Disconnect Voltage

[horsegoer]

So I’ve wondering why all the disconnect switch manufacturers, Schneider, Eaton etc. list all their switches as 240v but sometimes elsewhere I’ve seen the same switches listed as 600v. Why the difference in voltage? Thanks.

[david luchini]

You can't use a 240V switch on a 480V system.

[infinity]

In theory the 240 volt equipment is cheaper.

[horsegoer]

You can't use a 240V switch on a 480V system.

well schneider and eaton only seem to show 240v switches...shouldn't they list 600v?

[charlie b]

What do you mean by "the same switches"? Two switches might look the same, but might have been built, tested, and rated differently.

A component's voltage rating is based on the ability of its materials of construction to prevent leakage current from the internal current-carrying parts to the outside world. A switch rated 600 volts would be more robust, more capable of prevent leakage current, than one rated for 240 volts.

That said, a manufacturer might take two identical switches, both capable of handling 600 volts, and label one at 600V and the other at 240V. Why would they do that? For marketing purposes. I suppose they want customers to feel comfortable getting only what they need (i.e., a 240V switch), without paying for what they don't need (i.e., a 600V switch).

[david luchini]

well schneider and eaton only seem to show 240v switches...shouldn't they list 600v?

Both Schneider and Eaton have 600V Safety Switch Products.

[PaulMmn]

... That said, a manufacturer might take two identical switches, both capable of handling 600 volts, and label one at 600V and the other at 240V. Why would they do that? For marketing purposes. I suppose they want customers to feel comfortable getting only what they need (i.e., a 240V switch), without paying for what they don't need (i.e., a 600V switch).[/FONT]

A friend worked part time for a florist. You order long-stem roses, you pay extra. You order short-stem roses, they cut the extra length off of the long-stem roses.

[ggunn]

A friend worked part time for a florist. You order long-stem roses, you pay extra. You order short-stem roses, they cut the extra length off of the long-stem roses.

A semiconductor company I once worked for sold two versions of a microprocessor, and one was significantly more expensive than the other. They were exactly the same chip inside the package, but the cheaper one had fewer pins bonded out.

[PaulMmn]

A semiconductor company I once worked for sold two versions of a microprocessor, and one was significantly more expensive than the other. They were exactly the same chip inside the package, but the cheaper one had fewer pins bonded out.

Likewise the early memory chips came as, say, a 1K chip, or a 512 chip. The 512s came in an A and B variety-- indicating which side of the 1K chip was good and was bonded.

And, I believe, the pinouts for the A and B version used the same pinouts as the 1K version, so unless you only bought one letter or the other, you needed 2 versions of the circuit board to accommodate them!

[synchro]

A semiconductor company I once worked for sold two versions of a microprocessor, and one was significantly more expensive than the other. They were exactly the same chip inside the package, but the cheaper one had fewer pins bonded out.

From Ed Bluestein or Oak Hill facility, perchance?
Just a hunch, may have been another company.

[ggunn]

From Ed Bluestein or Oak Hill facility, perchance?
Just a hunch, may have been another company.

You got it in one.

[synchro]

You got it in one.

I worked in Schaumburg many years. Had quite a few visits down to Ed Blue in the '90s. Good times eating 'Q (aka BBQ) and hanging around 6th Street

[horsegoer]

Both Schneider and Eaton have 600V Safety Switch Products.

So a 600v one you can obviously use for both 120/208 and 277/480v systems. An 240v only for 120/208v.

[Jraef]

So I’ve wondering why all the disconnect switch manufacturers, Schneider, Eaton etc. list all their switches as 240v but sometimes elsewhere I’ve seen the same switches listed as 600v. Why the difference in voltage? Thanks.

Not sure where you got this impression, but that’s just untrue. They make 600V switches. You probably used the wrong search engine.

For it the most part in the heavy duty versions they only make one switch rated for 600V. Then if you want or fused, the placement of the fuse clips is different between 240v and 600V.

In some lines of “general duty” disconnects they may stop at 240V because the entire reason this to exist is to be cheaper.

[infinity]

So a 600v one you can obviously use for both 120/208 and 277/480v systems. An 240v only for 120/208v.

Yes, also a 240 volt switch can be used on a 240 volt system.