Voltage and Frequency Differ by Country: How to Configure Power for Exported Machines

Three Numbers Must Match First: Voltage, Phases, Frequency

Whether a machine can run directly in the customer's plant depends on three things:

• Voltage: For example 110V, 220V, 230V, 380V, 400V, 480V.
• Phases: Single-phase or three-phase. Tabletop and small machines commonly use single-phase; higher-power machines mostly use three-phase.
• Frequency: 50Hz or 60Hz, the number of times per second alternating current changes direction.

Under Taipower's business rules, Taiwan's supply frequency is 60Hz, the standard voltages for low-voltage customers are 110V, 220V, and 380V, and factories commonly have three-phase 220V or 380V. Taking Dong-Yih models as examples, the standard specification of the DY-528MS Sweet Potato Ball & Taro Ball Portioning Machine is single-phase 220V, 1.6KW, with three-phase 380V, 415V, and 440V available by special order. Checking against the customer's local power supply before exporting is the most basic step.

Power Supplies in Common Export Markets

Single-phase voltages and frequencies by country are roughly as follows. Three-phase voltages vary even more between countries, and can differ between regions and service levels within the same country, so always go by the actual power distribution at the customer's plant:

• Taiwan: 60Hz; standard low-voltage supplies of 110V, 220V, and 380V, with factories commonly using three-phase 220V or 380V
• Japan: 100V; 50Hz in eastern Japan, 60Hz in western Japan
• South Korea: 220V, 60Hz
• Mainland China: 220V, 50Hz
• EU countries: 230V, 50Hz
• Southeast Asia (Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia): 220V–230V, 50Hz
• Philippines: 220V–230V, 60Hz
• United States, Canada: 120V, 60Hz; factory three-phase voltages come in several levels
• Australia: 230V, 50Hz

As this list shows, Taiwanese machines exported to Japan, Southeast Asia, Europe, mainland China, and Australia will mostly run into a "different frequency" problem, and some will also face different voltages.

Can a 60Hz Machine Be Used in a 50Hz Country?

The speed of an AC induction motor is proportional to frequency (synchronous speed = 120 × frequency ÷ number of poles). A motor designed for 60Hz, connected to a 50Hz supply, will run at about 5/6 of its original speed, roughly 17% slower.

For a food forming machine, this means:

• Lower output and a slower overall production rhythm
• If the machine has several motors or mechanisms that must stay synchronized, a change in their speed ratio may affect forming quality
• If the voltage isn't adjusted at the same time, the motor's magnetic flux increases at the lower frequency and it can overheat; motor makers' technical notes generally recommend reducing voltage and output proportionally as well

So "it plugs in" doesn't mean "it can produce normally"; the frequency issue must be dealt with.

Three Common Solutions

1. Add or configure an inverter: An inverter (variable frequency drive) converts the incoming supply into the frequency and voltage the motor needs. Many machines already use inverters to control speed; just confirm the inverter's input voltage range matches the local supply and adjust the settings.

2. Use a transformer: When the voltage differs but the frequency is the same, or the frequency is already handled by an inverter, a transformer can convert the local voltage to the machine's rated voltage. Choose sufficient capacity for the machine's power.

3. Switch to motors and electrical parts built for local specifications: Configure the motors, contactors, power supplies, and so on for the destination's voltage and frequency at the factory. This is the most stable for long-term use, and parts are easier to buy for local repairs.

Which is most suitable depends on the machine's electrical design, power rating, and the customer's plant conditions; the manufacturer's assessment is the most reliable.

What to Clarify Before Ordering

• The voltage, phases, and frequency at the customer's plant; ideally, ask the customer for photos of the distribution panel or meter
• Plugs and wiring method: most industrial machines are hard-wired by a local electrician
• Whether local electrical safety certification is required, such as CE in the EU or electrical listing in the US; see CE marking and FDA, NSF, and UL for the US market
• Before connecting, always have a qualified electrician confirm the supply and grounding, and only then power up for a test run

For how Dong-Yih Machinery changes voltages or configures power for the destination, and the costs involved, please call 06-257-4644 or reach us through our contact information page.

FAQ

Q: The voltage abroad is different. Can the machine still be used?
A: It depends on whether voltage, phases, and frequency all match. If they don't, use a transformer or inverter, or have motors and electrical parts built to local specifications at the factory.

Q: Can a Taiwanese 60Hz machine be used in a 50Hz country?
A: It can be connected, but the motor will run about 17% slower, changing both output and forming rhythm; it needs to be addressed with an inverter or reconfigured electrical parts.

Q: Should we change the motor or add an inverter?
A: If the machine already uses an inverter for control, adjusting the settings or confirming the input voltage is usually enough; for long-term local use with an emphasis on ease of repair, switching to motors built for local specifications is more stable. The manufacturer's assessment for the specific model is the most accurate.

Q: Is Japan 50Hz or 60Hz?
A: Both. Eastern Japan is 50Hz and western Japan is 60Hz, so confirm which region the customer is in before shipping.