Wiring method for battery chargers 180ft from panel,

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markebenson

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I need to run power to 8 individual battery chargers indoors. Please advise most efficient way.


Power requirements each charger: 110v 13a

Length from panel to destination: 180ft

Panel: 208v 3 ph wye
 
(these are helpful)
Does the manufacturer specify individual circuits for each charger?
Are they all going to operate at once?
What's the actual load and does it taper off into the charge cycle.

(this is essential)
What wiring methods are permitted (or prohibited) for their location?

Assuming 9 chargers, that's 39 amp per leg of a 3-phase system when they're fully-loaded. You could run a 50amp feeder* out to a sub panel and break it out to individual 20amp circuits there. Whether you use EMT, rigid conduit, MC, etc are left to the conditions of the location(s) and what you can get.

*you'll have to figure the voltage drop to get the wire size
 
1. Indiviual or shared circuits ok. Would rather plug in to edisons than hard wire though for service reasons.
2. Will be operating all at one.
3. 13a is max load. Would of course taper as battery charges.
4. Commercial building nothing out of the ordinary prohibited.

Thank you for your suggestion of the sub panel. I think 70a x3 might be better for expansion purposes.
 
what's the PF of the chargers?
3 ckt's seems logical way to ensure best possible load balancing on the wye. perhaps put outlets as A-B-C-A-B-C-A-B so that if batts are swapped or charged in groups the load is spread across the wye.
 
I agree with the sub-panel method. Running a single large 3ph feeder will create lower voltage drop as compared to small individual or multi-wire circuits, will likely be more economical to install, and certainly easier and cheaper for future additions.
 
LarryFine said:
I agree with the sub-panel method. Running a single large 3ph feeder will create lower voltage drop as compared to small individual or multi-wire circuits, will likely be more economical to install, and certainly easier and cheaper for future additions.
Click to expand...


Sub panel it is. Please check my work:

3 phase panel - 60a Main

Using 5% voltage drop being that the edisons for the battery chargers will be right next to the panel.

4awg copper thhn - 180ft run
 
markebenson said:
Sub panel it is. Please check my work:

3 phase panel - 60a Main

Using 5% voltage drop being that the edisons for the battery chargers will be right next to the panel.

4awg copper thhn - 180ft run
Click to expand...
60a ?
isnt the load 8x13 ??
 
zbang said:
That would be for a single phase feed; use (8/3 x 13) for 3-phase but really think of it as (9/3 x 13) for the per-phase draw.
Click to expand...

how are you getting amps @120v 3ph ??
 
Craigv said:
Yes, it is a total load of 104 amps *single phase*. The load can be divided among the phases. Where is the problem?
Click to expand...

3ph 120v/ph wye, what does the N look like?
 
Using a 50A feeder and 39A balanced loading, I get 6AWG Cu required conductor size assuming 60C terminations, and a voltage drop of 2.9% assuming balanced loading (no drop on neutral),

Using a 70A feeder and 52A balanced loading (future expansion) I get 4AWG Cu and a voltage drop of 2.4%.

-Jon
 
gadfly56 said:
It's 208/120, dude.
Click to expand...
FionaZuppa seems to know this, as "120v/ph" would seem to mean '120 volts per phase' which is what 208y should have. There seems to be a concern about using a 60 amp load center for what amounts to no more than 39 amps per phase. But a day has passed with no actual statement of what FionaZuppa is concerned with.
 
Craigv said:
FionaZuppa seems to know this, as "120v/ph" would seem to mean '120 volts per phase' which is what 208y should have. There seems to be a concern about using a 60 amp load center for what amounts to no more than 39 amps per phase. But a day has passed with no actual statement of what FionaZuppa is concerned with.
Click to expand...

sorry, been busy ;)

its a 5wire (4+egc) 208y sub, yes? w/ 39a per ph what size N do you use?
 
My take. Put a 100 Amp panel out by the chargers. Feed it with #3. No VD problem and plenty of room to grow. if you want to save money see what #1 Al feeder conductors do for you.
 
jumper said:
You use 220.61 to determine neutral size.

For a small panel with possible times that the neutral load could be equal to the full load on one phase, a full sized conductor would be my choice.
Click to expand...

When all 3 phases are running equal max load, say 39A each, does that mean you only have 39A on the neutral, or is it more or less than 39A ?
 
FionaZuppa said:
When all 3 phases are running equal max load, say 39A each, does that mean you only have 39A on the neutral, or is it more or less than 39A ?
Click to expand...

If all three phases are equal, neutral load is ~ 0A.

Maximum imbalance, two phases are 0A and one phase is 39A, neutral is 39A.

ry%3D400
 
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