Crkt. & Recpt. for show cattle blow dryer

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Okie Sparky

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Looked at a job today, customer wants electrical sys. (lights & recpt.s) in a show cattle barn. Some of these recpt.s are to supply power for blow dryers. Name plate on the blow dryers is as follows: 115 volts, 19 amps, 60 cycles.
These blow dryers are portable, with a SJTOW 3-12 cord & 15A/125V factory installed cord end. This equipment should be considered a continuous load. Table 210.21(B)(2) does not allow loads over 16A on a 20A crkt. or recpt. Table 210.21(B)(3) does not allow a 15A or 20A recpt. on a 30A crkt. The customer takes these blow dryers with him to stock shows, I could change out the cord end to a 30A cord end, but he probably won't be able to find a 30A/125V recpt. at a stock show. Also shouldn't the recpt. that these blow dryers plug into be GFCI-protected (either GFCI breaker or GFCI recpt.)? The floor in this barn is dirt. Any ideas or suggestions?
 
Okie Sparky said:
Looked at a job today, customer wants electrical sys. (lights & recpt.s) in a show cattle barn. Some of these recpt.s are to supply power for blow dryers. Name plate on the blow dryers is as follows: 115 volts, 19 amps, 60 cycles.
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For receptacles to power these blow dryers I would run 20 Amp dedicated GFCI protected circuits. I would not change a factory installed plug. If it only draws 19 Amps everything should be fine. It's legal to load a 20 amp circuit to a full 20 amps and still be safe.
 
ahh we are not talking apples and oranges here..we are talking dedicated 20 amp circuits..the dryer is a factory assembled unit made to plug into any recepticle..The change I see here would be to up size your wire for more efficient operation for owner..not try and modify the factory unit he has purchased..he uses it other places and does not have issues..so ask your self if you think the heating element runs continuously or just the blower..the heating element probably cycles on and off it is a portable drying machine and probably produces a predetermined amount of heat and is measure in the heating chamber..If you posted more on the dryer unit we would have more to work with..
 
zbang said:
Maybe, but don't expect the breaker to hold up for long. (And what happened to the 125% rule in 210.19?)
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210.19 is for branch circuit conductor size ( wire ). The smallest conductor that can be used for a 20 Amp. receptacle is #12 copper. It is rated at 25 Amps.

This dryer thing came from the factory with a 15 or 20 amp plug on it and that is going to be the biggest circuit that it can be plugged into. ( breaker size ). I would guess it comes with a UL sticker on it and is not to be modified.

If he wants to use bigger wire to reduce voltage drop that's good but not required.
 
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cschmid said:
..If you posted more on the dryer unit we would have more to work with..
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The name of the blow dryer is: Sullivan's Air Express III blow dryer. Don't think there was much else on the name plate. Googled the name to see if I could find a spec. sheet on it somewhere, but could not. Farthest blow dryer recpt. from panel is approx. 85' -90'. Didn't want to modify the factory installed cord end, but not sure how long a 15A cord end will carry 19A. It must be like some one mentioned, that the heater cycles.
 
this is what I found on the dryer..I would have no problem wiring these with just regular 20amp circuits..I might up size the circuits due to heating equipment causes the conductors to heat and the larger wire would disipate the heat faster and handle it longer..since you might have more than one running at a time and you probabully shared conduits..I beleive this is going to get used more than once a year..the machine looks nice might have to check it out for grand kids for 4-H

http://www.groomstar.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=389



Detailed Description
More Features - More Power - More Value! Heavy duty industrial switches for extended life. New rocker style switch for the Heat Booster. The only blower with a supplemental heater: The Heat Booster increases air temperature up to 10% to dry animal faster. New 15 foot long hose is smooth on the inside for better efficiency and more air power. New "W" shaped leg structure is welded at six points for added strength and durability. The Air Express III is equipped with the most powerful, high efficient motors available. Cartridge filter slides into rear end cap for complete protection. No more broken filters! Available in Red, Blue, Forest Green, Yellow, Purple, Black, Orange and Silver
 
Okie Sparky said:
Didn't want to modify the factory installed cord end, but not sure how long a 15A cord end will carry 19A. It must be like some one mentioned, that the heater cycles.
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A 15 Amp plug will last just fine with a current draw of 19 Amp. The only problem they will have is if they operate the equipment on a 15 Amp circuit then sooner or later the breaker will trip.

As electricians or contractors our job is to install building wiring systems in a code compliant manner. If there are any design flaws in a certain piece of equipment that problem should be solved by the manufacturer that built the equipment in the first place ( it's called a product recall ).

If it's a cord and plug piece of equipment then it's not our problem. That's what lawyers and courts are for.
 
There has GOT to be a "Far Side" cartoon in here somewhere.

Three cows sitting in front of a lighted mirror in their dressing room.
.... 'Marge, how do you hold that thing with no fingers?'

Now the lights by the mirror - That would probably be a continuous load.
db
 
barclayd said:
There has GOT to be a "Far Side" cartoon in here somewhere.

Three cows sitting in front of a lighted mirror in their dressing room.
.... 'Marge, how do you hold that thing with no fingers?'

Now the lights by the mirror - That would probably be a continuous load.
db
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LMAO :grin:

growler said:
I was thinking the same thing. My idea of the perfect bovine blow dryer is a gas grill. :grin: :grin:
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You are my kind of guy..big ole thick slab of moo cow on the barbie with some brew makes for a nice end of day event..:grin:
 
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