50Hz vs 60Hz in operating speed
The primary difference between 50 Hz (Hertz) and 60 Hz (Hertz) is, well, 60Hz is 20% higher in frequency. For a generator or induction motor pump (in simple terms) it means 1500/3000 RPM or 1800/3600 RPM (for 60Hz). Lower the frequency will be the iron losses and eddy current losses. Lower the frequency, speed of induction motor and generator will be lower. For example with 50 Hz, generator will be running at 3000 rpm against 3600 rpm with 60 Hz. Mechanical centrifugal forces will be 20% higher in case of 60 Hz (rotor winding retaining ring has to bear centrifugal force while designing). But with higher frequency, output of generator and induction motors will be higher for same size of motor/generator because of 20% higher speed.
50Hz vs 60Hz on efficiency
The design of such magnetic machines is such that they are really one or the other. It may work in some cases, but not always, and to change between different power supply frequencies will certainly have an effect on efficiency, and may mean de-rating is necessary. There is little real difference between 50 Hertz and 60 Hertz systems, as long as the equipment is designed appropriately for the frequency. It is more important to have a standard and stick with it.
The more significant difference is that 60Hz systems usually use 110V (120V) or thereabouts for the domestic power supply, while 50Hz systems tend to use 220V, 230V etc. for different countries. This has the impact that house wiring needs to be twice the cross section for the 110V system for the same power. However the optimum system is accepted as around 230V (wire size and power required versus safety). In most of the US the 110V power system is in tandem with the 240V US system that provides for the higher powered appliances like stoves and clothes dryers, while 110V does wall outlets and lights. Hardly an issue of the appliances nowadays.
Is 60Hz better than 50Hz?
It is no big difference between 50 Hz and 60 Hz, nothing is bad or good basically. For independent power equipment like ships, aircraft or isolated area like gas/oil installation, any frequency (like 400 Hz) can be designed based on suitability. From an overall perspective, we can't say 50Hz is better than 60Hz or not, there is no difference. The main issue is the fact that there are two power supply standards. This means that links between transmission systems that run on different frequencies require DC links between them, or simply using a frequency converter to change 60Hz to 50Hz.
Related article: Impact of 60Hz (50Hz) motor being used on 50Hz (60Hz) power supply
Comments
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i will be buying air fryer, blender, coffee maker and pressure with 50hz rating. Are they safe to use in a 60hz rating? Can they last long?
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Regarding transformer saturation- yes, absolutely true! You can generate all kinds of potentially damaging harmonics because the saturation will distort the sine wave. The usual trick is to derate the transformer- IE, put in a bigger one, but it's best to get the right one. :)
AC is a tricky thing involving complex math where reactive loads are involved.
Regarding the motors: be very careful with AC induction motors. Around the outer perimeter (under the outer cover) an induction motor has stationary field windings (copper wire coils) which get connected to the power supply. They create a rotating magnetic field that the rotor (thing that spins) is immersed in.
The rotor has both copper and steel components. The field coils' magnetic field induces electric current in the rotor (like a transformer does) and that current creates a magnetic field that has attractive force which tugs on the rotor and gives the output torque. The rotor is never quite in sync with the rotating magnetic field, and we call this "slip", and the slip is the mechanism by which the rotor current is induced.
If you run an induction motor at lower voltages, the rotor (armature) will slip more than it should, which creates a higher current component and will heat the windings _and_ armature. It is counter-intuitive, but running an induction motor at lower voltages might burn it up.
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What happens is that for each half of the current cycle, the core starts to get magnetized. This increasing magnetization induces an opposing voltage in the transformer winding, and therefore reduces the amount of current flowing in the winding. But once the core is fully saturated, that opposing voltage is no longer generated and the current flow in the winding increases causing the windings to get hotter. This is why a 50Hz transformer requires more iron than a 60Hz transformer.
A similar effect can exist with some motor designs as well.
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My new amp says the power supply should be...... 100 volts 50/60Hz.
Does this mean I can not use my amp on the European grid?
Thank you.
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It is mentioned 120v 200W 60Hz in the box. In India electricity distributions is at 240V. 50Hz. So If I buy an adapter input: 240v output:120v (250W), can I use this rotary tool at its full efficiency in India ?
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what will be the change of output power at 1 meter, if UPS oscillator frequency is trimmed to 60Hz ?
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I have a on demand electric hot water heater, small capacity, that I bought in China (50 Hz)
Can I use it safely in our US?
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In our country 3 phase supply is 440v for 50 Hertz. Then how many voltage for 60 Hertz 3 phase??? .
If thats the maximum rating on 50 hertz I would think its 460-480v 60hz normally.
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Can someone explain further the sentence "Lower the frequency will be the iron losses and eddy current losses.
There's a magnetic loss in a transformer, engine, generator etc. because of the iron inside them works as a magnet. So if you lower the frequency the magnetic field will leak more into the iron, since a slower hertz (hz) means less shifts +/- or north and south pole on a magnet. So the faster the frequency shifts are, will elimininate more of the magnetic field created.
The other current losses are in the copper coils around the iron and they heat up and move around more the stronger the magnetic field is. So again bigger frequency less magnetic disturbance.
But if you look at 230v 50hz vs 115v 60hz there is a problem where the current is doubled in 115v to do the same job. The higher current you run through the copper coils the higher resistive loss you'll get in them. I think both methods have a fairly equal result in losses, but I never tested it.
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How do I know then, that a converter will make my washing machine run OK?
Gaudenzio
Thanks
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Gianpaulo
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Colin
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I have a question: referring to electronic products ( without motors ) what will be the affect on the lower frequency ? For instance a radio CD player that requires 110 v @ 60 Hz running on the step down transformer 220 --> 110 @ 50 Hz.
Will it work properly?
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if for example we need 440 volt 3 phases 60 HZ,
but in our system use 400 volt 3 phases 50 Hz, we reducer the RPM and efficiency, but how about current, it will be constant or causes to increases it?
Thanks, good lock
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Please send a response to gwkennel@gmail.com
Thank you for your time.
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60 Hz systems do NOT transport 20 % more energy in the same time period.
Basically, the frequency (Hz) has nothing to do with power (W) nor energy (J).
Power P = U * I * cos phi, in which cos phi depends on the apparatus (e.g. a classic light bulb or a classic electric stove have cos phi = 1 (approx.)
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If your machines are generation systems (not motors or similar), you will probably have many more problems, as generation facilities are specifically designed for operation in a very narrow range of speed (aka frequency) typically +/- 5%. Gas turbine and steam turbines are very sensitive to off frequency operation, lifetime can be measured in minutes under these conditions.
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