According to the manual for the servo systems, 3ph are good from 170V-255V, so they can definitely be run on 208 / 230 / 240. The same problem exists though, as panel mountable transformers for the 3ph versions are not very common. I think the solution is still to require the facility to provide the feed.

 

What factory automation device needs 3 Phase 230 Volts AC ?

I have two ex-factory CNC mills that have 230v 3phase spindle motors.
The general industry standard for supply tolerance is ±10%.
Max.

 

I have two ex-factory CNC mills that have 230v 3phase spindle motors.
The general industry standard for supply tolerance is ±10%.
Max.

How are those powered? 208/230/240 facility power or do they have local transformers?

 

They originally had 230v 3phase supply to the M/C enclosure at the factory.
As I only have 240v residential 1ph , I used VFD's, which has the added bonus of RPM control!
Max..

 

I much prefer the 480VAC / 120VAC / 24VDC combo. Every once in a while though, I'll run into a component I want to use that's only rated for 230. They may have been dual rated, I'll have to check. I work on projects for varying facilities, so I'm trying to make things more universal. Sounds like I should stick to 480 unless I can get the facility specs ahead of time.

480 to 120 is not a problem, there are many small panel mountable transformers for that.

An example of my dilemma is in the link below. These servo systems from automation direct are only available in 230V (1ph and 3ph).
https://www.automationdirect.com/adc/shopping/catalog/motion_control/servo_systems

Yes, and that was what I faced with the 240 volt environmental chamber and the transformer was not cheap as the chamber used heating elements and a few compressors to make cold. Some serious current there. This is where the engineer who bought it could have better read the specifications before buying the thing. I ended up hanging three 15 KVA transformers on the wall. This was less than trying to return it and paying a restocking fee.

Ron

 

The servo's look like they take 1ph or 3ph, if a single phase 480/230v is not readily available, you could also series up the secondaries of two single phase 120.
Max.

 

They originally had 230v 3phase supply to the M/C enclosure at the factory.
As I only have 240v residential 1ph , I used VFD's, which has the added bonus of RPM control!
Max..

Wish I had toys like that!

Yes, and that was what I faced with the 240 volt environmental chamber and the transformer was not cheap as the chamber used heating elements and a few compressors to make cold. Some serious current there. This is where the engineer who bought it could have better read the specifications before buying the thing. I ended up hanging three 15 KVA transformers on the wall. This was less than trying to return it and paying a restocking fee.

Ron

That is exactly the situation I'm trying to avoid. Since 480Y/277 seems to be the what new buildings have (the ones I'm interested in anyway), 230V is potential for an "oh sh!#".

The servo's look like they take 1ph or 3ph, if a single phase 480/230v is not readily available, you could also series up the secondaries of two single phase 120.
Max.

Yeah that's right, like you're doing with your mills. 1ph has more options to work with.