One...
1-Phase, 2--Phase, 3-Phase...
- Thread starter pulsator
- Start date
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Two...
Three?
If not, is there a way to convert it to 1-phase?
No clue.
Can't really see if your main breaker is a double or triple.
Some of the 220's seem to be double slots with ONE handle.
are there any breakers taking up THREE slots?
Also, read the sheet on the back of the door. It will tell you if it (the whole panel box [a/k/a consumer unit=> UK])is rated for three-phases.
Can't really see if your main breaker is a double or triple.
Some of the 220's seem to be double slots with ONE handle.
are there any breakers taking up THREE slots?
Also, read the sheet on the back of the door. It will tell you if it (the whole panel box [a/k/a consumer unit=> UK])is rated for three-phases.
If not, is there a way to convert it to 1-phase?
(where it = the washer, I assume)
There is ALWAYS a way to do everything. Is it practical and cost-effective to do it is another question.
In a word, think heavily "NO"
a motor-generator- MAY be less expensive than a phase converter. I can't intelligently say.
(220v in / three-phase out.)
(2 hots & neutral in /three hots & neutral out)
(where it = the washer, I assume)
There is ALWAYS a way to do everything. Is it practical and cost-effective to do it is another question.
In a word, think heavily "NO"
a motor-generator- MAY be less expensive than a phase converter. I can't intelligently say.
(220v in / three-phase out.)
(2 hots & neutral in /three hots & neutral out)
Local code may not allow 3-phase power in residences.
Pulling 3-phase from the street is expensive. The power company will charge you to pull the wire, you will have to pay for a new meter,you need an electrician to install the new circuit box and connections, the city inspector will have to approve the install.
If the washers in question are not single phase, wait until you can find some. Contact local commercial distributors to see if they have any used stock. You will probably have to be persistant, because if you are no in the business, they will blow you off. Subscribe to the CLA Journal, as they have an extensive "for sale" section in the back of the magazine for people selling used commercial equipment.
www.coinlaundry.org
Pulling 3-phase from the street is expensive. The power company will charge you to pull the wire, you will have to pay for a new meter,you need an electrician to install the new circuit box and connections, the city inspector will have to approve the install.
If the washers in question are not single phase, wait until you can find some. Contact local commercial distributors to see if they have any used stock. You will probably have to be persistant, because if you are no in the business, they will blow you off. Subscribe to the CLA Journal, as they have an extensive "for sale" section in the back of the magazine for people selling used commercial equipment.
CLA, The Laundry Association
Formerly the Coin Laundry Association, CLA is the preeminent resource for laundry professionals.
www.coinlaundry.org
oh Jamie.
A main panel
a sub-panel
and a junciton box/relay box
are not 1,2,3 phases. OY VEY!
Read also your electric meter It should say.
If your electrical service is above-ground, count the cables in the drip-loop. (They loop down so water doesn't follow the wires). The neutral from the house will be connected to the metal anchor-wire that most-likely terminates on a ceramic
(brown)insulator near or on the house.
I hope some of this helps and is not confusing the issue for you
Four wires is three phase
Three wire is regular 110/220v US service.
Two wires (which you will not see on a newer house-- and by that I mean post 1940) means you need an upgrade YESTERDAY)
A main panel
a sub-panel
and a junciton box/relay box
are not 1,2,3 phases. OY VEY!
Read also your electric meter It should say.
If your electrical service is above-ground, count the cables in the drip-loop. (They loop down so water doesn't follow the wires). The neutral from the house will be connected to the metal anchor-wire that most-likely terminates on a ceramic
(brown)insulator near or on the house.
I hope some of this helps and is not confusing the issue for you
Four wires is three phase
Three wire is regular 110/220v US service.
Two wires (which you will not see on a newer house-- and by that I mean post 1940) means you need an upgrade YESTERDAY)
bobbyderegis
Well-known member
Hi Pulsator,
If I were you, and the Wascomat was free or cheap, grab it and worry about the details later. A laundromat in Boston was getting new machines and I walked in on a whim and asked what they were doing with the old Dexters. (there were 5) I was told that they were waiting for a disposal company to haul them away. Needless to say I have one working, one spare, and a boatload of parts. The electrical issue is nothing a good electrician can't solve. You should inquire about them quickly. You may be doing them a favor by taking them off their hands, and they are a ton of fun to rebuild, and you could possibly make some money on any other ones you could get. Keep us posted. Bobby in Boston
If I were you, and the Wascomat was free or cheap, grab it and worry about the details later. A laundromat in Boston was getting new machines and I walked in on a whim and asked what they were doing with the old Dexters. (there were 5) I was told that they were waiting for a disposal company to haul them away. Needless to say I have one working, one spare, and a boatload of parts. The electrical issue is nothing a good electrician can't solve. You should inquire about them quickly. You may be doing them a favor by taking them off their hands, and they are a ton of fun to rebuild, and you could possibly make some money on any other ones you could get. Keep us posted. Bobby in Boston
Three phase-Where to begin-the place where I work is fed with 4160V 3Ph 1600A--monster feed.Then a set of transformers steps the 4160 down to 208-120V for running the building.The 4160 runs the transmitters.3 phase feeds come in two types-"Y" and Delta"Y is the most common.208-120V,480V-277 are the most commonly used.I used to live in an apartment building that was fed with 208-120.3 phase.The 3 phase ran building equipment-and the 208V ran HVAC systems in the apartments.The apartments and systems were balanced on the phases.With the 208-120 you can do this-you get 120 v from phase to neutral or ground.You can tell what type is feeding your building by looking for the power company meter panel feeding the building-this usually has the information like"this premises fed with 208-120V 4 wire three phase"Most single homes are fed with 240-120V power.this is NOT 3 phase.You could feed the 220-240V into a rotary converter(Phasemaster,Kay)come to mind and get 3 phase.the converter WILL NOT step up or down the voltage-you need a separate transformer for this.I have seen an FM transmitter run from a Phasemaster.Many transmitter sites are in areas very remote-and no three phase feed there.Also this was common on farms in the west and midwest-in fact early Sears and Wards farm catalogs had phase converters.3 phase is the way power is derived-the power company generators are 3 phase devices.I do know of one freind of mine who worked at the same plant I am at now who has a machine shop in his own home-a milling machine and a lathe-both ahve 3 phase motors-he runs them from a rotary converter.This could be the answer for someone who gets a commercial laundry equipment that needs three phase.You just need to get the right size converter-and is your power feed large enough?Of course the best answer is to get a mchine that can run from your supply.I don't know what the horsepower of the motors in the mill or lathe my freind has.In the case of breaker boxes-they often tell you what the panel is wired for.
Thelsa was obviously taken more seriously in Europe
3 Phase power in europe is quite commonly installed in residential services in Europe (except in the UK and Ireland). Many heavy domestic appliances can be wired for 3-phase power e.g. ovens, hobs(cooktops), water heaters etc.
In Ireland it's generally only installed if you have an absolutely huge house, a large home workshop or use electric heating.
In general, in urban areas here 3-phase is always available. 4 wire distribution systems are always used and homes taking single phase just take 1 of the hots + the neutral. A 3-phase service takes all 3 hots + neutral.
European 3-phase is 400V 50Hz ... Single phase (phase to neutral) is 230V 50Hz
There were certainly plenty of 3-phase Mieles around in the past.
Note: Europe harmonised voltages. Previously 220/380V (All of Europe, including Ireland) and 240/415V (UK)... Harmonised to 230/400V.
3 Phase power in europe is quite commonly installed in residential services in Europe (except in the UK and Ireland). Many heavy domestic appliances can be wired for 3-phase power e.g. ovens, hobs(cooktops), water heaters etc.
In Ireland it's generally only installed if you have an absolutely huge house, a large home workshop or use electric heating.
In general, in urban areas here 3-phase is always available. 4 wire distribution systems are always used and homes taking single phase just take 1 of the hots + the neutral. A 3-phase service takes all 3 hots + neutral.
European 3-phase is 400V 50Hz ... Single phase (phase to neutral) is 230V 50Hz
There were certainly plenty of 3-phase Mieles around in the past.
Note: Europe harmonised voltages. Previously 220/380V (All of Europe, including Ireland) and 240/415V (UK)... Harmonised to 230/400V.
At the transmitter plant I work in-we have two transmitters of europiean origin-one that was built in Switzerland,the other from Germany.They too,have a transformer in them that steps 41603Ph to 400V3 ph to run blowers,pumps,Lv supplies in the transmitters. The main HV powersupply runs from 4160.Of course-in my plant its 60Hz instead of 50.
chad_hauris
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 25, 2006
- Messages
- 94
You can tell if you have 3 phase power if you have overhead power lines and trace the cable from the house back to the pole...there will be three transformers on the pole and of course on your breaker panel the Main will be a 3-pole breaker.
I have 3 phase power coming into my barn but I haven't yet got any equipment which needs it.
On your machine if you look at the motor it will tell you what phase of power it needs...the easiest thing to do will be to replace the motor with a single phase unit of appropriate characteristics if the original turns out to be 3-phase.
I have 3 phase power coming into my barn but I haven't yet got any equipment which needs it.
On your machine if you look at the motor it will tell you what phase of power it needs...the easiest thing to do will be to replace the motor with a single phase unit of appropriate characteristics if the original turns out to be 3-phase.
Greetings, Chad!
bpetersxx
Well-known member
are these 3 phase wires
sorry there not too clear I am under the weather
1
sorry there not too clear I am under the weather
1
bpetersxx
Well-known member
2
bpetersxx
Well-known member
this is at the street and alley intersection
bpetersxx
Well-known member
this is a new pole that cinergy put up summer 2005
the pole has 3 transformers on it
the pole has 3 transformers on it
chad_hauris
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 25, 2006
- Messages
- 94
1, 2, and 3 are single phase. 4 is three phase.
RJ asked me to post this about the pictures:
"Pics 1, 2 and 3 are 3 phase primary lines with single phase service drops, hence the single transformer. Pic 3 is a 3 phase line with a 3 phase service drop, hence the 3 transformers."
"Pics 1, 2 and 3 are 3 phase primary lines with single phase service drops, hence the single transformer. Pic 3 is a 3 phase line with a 3 phase service drop, hence the 3 transformers."
