Shop Electricity Question

[gafftaper]

Hi,
I just found out my shop is going to be wired for 208V 3 phase power. However the vast majority of Delta and Jet larger tools run 230V 1 phase power.

I spoke to an electrician and he said that it's just a simple rewiring job to bring the outlet down to 1 phase. He figured that the saw would be just fine running on 208V instead of 230V.

I'm not an electricity expert. Does that sound right? Does it sound like something that it's better to avoid change orders with the building contractor and just hire an electrician to rewire an outlet later? Or should I fight to get them all changed to 230V 1 phase now, even if it costs a lot more?

Opinions...

[Grog12]

Ooof....that's opinion #1
Opinion #2 is I'd want to spend the cash now to get it done right the first time. Electrically speaking (and I'm not the biggest phase expert) something sounds a little shakey in the info you've been given. Sure its simple to get 1 phase at the outlets...but me I'd want it to be the full on 230v with power tools. I don't like shortchanging non dimmable motors, arc lamps, and computers that much.

Stolen from wikipedia "Three phase systems may or may not have a neutral wire. A neutral wire allows the three phase system to use a higher voltage while still supporting lower voltage single phase appliances."

Random questions:

1) Why did you choose to be specced for 3-phase is the first place?
2) Do you forsee renting out your space?
3) What about film?

[Van]

Errrrr. If the saw you get is capable of being run from 208 your fine. However, it's not "simple" to get 230v out of a 208 system. You can get 110v easy, just use a hot and the neutral. 208 and 230 require completely different phase taps off of the transformer. You can turn 220/230 into 208, effectively, by using a "rotophaser" but I don't know of anything other than setting up another transformer in the shop that will allow you to get 230/220 out of 208.

[Grog12]

Originally Posted by Van

Errrrr. If the saw you get is capable of being run from 208 your fine. However, it's not "simple" to get 230v out of a 208 system. You can get 110v easy, just use a hot and the neutral. 208 and 230 require completely different phase taps off of the transformer. You can turn 220/230 into 208, effectively, by using a "rotophaser" but I don't know of anything other than setting up another transformer in the shop that will allow you to get 230/220 out of 208.

This is why I like Van...he assures me I'm not completly crazy and words my incoherent ramblings into managible sentences.

[Footer]

I would get them to put in at least one 30 amp or more 3 phase tap in for automation. You might now need it now, but somewhere down the line it will come in handy. Testing things before the go into the space is always a good thing.

[gafftaper]

Originally Posted by Footer4321

I would get them to put in at least one 30 amp or more 3 phase tap in for automation. You might now need it now, but somewhere down the line it will come in handy. Testing things before the go into the space is always a good thing.

Ohh good idea.

[SHARYNF]

It usually means that there will be a three phase 208 panel in your shop and that you will have the option of 110 volt outlets, 208 outlets and three phase 208. IF you equipment is set up to run 208 you will be fine. Most equipment is.

TYPICALLY you might find some three Phase 240 items with large motors but USUALLY this is not on your shop type equipment, might be on a milling machine, in a metal shop.

In industrial settings instead of three phase wye you would have delta or corner delta, but this is not the usual in you type of setup

Sharyn

[Van]

Originally Posted by SHARYNF

It usually means that there will be a three phase 208 panel in your shop and that you will have the option of 110 volt outlets, 208 outlets and three phase 208. IF you equipment is set up to run 208 you will be fine. Most equipment is.

TYPICALLY you might find some three Phase 240 items with large motors but USUALLY this is not on your shop type equipment, might be on a milling machine, in a metal shop.

In industrial settings instead of three phase wye you would have delta or corner delta, but this is not the usual in you type of setup

Sharyn

I gotta disagree, sorry. MOST shop tools are setup to operate on 220v or 110v. A 208 tablesaw is a very rare thing outside of an "Industrial" setting. The tools Gaff has outlined in most of his posts here are going to be 110 or 220v.

[Footer]

Originally Posted by Van

I gotta disagree, sorry. MOST shop tools are setup to operate on 220v or 110v. A 208 tablesaw is a very rare thing outside of an "Industrial" setting. The tools Gaff has outlined in most of his posts here are going to be 110 or 220v.

As well as any welder you are running. Coming from someone that has spent the last 10 weeks with a 110v welder, get the 220 put in.

[gafftaper]

I've found a Delta Tablesaw that runs at 200V 3 phase so I'm ok with my main shop centerpiece. I've got messages out to several manufacturers to see if their 220V/1ph bandsaws will run at 208V 1ph. I've had one electrician and the head of campus facilities tell me it shouldn't be a problem running 220V/1ph equipment on 208V/1ph... but I'm a little skeptical about that. I suppose when you are talking about a bandsaw your aren't exactly talking sophisticated electronics so the motor would just be slightly under powered and run a little slower.

I'm told the whole campus is wired 208/3ph so it's a major deal to get me true 220... not sure how true that is.