Notes

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
, , , , ,

More interesting Notes:
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

Lighting - Lamps

Lamps are the essential part of any luminaire. These are the light generating components. Since the advent of electrical lighting in the middle of the...

Star-Delta Motor Starting - Performance

Many questions sent in to the site are in connection with motor starting and in particular star-delta.  For all but the simplest application, there is...

Magicians of Engineering

The other day I was reading 'Night of the New Magicians' by Mary Pope Osborn with my son.  The story is about a young boy and girl who travel back in time...

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...

Arc Flash Calculations

Working in the vicinity of electrical equipment poses an hazard. In addition to electric shock hazard, fault currents passing through air causes Arc Flash...

1,000 kV UHV First for China

At the beginning of the year China put the world's first 1,000 kV UHV transmission system into operation. Transmitting power at over a million volts is...

Operational Amplifier

The fundamental component of any analogue computer is the operational amplifier, or op amp. An operational amplifier (often called an op-amp,) is a high...

Thomas Edison

American inventor Thomas Alva Edison was born in Milan, Ohio on February 11, 1847. He was the youngest of seven children and received little formal schooling...

Low Voltage Switchroom Design Guide

Low voltage (LV) switchrooms are common across all industries and one of the more common spatial requirements which need to be designed into a project...

Photovoltaic (PV) - Utility Power Grid Interface

Photovoltaic (PV) systems are typically more efficient when connected in parallel with a main power gird. During periods when the PV system generates energy...

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. 

Footer
(click here to extend)
Copyright (c) 2026 myElectrical