What are the difference of 600V and 480V electrical equipments?

Question

Would like to know electrical equipments operating 600V and power factor 0.6?

Answer 1

Power factor has nothing to do with voltage. It's a measure of how much "real" (usable kilowatts) power is available, versus the "imaginary" (vars) power also required from a utility.

The power used by any load can be expressed as A + jB, where A represents the "real" power and B represents the "imaginary" portion.

A purely resistive load would look like: A +j0
A purely capacitive load would look like: 0+jB
A purely inductive load would look like: 0 -jB

Basically, there are two variations for power factor. Induction machines (which are more-or-less inductive loads) have what is called a "lagging" power factor ... this means the current waveform lags behind the voltage waveform, when put on the same time scale. It also means the cost of providing power for the equipment is higher than if it were a purely resistive load.

Synchronous machines can be either lagging or leading; most of them are designed for leading (where current leads the voltage), in part to help compensate for induction machines also running on the same grid. When the machine has a leading power factor, the cost of power generation is the same as a purely resistive load, but the facility will pay less overall for power (it's balancing the inductive load).

To obtain a power factor that is leading, the field of the machine must be overexcited - which means it requires more current in the winding than the same rating at unity (1.0) power factor. A lagging power factor, on the other hand, has a field that is underexcited.

To answer your question about the difference in 600 V vs 480 V equipment: basically, the insulation has to be slightly better int he higher voltage machine to withstand the higher energy of the waveform. Second, the higher voltage machine will draw less current for the same rating, which means lower losses in transmission (and hence more usable power to the equipment).

Both voltages are common levels for North America's 60 Hz supply. Europe and the rest of the 50 Hz systems worldwide may have other "common" voltages near these levels.

Answer 2

600v is the common 3 phase voltage in Canada, 480v common for USA. This is due to the way generation systems developed and does not affect the operation too much.

Main differences being. High voltages require less current for same power. Higher voltages require higher grade of insulation, Higher Voltages become more hazardous.

Your bit about 600v, pf of 0.6 doesn't make sense. Suggest you research power factor further but be aware it can be fairly complex if you have no previous electrical theory.

Answer 3

I would like to tell that you consult it with a good electrical firm as they will guide you in this matter.

Answer 4

120 volts