DC Voltages

The recent development marked by the publication of IEC TR63282, which define DC voltages characteristics, represents a significant advancement in achieving voltage convergence. This standard is gaining considerable influence, notably fostering alignment among key industry players such as Current/OS and the Emerge Alliance in the United States. They are now unified in their support for standardized DC voltage levels of 48V, 350V, 700V, and 1400V. This uniformity is crucial, as it offers a unique opportunity to establish a common framework for DC power worldwide.?

Currently, the lack of standardization in AC voltage across different regions leads to considerable inefficiencies and waste. Manufacturers have previously leveraged these discrepancies to carve out local markets through the requirement of specific adapters and converters. However, this approach is becoming increasingly outdated. In the spirit of progress and efficiency, it's clear that adopting a common standard, akin to the European Union's mandate for USB-C connectors for small devices, is not only sensible but necessary. Such standardization would minimize unnecessary waste and optimize global energy usage, setting a new precedent for how we approach and manage electrical power distribution.

for more information take a look to CurrentOS Foundation which is in full align with the IEC TR63282 also in TC18 for DC secondary systems the 700V and 350V are become common.

or Our Standards – EMerge Alliance

Text below from the EMerge Alliance member newsletter.

AC/DC Microgrid Technical Standards Update

The new Direct Current and/or Hybrid-power Microgrid Standard is intended to assist in addressing challenges in designing, building, and operating microgrids among and within buildings on a sole property, premise, and/or campus, intended for use in commercial and residential markets when using dc-coupling technology. It defines practical, convenient, and safe system voltages, other critical electrical parameters, and interfaces between power devices specific to EMerge Alliance identified use cases. The initial version of the standard defines a nominal 350/700Vdc primary system voltage that can interconnect power sources directly to 350/700Vdc branch circuits, solid-state transformers, converters, or inverters to supply secondary utilization voltages. Future versions will address higher and lower primary and utilization voltages as sources and loads, including 1,400 Vdc and an inter-building Medium Voltage DC (MV dc) at 2.8 KV dc nominal. EMerge Alliance is actively collaborating with other SDOs around the world to harmonize this standard on an international basis.