Powering Big 3-phase Machinery 480Volt Transformer

In this video I check out the 3phase 240-480V transformer I bought to power the Old Barn/Shop with. I figure since I already have 2 machines that are 480V only that I might as well just wire the shop as such so in the future adding big machines will be easier as most are already high voltage. It makes the cost of wiring and how easy it is to run thru the conduits a lot easier. Fortunately no booms in this one!! Also interesting to see how it behaves when the phase converter is off and it induces a voltage on its own. Wish I had a way to measure the phase shift that produces! regardless it wouldn't be a good way to try to power something I don't imagine. Thanks for watching!!

[@DonkeyDongDoug]

When you said "check continuity between the phases" I started chuckling a little bit. I did the same thing on my first transformer install and had the same reaction that you did. when I found continuity.

[@petepeeff5807]

It's so cool there is so much info on the internet now about this. Back in the 90's I built a 25hp RPC and transformer to power an old excello mill that was high voltage (yes it was overkill I was thinking big and the stuff was free salvage) I couldn't find info anywhere or didn't know where to look just worked blind. Thanks to you and others for sharing so much for the next generation of tinkers.

[@bcbloc02]

I always hope what I show can help others. :-)

[@SteveSummers]

That's a neat unit Brian. 480v is great. Opens up lots more equipment possibilities like you said. 👌

[@bcbloc02]

Yep I am excited and a little scared about getting the VMC up and running soon.

[@TqSNv9R0iG5Ckxew]

Used 480v equipment is often cheaper too because most people don't have a way to power it.

[@SteveSummers]

@@bcbloc02 That VMC should be a heck of a machine. Who knows what you may run into getting it up and giong. The gentlemen who gave you the large angle plates ask me for your email. I gave it to him.

[@bcbloc02]

Yep I talked to him, thanks!

[@davidhyer3404]

Brian, since seeing your videos I know I was woefully undersizing my power and space requirements. Looking at fixing up my dads old barn now as a shop thanks to your videos. Hopefully I can find a HBM, a vertical lathe and a openside planer to add to my shaper, cincinnati horizontal and my 1916 war surplus lodge and shipley lathe.

[@bcbloc02]

You have BIG plans! Good luck and glad my builds help! :-)

[@davidhyer3404]

@@bcbloc02Gotta cut a tree out of the roof and chase the racoons out first. Nothing a .22 and stihl cant handle though.

[@terrycannon570]

Thanks Brian. I love your fashion statement . Love that style of Hoodie. I have one the same color. i am afraid if Bailey hiked his leg on the transformer it would break him of wanting to supervise electrical work. lol

[@garbo8962]

Must be arc flash rated if worn while near energized equipmrnt. Hospital that I retired from purchased 2 sweatshirts & 2 jackets that were arc flash rated ( think 8 to 15 cal ). Was working close to a welder that set his cheap ski jacket on fire. That was enough for me that decided to only use approved PPE.

[@davidfraser4830]

Thanks for the update. Its quite an adventure you are on. I cant wait to see all the pieces up and running. You will have some kind of operation there.

[@wymershandymanservice9965]

Glad to see your findings the equipment necessary for your power requirements.. Great content 👍

[@ericm8811]

Hey Bcbloc02! Perhaps a despicable varmint had moved into that insulation and Bailey was evicting it before it chewed up some electronics wiring!

[@ryantoms6061]

Looks like your dog was living his best life while getting into that insulation.

[@bcbloc02]

Apparently the shop is still not warm enough for him yet, he has to make beds from insulation.

[@RockingJOffroad]

bcbloc02 you need to build Bailey a proper sized doghouse with a comfy bed to keep in the shop. The doghouse will help contain his body heat!

[@mikebaldwin2280]

Glad to see your getting more good stuff,want your shop to work well...

[@eppa]

like your channel, in Norway we have 3 phase 400v and 230v in residential home. and I have lots of good experience with 400v machines they are usually cheaper to buy

[@Orgakoyd]

Same in the UK. The only pain is building a phase convereter isn't as simple as having an idler motor. You need to step up the 230V single phase to 400V either before or after the idler motor, since every 3 phase machine needs 400V 3 phase, not 230V. Sometimes motors are dual voltage delta/wye, but most are not, and it still leaves the control gear and means you have to rewire the whole machine.

[@turbocobra]

Serious piece of gear right there! Cant wait to see that VMC running!

[@chrischapel9165]

Myself brian i am looking forward to the big monarch making its appearance in the shop...baily he obviously wants the stuff out of the way too! Lol

[@Redmech80]

Glad you posted this. I have a radial arm drill with a 15hp motor on it, its wired for high voltage only. So I’ve been looking at used transformers. I think I only need about a 30 kva though. I think you and I share a common problem; there is always more shop expenses.

[@bcbloc02]

I think you are best to oversize some on the transformer otherwise they run hotter and loose efficiency. Building out a shop is EXPENSIVE!!

[@Redmech80]

Thanks for the tip. Hadn’t even considered buying one larger than needed. Used transformers are fairly inexpensive, so buying a bit larger isn’t that bad. I get lots of inspiration for me to build up my own home machine shop. I just have to keep at it and keep picking up tooling

[@PrimoMotorSports]

Hey Brian, The 112.5 kVA, 3-Phase transformer is actually only good for 135 amps at 480 volt, and it wants 270 amps at 240volt 3-Phase to feed it. When dealing with three phase power calculations, you need to use the voltage x the Square root of 3 (1.732) or 240 x 1.732 = 415.7 V and 480 x 1.732 = 831.4 V. Therefore 112500/831 = 135.4 amps and 112500/416 = 270 amps. Make sure you look up the specs on using the transformer as a "Boost" transformer. I think you want to make sure you don't use the neutral on your 480V side, (or something like that, I know there is an issue you have to be aware of with regard to the XO tap and grounding/neutral relationship. I am just having a brain fart right now.) This is also suspect for causing your voltage differences between H1, H2 and H3.

[@bcbloc02]

You are right. It is still good for more than my phase converter can output anyway, at least for now. :-) this is a delta-delta trans so it has no neutral.

[@PrimoMotorSports]

@@bcbloc02 No problem. I just heard you talking about the transformers capacity and didn't want you to be misled. Also, I know that the grounding/Bonding of this will be important to stabilize your voltages. (they will settle down a little once a load is put on it too). Cheers Brother!

[@chasmosaurus3]

@@PrimoMotorSports It's a "separately derived system" in NEC speak. Depending in the size you might need a grounding electrode or bond to same. I would need to look it up since I didn't do these types of installs typically.

[@PrimoMotorSports]

@@chasmosaurus3 you are correct. It still needs a ground. the question that i cant remember the answer for is whether or not XO gets bonded to ground.

[@bcbloc02]

I plan to ground it back to the mains into the building otherwise I don't think a short to the case would trip the breaker feeding it and it would just assume it is a load.

[@AmateurRedneckWorkshop]

Big equipment big power. Makes sense to me.

[@lwilton]

Looks like that thing is good to go Brian! Cool! You might want to consider a big contactor at some point to shut down the transformer output if the phase converter is off. That will make sure you don't single-phase any expensive bits of machinery. Should probably be able to run it from the same contactor that is running the phase converter so it will latch in and drop out at the same time.

[@bcbloc02]

I was actually thinking of having a contactor in front of the transformer so it is dead unless the phase converter is operating. Maybe i could wire the coil to energize when the generated leg becomes hot and it would fall out whenever that leg went away. I will have to think about if that circuit is directly possible or not. I think so.

[@lwilton]

I suspect there is a contactor in the phase converter to fire it up. I'd strongly consider wiring the transformer contactor coil in parallel with the phase converter contactor coil. While putting the contactor before the input winding to the transformer seems like the most logical choice, note you will need twice the contact current rating in the primary, and the transformer won't care if it is getting single-phased, so you can use a lower current contactor in the secondary safely (but of course rated at something like 600V contacts).

[@bcbloc02]

While this is true I don't think they like having that induced voltage from the trans trickling back into the windings of the RPC idler while it is trying to start. The RPC manual actually says to disconnect any downstream trans before trying to start the RPC and placing the contactor between the two would serve both functions.

[@lwilton]

Ok, that sounds like a good reason. :-)

[@daleolson3506]

If that insulation was in the wall where it belongs,the boss would not have junked it. Lol😎

[@randomdude1786]

Baily is probably pretty upset there was nothing in the middle of that bail. Only a nice bed!!! Handy tool that thermometer. all the motors, baring's, exhaust ports and everything you can tell is at normal operating temp right there at your fingertips and thanks for the inside story on the transformer. Primomotorsports gets a gold star for there rundown below there

[@pierresgarage2687]

It's normal to have some difference between the legs in a phase converter system, got about the same kinda difference over here, like you I'm only using the 3 legs and no neutral, the ground is the same as the house ground tied to the body of the different elements. One problem in those set-ups is the phase shifting or power factor, the more inductive loads you put up the worse the power factor will be. If your local electricity supplier finds you out, they'll ask you to correct by adding the proper capacitances... So far I haven't been bothered by that but I'll have to look into it before they get to do it and charge me... lol By installing the power set-up in the atic, aren't you affraid that the heat in the Summer would climb too high and cause problems, also a ground level installation would be way easier to service in case of failure, or even just plain maintenance...? As another benefif you could make it possible to recup the wasted heat from the phase converter in the Winter, my 20kva unit wastes 1.1kw when running unloaded, this with lighting is enought to heat the shop in the Winter season.

[@ypop417]

And that is forward thinking Brian!

[@rolliekelly6783]

As you put the system under load the phases should come into closer balance. The load motors act like RPCs too and tend to correct any aberrations.

[@Orgakoyd]

Even at idle I'd say the 480V side is pretty good. Pretty much within 5% of 480V.

[@ShevillMathers]

Going to have to call you “The BIG IRON man’’

[@musicinspire1745]

Dude, you should use a Megger to check for high resistance grounding leakage.

[@tommyboy2855]

Keep growing big boy, thanks for sharing

[@williamgodfrey991]

Hi Brain ,From Australia love your work Ethic.Regards Bill

[@houseofbrokendobbsthings5537]

Run Shop Boss - minion is playing with high voltage. Don't be too hard on Shop Boss. If minion had the heated floor running full tilt - there would be no need to make a monitoring station out of insulation. _Dan_

[@stephenwagar2663]

The Supervisor Is Smarter Than You Think . That Rock Wool Is Probably Much Warmer Than His Store Bought Bed , Just Saying !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@bcbloc02]

I think he likes it better because it costs more! lol

[@johnstrange6799]

Good planning ahead with that.

[@FrancisoDoncona]

Bailey is obviously pissed with your DRO progress. He has made it abundantly clear new projects coming in without insulation being completed is not acceptable.

[@bcbloc02]

Technically this was filmed before the DRO issue, but Baily is likely still pissed because his personal door has not yet been installed. lol

[@byronwatkins2565]

Brian, your phase converter don't seem to be regulating very well. The 25V variance in the 480V phases is due to the 12V variance in the 240V phases. The voltages and the voltage variations are each multiplied by 2. Assuming the weak phase doesn't get worse under load, there should be no problem. This imbalance mostly matters during motor start. Recall that even single-phase motors work very well once they are in motion.

[@bcbloc02]

The voltages are within 5% which is as close as utility power is a lot of time.

[@cncit]

Well as long as all the electronic cabinets on the VMC are free of damp it should be ok..fire up with the e stop button pressed in..leave for a few hours to let the drives warm up..check for any alarm lights on the drives before finally releasing the e stop. If the screen doesn't light up when you first turn on it's usually a low volt power supply that's gone bad..also before homing check the limit switches are not seized..best to do this before it's powered up.

[@houseofbrokendobbsthings5537]

Geez when you powered up the lights here in Michigan dimmed

[@krazziee2000]

big power ,, big equipment ,,nice .

[@ypopnun1003]

Seams a bit high but then with no load, it might be that way. Like John Smith said Baily may need it a bit warmer, use the insulation he tore up to make a dog house then less loss. No taps on the transformer to change the output voltage? I have seen both kinds.

[@jesusisalive3227]

Watch out for the high leg on the phase converter!

[@ROBRENZ]

Enjoyed Brian! ATB, Robin

[@TomChame]

Very impressive stuff! How big a container do you need to store all the smoke?

[@bcbloc02]

Probably 40ftx60ft. :-) lol

[@CapeCodCNC]

Hey Brian I am sure you know this but 440V is lethal. 110 or 220 you can shake off if your standing in water but 440v will drop you like a 12ga drops drops a toad at 3 feet. Phase balance should get better under load. If you need to run off a different tap should not be a issue as it appears to 3 separate transformers...but probably not for fine adjustments.

[@CapeCodCNC]

speed typing with fat fingers! should say NOT standing in water

[@ericcorse]

All those pixies running around create a buzz.

[@dannyl2598]

Hey Brian you may want to look into Y verses Delta wiring confirmations for transfers. I believe their is a high leg on the Delta at least when going phase to neutral. I don't know the pros and cons ether way. Nice score on the transfer. Thanks.

[@bcbloc02]

No neutral on delta, this is 480v power only.

[@Pavinsteelman]

Fyi t I use a 30 amp 480 volt twist lock for all my 480 stuff lots cheaper than pin n socket stuff .

[@JBFromOZ]

another big step forwards mate! keep it coming :-)

[@NSTRAPPERHUNTER]

Brian, your shop is looking great but it seems to be getting smaller with every video. That may be a good thing. Later and all the best.

[@63256325N]

Thanks for the video.

[@briankurtt]

Are you thinking about putting that noisy equipment outside under the lean-too?

[@electromechanicalstuff2602]

the mills and lathes? cause the rotary phase converter and transformer are way quieter then his machines

[@imysteryman]

My dad worked for Union Electric as a lineman then as a troubleman until he retired and He warned me to be very careful working with 480 volt equipment. IE, wearing safety glasses, gloves. Bailey might be looking for a new place to sleep if you come in contact with it, and when it is shorted there is a much bigger ball of fire and there will be molten metal flying into your face. 230 isn't nothing to play with but 480, well I hope you understand what I am trying to say.

[@bcbloc02]

For sure stay out of the equipment!

[@enzo8745]

Hey Brian, Equal voltages sound fine, but the phase angle between them is very important. Check to see if the 240 side is balanced; that is the voltages are equal. An oscilloscope would be ideal to check the phase angles. If the input is balanced, then the 480 side should be as well. Something sounds fishy here. Check the input to see if your phase converter is working correctly. I built a 3-phase converter out of an old 5hp motor to run my 3hp planer. I used capacitors from various legs to get the voltages/phase angles all correct. Took a bit of work, but they were all balanced within 5 volts. The phase angles also looked correct on the scope. Don't just change the tap until you have verified the 240 side is correct. If not, you can correct is as well with some capacitors. NON-POLARIZED, made for running motors, not starting them.

[@bcbloc02]

I think the phase converter is set so it run balance voltages when outputting about 65amps, anywhere else it varies depending on load.

[@enzo8745]

@@bcbloc02 then adjusting the tap should be OK! REally enjoy your channel!!

[@N8tron22]

made me nervous with your thumb so close to the terminal

[@carguy3504]

i put that outside!!!!!!!! we had one inside and the city and firer marshal made us put it in its own box 8 ft form building

[@ypopnun1003]

Most factories here have them inside, keep them away from flammables they are safe. They are no different than an arc welder

[@joewebb4836]

Change a tap on the low legs.

[@ScottandTera]

Careful to safely wrangle to pixys

[@mikebowler1962]

Yes change taps

[@ericcommarato7727]

Hope you area going to put this outside...the hum would drive me crazy...

[@bcbloc02]

Plan to put it in the attic with the phase converter. A foot of rockwool plus 2 layers of plywood between me and it should make it virtually silent I hope!

[@magnepolden3344]

Both the phase converter and the transformer makes some heat. Be careful not to insulate them to get on fire.

[@bcbloc02]

They won't be insulated or sealed, just on the other side of the ceiling.

[@MegaRiffraff]

Looking at a big to me lathe 20x72 , but it is 480 only , I don’t need all the 20 hp it has I just needed bed length , is there any way i can run this thing on my 15 hp rotary convertor without a transformer?

[@bcbloc02]

It would have like a quarter or less the power it is supposed to have but it might still run if the lathe starts fairly easy.

[@air54plane]

Be Careful!!!!!!!!

[@Bobbycat115]

Looks like Packrat fixings I get them bastards in my woodshed

[@pmgodfrey]

Please do not ever use cheap test leads and meters to test those voltages. 120 and 240 is one thing... 480 is a whole different level.

[@Orgakoyd]

I'm curious how easy it is to energize that transformer. I assume it draws a massive inrush when you flip the switch to it.

[@bcbloc02]

Something less than 150amps because when I flip my breaker it doesn't trip it back.

[@Orgakoyd]

@@bcbloc02 150 A seems light. Won't a 150 A breaker require a multiple of 150 A to react magnetically?

[@mikemarriam]

I was looking to buy a 5hp rotary phase converter and the manual stressed the importance of no load connection when it was started. I wonder if just the transformer is too much load and that might be confusing the converter?

[@bcbloc02]

I don't think you can confuse a converter. I imagine the imbalanced voltages and phase back on the generated leg side from induced power is why they don't reccomend starting the converter hooked to the trans.

[@ThomasShue]

How do you wire it. I'm in the same exact situation. I made a RPC and have 220v 3ph in my shop. I have a 220v 3ph to 480v pH transformer. I assume they can step up or step down. I see you had the transformer turned on, it was humming, then you turned on the RPC. I assume you took 2 legs 220v each from the breaker panel, then you turned on the RPC and generated the 3rd 220v leg input to the transformer. Now you have 480v out on 3 seperate legs Also to the voltage difference between legs, I know each leg can be balanced via Caps.

[@bcbloc02]

Transformers don't care if they step up or step down. The caveat to that is how the insulations and ampacities are setup for a particular transformer. Running step up puts more amps into the unit and thus means it either needs to be sized larger than the load or be a special step up transformer which means the manufacturer just already did that for you. It is wired just like there is no rpc, 3 phases in and 3 phases out. Both being delta configured so you need a delta delta style transformer.

[@ThomasShue]

@@bcbloc02 do you have an email or a way Incan contact you. I have bought 2 huge transformers, and The first one was a mistake, it was an Isolation transformer. Its like 600 lbs, but the voltage spread now to narrow. It's like 460v to 400v.. it won't increase voltage but like 15%. So I bought a second transformer it is the proper steps up, it goes from 220 to 460 and again it's huge, it's like 500 lbs, it shows a Delta diagram on the side. However it does not mention 3 phase on the tag, so I think I screwed up yet again.. it's got 3 taps for in and 3 for out and a ground lug. I think this huge transformer is only single phase. On a 3 phase it's got like 7 leads right. This whole process has been a huge pain in the neck. I bought this BEAUTIFUL cold saw, it has a motor that is not dual voltage, it's 460b 3 phase made in Australia. It like new and I paid like $400 at an auction. I'm just want to use this bad boy, yet I need to figure out this transformer situation. I built my own RPC 20hp, but have definitely struggled with this 3 Phase transformer situation. Before I bought the first transformer I have never even heard of an Isolation transformer. I thought you use diodes to isolate, and never knew using a transformer can do the same job.

[@bcbloc02]

Email is bcbloc02 at yahoo dot com

[@ThomasShue]

@@bcbloc02 email sent

[@jamesverburg5478]

The shop manager was just checking the R-value of the insulation

[@andyyates2807]

did you get you self an new welder

[@bcbloc02]

A very high powered one!!

[@ryanb1874]

Are their specific uses for the "Wild leg) of the delta secondary, are there delta's with in the center of each phase, to get either 120, 208, or 240 of each phase?

[@bcbloc02]

As far as I know delta config is only used for high voltage. They use Y config when they want to get low voltage out.

[@ryanb1874]

@@bcbloc02 yes but in the wireman slang world, anything more than 120 is call HV, which is kinda dumb.

[@theworkshopmechanicchannel3296]

Is it snowing there yet?

[@bcbloc02]

It has.

[@josedelfino3331]

Hey Bcbloc02, i know you knew what are you doing, but during testing operation you don't used safety gear. is that what you want to show in the world that what you do is not dangerous.

[@ytmachx]

Is your main service 400A 120/240 single phase?

[@bcbloc02]

Yes it is.

[@Personalifestyle]

Where can I get one like that? 240v to 480v 3phase step up tranformer

[@bcbloc02]

staminagod1 Pretty much anyplace that sells transformers would have them. It is nothing special.

[@CathyInBlue]

What voltage is that little red DMM rated for? What is your monthly power bill for 400A 240VAC 3-Φ service?

[@bcbloc02]

600VAC it says. The bill depends on how much you use it.

[@CathyInBlue]

@@bcbloc02 There's not a monthly upcharge just for having high voltage service attached?

[@bcbloc02]

Nope, my utility only charges for the Kwh that I use. They don't have any special charges for what the loads are.

[@joeromanak8797]

So, for those of us who know very little beyond 220 single phase, you run 220 single into the phase converter, and you get 220 3 phase out, which goes into the transformer, and you get 480 3 phase out to machines, right? What effect does all this have on your electric bill?

[@bcbloc02]

It costs something as to how much it depends on how much you use it and what the loads are. Assuming max load the cost is around $3/hr to power the shop.

[@larrylawson5172]

Get firm hold on wallet, open wallet. Wave goodbye to money flitting away like pixies. However, that said it is likely lots cheaper than paying for the installation of a 440/480 service with a 220/240 tap and pay the standing monthly charge if it was even available at the road from the power company. Even the 7200V 3 ph run from the road down the lane is ridiculous as in thousands of dollars. Power companies know that they have you by the jewels so they want your jewels. Oddly, most of Europe is wired for 3ph, even houses. Some western states are also more inclined to use 3ph than we do east of the Mississippi. The 480 service can be a good idea if you would be running 480 3ph all day long every day.

[@bcbloc02]

It should be more like 3 amps just idleing????

[@bcbloc02]

How did you hook the clamp? There are both 240V and 120V loads in the phase converter and one is inductive rather than resistive so measuring it gets a bit more complicated I think.

[@bcbloc02]

I know that isn't right. A clamp is only good for one conductor at a time.

[@stefantrethan]

The imbalance likely comes from your phase converter, I was somewhat surprised that it still delivers one phase when it is powered off, since that would risk buring up a motor if you forget to switch it on? This is grown-ups voltage now, using a cheapo meter for this stuff makes me uneasy. Also it would be 5 minutes well spent to add a ground connection, a ground fault may not show up on a low voltage continuity test. That's just like making sure to never stand under a suspended load, just in case the cable breaks, it's been known to happen...

[@MattOGormanSmith]

The phase that comes through is the one that goes into the converter. You'd need an extra contactor to stop it but I agree it would be safer. I originally thought a rotary was a single phase motor coupled at the shaft to a 3 phase generator, which would be isolated and balanced, but they're actually a single modified 3 phase motor. EDIT: the off switch on the converter should isolate the output phase too AFAICS, so now I'm confused

[@bcbloc02]

The way American rotary wires their converters the single phase feeds thru because the single phase input is shared with the motor feeds to the converter idler.

[@stefantrethan]

@@bcbloc02 Still makes no sense to me, why wouldn't the power switch on the phase converter disconnect that phase when it is off? I find it hard to believe they would build this flaw into the system, are you sure you wired that thing right? If it can't be avoided I would put a motor starter on every machine, because sure as hell I'd forget one day to power up the rotary converter first, and burn up some motor on one phase.

[@bcbloc02]

None of mine will start if you single phase them, they just hum and you instantly know to hit stop and go start the phase converter. . I don't much care for it being that way myself as occasionally it happens. The power switch only operates the contactor to the idler motor so the switch has no control over the input side. I think they do it that way so that if you have a machine that uses single phase power like for memory it doesn't loose it.

[@stefantrethan]

@@bcbloc02 Yea it hums because it sits there stalled drawing full starting current on that one phase, you can burn them up right quick that way. A motor is not like a transformer that dosen't care, it needs to spin. Luckily we have 400V three phase power everywhere, but dropped phases are still a possibility (think faulty switch) and I use motor starters to protect all larger motors.

[@philipdevonald1273]

I must be lucky, I have the phase 380v to the house, all if my machines are from Japan so three phase 200v, so I have a step down transphormer 380v to 200v three phase

[@bcbloc02]

Yes you are lucky to have 3 phase available!

[@robm9860]

A friend has a doggy door in his shop and he lives out in the sticks like you do...he gets all kinds of unwanted guests crawling in thru the doggy door. He’s gone as far as to put a lock on his doggy door to keep the unwanted out when he knows the he or the dog will be away.

[@bcbloc02]

Mine has a panel to shut the door off when access is not wanted.

[@robm9860]

bcbloc02 that’s a sweet door.

[@electromechanicalstuff2602]

love your stuff. I don't know much of anything. But i think 400 amp service at 240v single phase available goes into 50HP Rotary phase converter that only consumes about 105 amps single phase when under max load (25Hp output) and the RFC puts out around 75 amps 240v 3 phase 25hp so into the transformer is 70amps 240 3 phase transformer is 90% ish efficient so you loose around 5-7amps so your output will be around 30-35 amps at 480v 3 phase. I think. someone fact check me please. I dont want to be a bubble popper. check the RFC output label to confirm or deny what im thinking.

[@bcbloc02]

I would say you are about right. The transformer was chosen to be able to handle any future needs., like the possible addition of another 40hp RPC using that motor I picked up awhile back. American rotary says 80amps 3phase at 240V is the max continuous output for my phase converter but only 65 if trying to hold voltages balanced within 5%. I would hope this trans closer to 95% efficient especially running at lower than nameplate amperages. I think 30-35 amps out to the machines will be about right with my current RPC, I can always add more to boost it and still use the same transformer though. :-)

[@electromechanicalstuff2602]

@@bcbloc02 ur awsome man always willing to talk to ur fans. When u say boost it what do u mean like make anothr rfc and put it parallel to the 50hp one? They are syncronous motors to the frequency should be the same except that third leg. Being its generated partially from.caps and partially from the pony im not sure if the 3rd generated leg would be exactly in sink. I dont know. Ive never even thought of doing that. I have built a few u can see on my channel but im in no way an expert. Might very welll be posible. My that practical machinist website guys say about doing that

[@bcbloc02]

The 100hp and up American rotary units are all multiple smaller units run in parallel so I know it can be done. I don't know if anything specific is used to allow that or if the loads naturally force the output to be synced since the inputs are from the same source and would be as well.

[@electromechanicalstuff2602]

@@bcbloc02 I've never had to look anything up that big. the motors would sync from the input side no doubt. but i have a feeling it would be multiple pony motors in parallel that are equal in size, RPM, amps and have one control box with a common set of caps and controller. I'll look into it. cause I have no idea

[@andyyates2807]

you must have made Bailey mad

[@1jtolvey]

MOST IND. MOTORS DUAL V --- BUT WIRE SIZE = MUCH CHEAPER AT 480 V !

[@ronbellaire9329]

Wow you scare me! That meter surely is not cat 4 or better. Never change scales while a lead is energized. 480 is nothing to mess with. I have huge concerns with inrush currents when starting.

[@SillyPutty3700]

Read up on "corner grounded delta"

[@BiddieTube]

Aluminum and electricity do not mix! Yah, it is allowed in many locations. I will recommend for all you who are stuck with any aluminum wires, bussbars etc, is to study in absolute detail how to properly make connections to it and maintain those connections. I have delt with aluminum before. When making connections, if you want to be prepared for the future, allow enough wire so you can in the future cut off the ends and re-make connections. Aluminum absolutely should be outlawed in electricity, but seeing how it is allowed in many places, youall need to outlaw it in your own heads, at least in the shops, homes etc that you own. Where you do have to deal with it, keep plenty of cleaning and connection chems in stock.

[@paulcopeland9035]

Aluminum is perfectly acceptable to use as the service wiring connecting the transformer. Aluminum has been for many years and is currently the preferred material for power transmission and distribution. Aluminum has a better conductivity to weight ratio and of course is much more economical than copper. If the connections are aluminum lug to aluminum wire (as it appears), there will be no issue. If copper wire is used then an anti-corrosive ( Ideal Noalox, for example) would be required in the connection. Many years ago (the 60's and 70's) a "hard alloy" aluminum wire was used during the copper shortage. This wire was not compatible with the steel screws used in switches and receptacles. The expansion rates of the dissimilar metals as well as the corrosion issue led to many failures and dangerous installations. This situation was found typically in low load circuits using wire sizes of #10 and smaller. "Aluminum absolutely should be outlawed in electricity" is nonsense. Modern aluminum alloys and connectors make for safe and "code compatible" installations throughout the building industry. Brian will have no issues with aluminum service wiring.

[@imienazwisko6449]

EE here.. next time you are driving a car and see a large power pole think that that wire hanging in the air is made always out of alu (with some sulfur) and steel core... can't hang copper. Also auminium burns off only where there are multiple dis&connections underpower.. imagine that on trafo screw terminals? And to be honest half of my house is wired with old alu wires. Rarely causes a problem. Edit: newer had a problem with rust and alu myself.. maybe because i have screw contacts from copper?

[@lwilton]

Minor nit pick - whether the stuff over your head is Al or Cu depends on things like how far out in the sticks you are. Most all of the lines around here have been upgraded to larger Al conductors over the years, but I can still find a few places with 21KV hard copper wire overhead.

[@imienazwisko6449]

@@lwilton around my area it's only used for train traction. Although DNV KEMA have developed a new type of copperalloy cable meant for more dense populated areas that might periodically generate large amounts of (renewable) power

[@MrCarlos10965]

Electric Tester made by Fisher Price Toys

[@jamesrobinson9494]

I don't think bailey did that to that insolation I will bet he chaste that critter off

[@bcbloc02]

I have photographic proof of Baily laying in it!!

[@jamesrobinson9494]

like I have never hared of photoshop

[@duramaxmak]

Most cnc Equipment is low voltage three phase most the time most shops have 480 and generally have to have a step down transformer. 480 is more economical

[@bcbloc02]

Probably depends on the size of the machine. Most of the stuff I see in my size class is HV.

[@BrianCoville]

I don't like electricity watching his videos making me nervous 480 it's getting pretty serious if something goes wrong not going to be a little tickle lol

[@bcbloc02]

Don't touch things that are "live" if you want to stay that way. :-)

[@imienazwisko6449]

Don't worry as long as you're not touching anything thats grounded you're safe. Even when you hold 6kV in your hand. If you want to be safe you can get yourself insulating gloves and (over) boots. P.S. greetings from europe

[@magnepolden3344]

When seeing this, I feel sorry for you americans, who struggle with phase converters as big as this transformer. Here in europe one would not be allowed to wire up such thing unless one has 3 phase from the grid. But I think it would be wise of u to get a distribution panel for 480 volts wired to the transformer, and wire each of those machines to the panel with fuses of reasonable siezes. And I think the panel should be big enough to handle a transformer twice as big as this, then there are no need to change it when the transformer are changed for a bigger one.

[@bcbloc02]

I may not have shown it but I already have a 225 amp 480V load center with magnetic breakers.

[@LesNewell]

It's got nothing to do with being American. It's more about living in the countryside. If Brian was willing to pay a lot of money to have the cables put in he could have 3-phase power. I have the same problem here in the UK. I only have a 100A 240V single phase supply. Getting 3 phase brought in would cost tens of thousands of pounds so I just use a generator when I need 3 phase power for the machines that can't be converted to single. There are no laws in the EU to stop you using phase converters to run machines. I have seen plenty of workshops doing it.

[@bcbloc02]

Only $100,000 dollars to get the extra power lines run, anybody want to pitch in? lol

[@petepeeff5807]

It's a sad commentary of where we have come to as an "industrialized country" that the power companies encourage customers not to use their product .I can't think of any other buissnes that functions this way. The depression era generation was geratful for rural electrification. The environmental movement does everything​ to discourage competitiveness in this country. People wonder why their buying power grows smaller and smaller.

[@bcbloc02]

I can understand them not wanting to run the lines, I would be the only customer for it and I am on a dead end so they wouldn't ever feed anything else.