460V VS 230V Motor Connections

[fifty60]

I have a motor that can be wired up for 460V 3 phase or 230V 3 phase. Is there any reason to select one voltage over the other? To me 460V gives the advantage of sizing the wires smaller, but I do not really see any other advantage.

 

[kwired]

I have a motor that can be wired up for 460V 3 phase or 230V 3 phase. Is there any reason to select one voltage over the other? To me 460V gives the advantage of sizing the wires smaller, but I do not really see any other advantage.

Less line losses with the higher voltage, but those losses are going to be fairly negligible anyway.

Often it comes down to what works out best with the particular facility - as the equipment itself will work fine on either voltage.

 

[ActionDave]

....... 460V gives the advantage of sizing the wires smaller, but I do not really see any other advantage.

That's the main advantage.

 

[Bugman1400]

I think the advantage comes from not having to install a step-down or step-up transformer if the motor is being installed in a facility that has one voltage but, not the other.

 

[Jraef]

I think the advantage comes from not having to install a step-down or step-up transformer if the motor is being installed in a facility that has one voltage but, not the other.

That is the only reason to chose one or the other. If your facility has 480V, use that, there is zero reason to buy a transformer to make 230V. If your facility has 240V, installing and running power through a transformer to run the motor at 460V more than negates ANY possible savings on wire size or I^2R losses.

 

[GeorgeB]

I have a motor that can be wired up for 460V 3 phase or 230V 3 phase. Is there any reason to select one voltage over the other? To me 460V gives the advantage of sizing the wires smaller, but I do not really see any other advantage.

MANY years ago when we designed fiber handling systems, the price for the controls with 230 was higher than with 460 and 575 (575 ... textile south). Occasionally, the panels had to be larger as well. While the same motor was used, it was common to have to use larger starters and fuses.

 

[kwired]

MANY years ago when we designed fiber handling systems, the price for the controls with 230 was higher than with 460 and 575 (575 ... textile south). Occasionally, the panels had to be larger as well. While the same motor was used, it was common to have to use larger starters and fuses.

That kind of goes along with the cost of larger conductors goes up as well.

For 10-15 hp and below - it is somewhat even, if you have larger motors the higher voltage starts to make more sense to go with when it comes to overall cost.

If you only have one large motor but need mostly 120/240 single phase for the rest of your loads, then you will need to spend $$ on a transformer, the controls and heavier conductor may be offset by that cost if there is limited larger motors, plus you don't have constant transformer losses in operational cost.