Thursday, 10 December 2015 14:41

Using a 208VAC Line Voltage

Oftentimes, the only primary AC voltage source available is 208V.  This is often the case in data centers, particularly rack-mounted systems.  Here in technical support, we often get calls from integrators wanting to know if our products support a 208V input.  If you are using one of our FPA or FPX products, they are limited to a 120VAC input only.  For our DC and PoE products, however, the short answer is "yes" - but there are a couple of caveats to be aware of.

The first caveat is in the product setup:  If using a 208V line, the product must be set for a 230V input.  This means every FPO power supply board must have its jumper (JP1) cut.  If the product is a rack mount RD, RC, RS, or RGM, this would apply to the internal FPO power supply board(s).  The NPR product line is auto voltage sensing and requires no additional configuration.  Consult the documentation for the product being used for specific instruction on how to configure the product for a 230VAC input.

The second caveat is in low-line operation.  Our products are generally designed and tested to operate over a +10% / -15% operating range.  That means when the product is set for a 230VAC input, operation is guaranteed between 196 and 253VAC.  When using a 208V line, that means the product is only 12V away from the low AC fault point.  If the AC line voltage sags, you are much closer to the product giving a fault and/or transferring to battery power.  This typically is not a problem, but it is something to be aware of.

If you have any questions on 208V operation or need any other assistance, our This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it department is here to help.

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