We have a 120/240V single phase transformer to serve an educational trailer which moves from school to school. We leave tails in a box for connection by the contractor bringing in the trailer to our school. We find out that the trailer requires 120/208V. Can we use a buck/boost transformer to change the 240V to 208 and just use the neutral from the 120/240V transformer to get 120/208 to the trailer? Or will we get 104/208? The trailer is not at this particular school yet, construction just finishing. I do not want a low voltage problem with the lighting, receptacles, etc. in the trailer.
Buck/Boost transformers
- Thread starter PeteHJ
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- Placerville, CA, USA
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- Retired PV System Designer
The first step is to be sure what the trailer actually needs. A full 120/208 (208Y/120) supply would be three phase. If the trailer has motors or other equipment that requires three phase then no transformer is going to help you.
On the other hand if the trailer expects only two of the three phases (120/208 three wire), then it will probably work just as well on 120/240 single phase three wire without a buck transformer.
On the other hand if the trailer expects only two of the three phases (120/208 three wire), then it will probably work just as well on 120/240 single phase three wire without a buck transformer.
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
Problem I see is not every site necessarily will have the system you are looking for. Most will have 120 volts, but it may come from either 208/120 wye or 120/240 single phase so the 120 part is probably not much issue, but 208/240 can be depending on equipment served. If the 208/240 volt load is HVAC equipment - it likely works on either.
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