I'm looking to buy a generator. Any issues running 240v equipment on 230v output? And how important is hertz?

Question

I'm looking to buy a generator. Any issues running 240v equipment on 230v output? And how important is hertz?

Answer 1

Depends on the equipment. All equipment these days built to the harmonised standard will in fact work on 230 or 240 volts. But older equipment built to marginal standards may give problems.

The frequency is some what more important. Much equipment will be quite happy on either. However, it was the practice at one stage to reduce the iron in transformers to the bare minimum for economics sake. These transformers can cause problems with overheating as the cores saturate if the frequency is changed. This would apply to equipment designed for 60 Hz and being used on 50 Hz as the lower frequency requires more iron in the core.

Best idea is to try it and see what happens. Check for over heating and stop it if there are any signs.

Answer 2

There is little or no difference between 240, 230 and 220 volt equipment. If the supply is nominally 240 volts, voltage drops in the local distribution system can be expected to reduce the voltage at equipment locations to the 220 to 230 volt range.

Frequency can be very important. AC motors speed is proportional to frequency since 60 Hz is 20% more than 50 Hz, motors go 20% faster on 60 Hz (or try to). Power is proportional to torque multiplied by speed and load torque is generally the same or higher at higher speed. That means the power required is 20% higher also. If the load is a fan or centrifugal pump, the power required is 73% higher.

Motors and transformers can tolerate less voltage when the frequency is reduced. Reducing the frequency by 20% without reducing the voltage in proportion is equivalent to having the voltage 20% high. That will likely cause overheating. With a motor, increasing the frequency without increasing the voltage means that the voltage is 20% low. That will reduce the available torque and likely cause the motor to be overloaded.

Answer 3

THe frequency rating is usually 50/60 Hertz. Hertz can be adjusted by your operating speed.