Philippine Voltage Standards

The Philippine Distribution Code Chapter 3 deals with performance standards for electricity distribution and supply. Starting with Article 3.2, electricity standards in voltage variation, frequency variation and voltage harmonics are spelled out in (IMHO) the simplest terms possible. So far, so good.

Problems start when equipment manufacturers start selling products that will not operate under the electricity standards that utilities follow. A computer that will run on 100 V with a plus/minus 5% voltage tolerance will have problems if the power being supplied to it have a bandwidth of plus/minus 10%. This is the point where vendors and utilities often clash, the vendors claiming ‘dirty power’ and the utilities branding the equipment ‘substandard’.

This is where the IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) come in. The Philippines is a signatory to the IEC, which means the country will use IEC standards for their electricity supply. Countries exporting electrical appliances and equipment must follow IEC standards in their equipment to be able to put the IEC mark in their products. Products with the IEC mark simply means that the equipment will run in any country that follows IEC standards, similar to that of the CE mark in Europe for low-voltage equipment.

This vital information is not widely disseminated. Procuring costly equipment that will not operate properly in the buyer’s country is a common occurrence. Equipment specifications must be clear to both the buyer and the vendor before consummating any sale. Consulting the utility is a requirement before installing large motor loads; it would also be prudent to ask them for advice before installing expensive equipment that does not fall under that category.

Cooperation between the utilities, equipment manufacturers and the consumers will go a long way in preventing problems with electrical equipment. It would also save people from a lot of trouble and money.