hooking up Chinese machine

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electrofelon

electrofelon

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Cherry Valley NY, Seattle, WA
This machine is an autoclave. It is three phase. Think I can run this on 208? Although the dataplate says 50 hz, the (horrible) manual says "50/60 hz." Nice color coding scheme too: any guesses as to what is what? This isnt a very big deal as I can figure out which is the EGC by opening the thing up.
 

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The yellow green ought to be the earth/ground.
If it is heating, which it may be for an autoclave, frequency doesn't matter. And the lower voltage eill make heating time longer.
 
I looked up 220V 3 phase autoclave and found this instruction book:

http://www.mfii.com/wp-content/uploads/pdfs/STM-E-EL-EX-ELX-spec.pdf

Nameplate shows export models with 220V and 240V settings.

If it's just heat I'd think it would run fine on 208V with the normal caveats of running at reduced power/heating ability. If not boosting 208 nominal to 220-240V is not hard (not free either, just sayin'...)

As Besoeker wrote, yellow/green is earth (ground). Overseas the grounding conductor is green with yellow stripe afaik.

eta: that autoclave had this too:

"Unit must be grounded. Main supply voltage fluctuations are not to
exceel ± 10% nominal supply voltage"

If designed for 220, then 208 3ph or 240 3ph should work ok provided they are at their nominal voltages and not less than 198V or more than 242V.

eta: you have this model?

http://cima-medical.com/wp-content/...control-area/MOST-T Series S- Class Steam.pdf

If so it does say power supply 220V 50/60Hz. Since it is probably made for export running it on 60Hz should be ok.
 
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LOL! :lol: But thats China :rant:


If they are indeed following their own standards correctly green/yellow is the EGC. Red, Green and Yellow are your phase colors. But double check just in case.
 
Hmmm. If it's an autoclave, then it's supposed to be sterilizing stuff by heating water to make steam. If running it at 208 volts makes less heat, then is it actually sterilizing like it's supposed to? :eek: Plus if it's made in China, it's credentials are already a little shaky. :eek::eek::eek: I think I will avoid having any procedures done wherever you are installing that. :sick::sick::sick:
 
Coppersmith said:
Hmmm. If it's an autoclave, then it's supposed to be sterilizing stuff by heating water to make steam. If running it at 208 volts makes less heat, then is it actually sterilizing like it's supposed to? :eek: Plus if it's made in China, it's credentials are already a little shaky. :eek::eek::eek: I think I will avoid having any procedures done wherever you are installing that. :sick::sick::sick:
Click to expand...

It will just take a bit longer to cycle thru. The voltage on those machines is 220 +/- 10%, so 208 or 240V will work.
 
Coppersmith said:
Hmmm. If it's an autoclave, then it's supposed to be sterilizing stuff by heating water to make steam. If running it at 208 volts makes less heat, then is it actually sterilizing like it's supposed to? :eek: Plus if it's made in China, it's credentials are already a little shaky. :eek::eek::eek: I think I will avoid having any procedures done wherever you are installing that. :sick::sick::sick:
Click to expand...

If the heat losses through the walls of the autoclave are so high that it cannot reach operating temperature with the heat input at 208V then it would be taking an impossibly long time to get up to temp at 230V.
Usually the heater stays on until the pressure reaches the target level (including heating up the mass of all that is inside plus the water to make steam) and then it cycles on and off to maintain temperature (pressure.)

So it will almost certainly reach operating pressure slower, but once the timer starts, the length of time to complete the sterilization will in fact be unchanged.

If it counts the cycle time from turn-on, then it is an incredibly bad and unsafe design, so I will give them the benefit of the doubt.
 
electrofelon said:
This machine is an autoclave. It is three phase. Think I can run this on 208? Although the dataplate says 50 hz, the (horrible) manual says "50/60 hz." Nice color coding scheme too: any guesses as to what is what? This isnt a very big deal as I can figure out which is the EGC by opening the thing up.
Click to expand...

yeppers... that harbor freight medical equipment
is a tremendous value.
 
Heard back from the person at the lab. I had asked for confirmation. If they never found out anything I was just going to hook it up - waiting for the L21-30 plug anyway Said she talked to someone who said 208 60hz is fine, and green/yellow is egc. Looks like I'm good and my butt is covered.
 
electrofelon said:
Heard back from the person at the lab. I had asked for confirmation. If they never found out anything I was just going to hook it up - waiting for the L21-30 plug anyway Said she talked to someone who said 208 60hz is fine, and green/yellow is egc. Looks like I'm good and my butt is covered.
Click to expand...

FWIW test the EGC for continuity to be 100% sure. Yes that is the standard, but sometimes China goofs even their own. That and I've heard of some Chinese products not having the EGC attached even though one is provided.
 
electrofelon said:
Heard back from the person at the lab. I had asked for confirmation. If they never found out anything I was just going to hook it up - waiting for the L21-30 plug anyway Said she talked to someone who said 208 60hz is fine, and green/yellow is egc. Looks like I'm good and my butt is covered.
Click to expand...

Oooh, 5 prong 208V 3ph with neutral and ground plug... dont run into those everyday.
 
mbrooke said:
Wait, does this machine really need a noodle? :huh:
Click to expand...

No it doesnt, thanks guys for ruining my day making me realize I got the wrong plug :rant:

the existing recep is an L-21, that's where I got that from. I guess I'll just put the L-21 on it and make the next guy pull a neutral in the new circuit when they move the machine to a new spot :lol:
 
electrofelon said:
No it doesnt, thanks guys for ruining my day making me realize I got the wrong plug :rant:

the existing recep is an L-21, that's where I got that from. I guess I'll just put the L-21 on it and make the next guy pull a neutral in the new circuit when they move the machine to a new spot :lol:
Click to expand...

And there's just ~22 hours, ~1300 minutes or just 78,000 seconds left to dwell on it. :D:lol:

Look at is this way: by getting just one L21, you saved them money on labor for a plug and rewiring/replacing the receptacle.... or shorted yourself profit. :p
 
electrofelon said:
No it doesnt, thanks guys for ruining my day making me realize I got the wrong plug :rant:

the existing recep is an L-21, that's where I got that from. I guess I'll just put the L-21 on it and make the next guy pull a neutral in the new circuit when they move the machine to a new spot :lol:
Click to expand...


No hard feelings, we do this because we care :hug::p But hey, that works to :thumbsup:
 
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