480 volt question

[Bob49]

We are looking at a new piece of equipment for our small shop. It needs 3 phase 480 volts 20 amps. The service now is 240 volt 3 phase. Before moving on with this purchase, we are looking for professional advice before having any work done. Would a transformer work for this ? Thanks for any help.

 

[charlie b]

I would say that your two top choices are, in reverse order, (2) Providing a step up transformer from 240 to 480 and including an overcurrent device between it and the equipment, and (1) Trying to find a piece of equipment that will do the job you need to have done and that will operate at the voltage you presently have available.

 

[ggunn]

We are looking at a new piece of equipment for our small shop. It needs 3 phase 480 volts 20 amps. The service now is 240 volt 3 phase. Before moving on with this purchase, we are looking for professional advice before having any work done. Would a converter work for this ? Thanks for any help.

You could get a transformer that does that, just be aware that the 20A load at 480V will draw 40A (roughly) at 240V.

 

[Bob49]

I would say that your two top choices are, in reverse order, (2) Providing a step up transformer from 240 to 480 and including an overcurrent device between it and the equipment, and (1) Trying to find a piece of equipment that will do the job you need to have done and that will operate at the voltage you presently have available.

Thank you

 

[Bob49]

You could get a transformer that does that, just be aware that the 20A load at 480V will draw 40A (roughly) at 240V.

Thank you

 

[MAC702]

Make certain the equipment doesn't have the ability for multiple voltages first. You might get lucky.

 

[GoldDigger]

We are looking at a new piece of equipment for our small shop. It needs 3 phase 480 volts 20 amps. The service now is 240 volt 3 phase. Before moving on with this purchase, we are looking for professional advice before having any work done. Would a converter work for this ? Thanks for any help.

A (phase) converter (either rotary or static) would normally be used when you have single phase service and three phase equipment. You are fortunate enough not to have that problem.
And, if you happened to need speed control, most VFDs will not step up the output voltage by a factor of two, although that can be used for single phase to three phase conversion.

A transformer can indeed change voltage between input and output, but is not normally thought of as a converter.

 

[Bob49]

Make certain the equipment doesn't have the ability for multiple voltages first. You might get lucky.

Thank you

 

[Bob49]

A (phase) converter (either rotary or static) would normally be used when you have single phase service and three phase equipment. You are fortunate enough not to have that problem.
And, if you happened to need speed control, most VFDs will not step up the output voltage by a factor of two, although that can be used for single phase to three phase conversion.

A transformer can indeed change voltage between input and output, but is not normally thought of as a converter.

Thank you