1.1 Scope
This document specifies the main characteristics of the voltage at a network user's supply terminals in public low voltage, medium, high, and extra-high voltage AC electricity networks under normal operating conditions. This document specifies the limits or values within which the voltage characteristics can be expected to remain at any supply terminal in public European electricity networks, only.
NOTE 1 If non-public networks (e.g. residential quarters, energy communities, office centres, shopping centres) have similar end-users as public networks, it is strongly advised to apply the same requirements as for public networks.
NOTE 2 Industrial networks are excluded from the scope of EN 50160, only the connection to the supply terminals of the public network is relevant, here.
This document does not apply under abnormal operating conditions, including the following:
a) a temporary supply arrangement to keep network users supplied during conditions arising as a result of a fault, maintenance and construction work, or to minimize the extent and duration of a loss of supply.
b) in the case of non-compliance of a network user's installation or equipment with the relevant standards or with the technical requirements for connection, established either by the public authorities or the network operator, including the limits for the emission of conducted disturbances.
NOTE 4 A network user’s installation can include load and generation.
c) in exceptional situations, in particular:
1) exceptional weather conditions and other natural disasters;
2) third party interference;
3) acts by public authorities,
4) industrial actions (subject to legal requirements);
5) force majeure;
6) power shortages resulting from external events.
The voltage characteristics given in this document refer to conducted disturbances in public electric power networks. They are not intended to be used as electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) levels or product emission limits.
Power quality is related to EMC in several ways – especially because compliance with power quality requirements depends on the control of cumulative effect of electromagnetic emissions from all/multiple equipment and/or installations. Therefore, the voltage characteristics given in this document gives guidance for specifying requirements in equipment product standards and in installation standards.
NOTE 5 The performance of equipment might be impaired if it is subjected to supply conditions which are not specified in the equipment product standard.
NOTE 6 This document can be superseded in total or in part by the terms of a contract between the individual network user and the network operator.
NOTE 7 The sharing of complaint management and problem mitigation costs between the involved parties is outside the scope of EN 50160.
Measurement methods to be applied in this document are described in EN 61000 4 30.
1.2 Object
The object of this document is to define, describe and specify the characteristics of the supply voltage concerning:
a) Frequency;
b) Magnitude;
c) Waveform;
d) Symmetry of the line voltages.
This document also covers the continuous characteristics of the supply voltage and other foreseeable phenomena which may influence the voltage characteristics, such as e.g. operational communication, monitoring or measurement signals which are transmitted via power lines.
These characteristics are subject to variations during the normal operation of a supply system due to changes of load, disturbances generated by certain equipment and the occurrence of faults which are mainly caused by external events.
The characteristics vary in a manner which is random in time, with reference to any specific supply terminal, and random in location, with reference to any given instant of time. Because of these variations, the values given in this document for the characteristics can be expected to be exceeded on a small number of occasions.
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