent corrosion...

Voltage Levels – Confused?

I was having a conversation the other day about voltage levels.  While everyone was in agreement that low voltage was 1000 V and less, there was more confusion...

Medium Voltage Switchgear Room Design Guide

Many medium voltage (MV) indoor switchgear rooms  exist worldwide. The complexity of these rooms varies considerably depending on location, function and...

Back to Basics - Ohm’s Law

Electrical engineering has a multitude of laws and theorems. It is fair to say the Ohm's Law is one of the more widely known; it not the most known. Developed...

Three Phase Current - Simple Calculation

The calculation of current in a three phase system has been brought up on our site feedback and is a discussion I seem to get involved in every now and...

What is an Open Delta Transformer

In three phase systems, the use of transformers with three windings (or legs) per side is common.  These three windings are often connected in delta or...

Have some knowledge to share

If you have some expert knowledge or experience, why not consider sharing this with our community.  

By writing an electrical note, you will be educating our users and at the same time promoting your expertise within the engineering community.

To get started and understand our policy, you can read our How to Write an Electrical Note