pcdoc2001
New User
- Location
- Bethpage, TN
- Occupation
- Auto Technician
Hello, I am an electronic technician and automotive technician but I have some struggles with my building current which is 208/230 volt 200 amp service utilizing a "wild leg" on my B pole. (measuring from line 1 to any other leg is 240 volts, the same goes from line 2 or 3 to any other line. Measuring line 2 to neutral is 208 volts.) Again, in automotive electronics most of my a/c voltage is measured in millivolts so I apologize in advance if my terminology isn't correct and i have no wishes to put up a "potato" post.
I have a large air compressor for my little shop that uses a 25 hp 3 phase motor which is labeled 60 amp. It is equipped with a Allen Bradley Starter MEMA Size 2 509-COD Contactor. When I purchased the unit it was wired for 480v 3 phase. I changed the wiring in the entrance box, ( I know there's another name for that frustrating little box that my 12 wire compressor uses), and I changed the 480 volt starter coil to a genuine Allen-Bradley 240 volt starter coil.
I wired it all up, said a small prayer, and the unit ran great for 6 moths never getting very hot and running great. Then my starter coil died. I gave it a small funeral and replaced it with another 240 volt Allen-Bradley coil. I purchased another coil of the exact same part number and it has also lasted 6 moths. The power company, through regular maintenance, has recently replaced all of the service wires literally from the power plant to my shop. They also ran a new service wire to my meter. I told them of the issues that I had with my compressor and they checked the service with their equipment and said that it was working properly. They also checked my wiring in the building and offered me a job. Saying that everything looked perfect.
In trying to figure out why I was having issues with the starter coil, I researched Google, (we all know how reliable google is), and google AI states that on 230/208 3 phase that I should use a 208 volt starter coil. This makes no sense to me because I measure 230 volts line to line in my service panel and at the compressor. I am using #6 AWG fine copper wire at a distance of 19 feet, so I shouldn't have much of a voltage drop.
I know that this post is rather long-winded but I wanted to give as much detail as I know in order to ask properly.
I have a large air compressor for my little shop that uses a 25 hp 3 phase motor which is labeled 60 amp. It is equipped with a Allen Bradley Starter MEMA Size 2 509-COD Contactor. When I purchased the unit it was wired for 480v 3 phase. I changed the wiring in the entrance box, ( I know there's another name for that frustrating little box that my 12 wire compressor uses), and I changed the 480 volt starter coil to a genuine Allen-Bradley 240 volt starter coil.
I wired it all up, said a small prayer, and the unit ran great for 6 moths never getting very hot and running great. Then my starter coil died. I gave it a small funeral and replaced it with another 240 volt Allen-Bradley coil. I purchased another coil of the exact same part number and it has also lasted 6 moths. The power company, through regular maintenance, has recently replaced all of the service wires literally from the power plant to my shop. They also ran a new service wire to my meter. I told them of the issues that I had with my compressor and they checked the service with their equipment and said that it was working properly. They also checked my wiring in the building and offered me a job. Saying that everything looked perfect.
In trying to figure out why I was having issues with the starter coil, I researched Google, (we all know how reliable google is), and google AI states that on 230/208 3 phase that I should use a 208 volt starter coil. This makes no sense to me because I measure 230 volts line to line in my service panel and at the compressor. I am using #6 AWG fine copper wire at a distance of 19 feet, so I shouldn't have much of a voltage drop.
I know that this post is rather long-winded but I wanted to give as much detail as I know in order to ask properly.
