... I went into work today and tested my socoapex breakouts.
Circuit 1-x, 2-y, 3-y, 4-z, 5-z, 6-x. So I do get 2 of each
leg in all of my breakouts. ...
There is no way that every single breakout has that exact configuration in how the phases
line up. ...
One would hope all the breakouts are wired according to industry standard:
http://www.tmb.com/images/stories/6-circuitpinout-ltr.pdf .
Now IF (big if) the female
socapex outlets (
dimmer outputs) are wired starting as mult
circuit#1 is
dimmer#2 [or 8, or 14, or 2+(x*6)], then phasing would indeed be "1-x, 2-y, 3-y, 4-z, 5-z, 6-x."
But it's more likely each
soca outlet begins with: 1, 7, 13, 19 ... 1+(x*6), in which case the phasing would be 123456=XXYYZZ.
Which brings up a, very real, potential issue with the proposed scheme: if the outlets are not all wired the same, or start with the same
phase dimmers, or a
multi-cable has crossed wires, or a
break-out has a hot-neutral reverse; any of seemingly minor errors will cause the
system to be: inoperable at best, unsafe at worst.
... and
build two
circuit breaker boxes with two male socoapex connectors going in and one female going out. With 6 15 amp double pole breakers in the middle. I plan on hanging it right on the pipe that the movers are on. This is the cheapest and code friendly idea I have come up with so far to get 208v.
Will this "box" be designed, assembled, and tested by a
UL Listed 1640 assembler? How does the
theatre's insurance
carrier feel about the use of a "homemade" piece of electrical distribution equipment?
... This is the cheapest and code friendly idea I have come up with so far to get 208v. I am interested in what everybody thinks. Thank you.
Cheapest = no.
Code friendly = no.
If you insist in not using a dedicated ML PD (the consensus here), consider this
listed, by NRTL device:
Quick 220 Systems: Model A220-20L <br />20 Amp Power Supply <br />Twist Locking Outlet as discussed in here:
http://www.controlbooth.com/forums/lighting-electrics/19720-115-volt-ac-220-volt-ac.html#post179043 . The specs don't mention it working with 120/208V
bi-phase, so I would inquire before
purchase. I don't see why it wouldn't. I also don't see why anyone would want to introduce such a
point of potential failure into his
system, but there you go.
EDIT: Response from the manufacturer:
Thank you for asking about Quick 220 systems. In answer to your question, the Quick 220 can be used on the two 120V circuits of a 3 phase Wye system. As you indicated, the output voltage is then 208 volts, nominal. Although we don't emphasize 3 phase power as a source, it is covered on the specification section of the product page: http://www.quick220.com/-A220-20L.html . Although the output with 3 phase is 208 volts, nominal, we give the range of "187 to 216 Volts AC (1.732 times input voltage)” which reflects the output if the input varies from 120 volts.
-----
... and some oversized
feeder for a grand:
50' Feeder Cable
From the listing:
50'
Feeder Cable with Cam-Locks. Red Blue & Black are 4/0 cable. White and Green are 2/0 cable.
1. Don't buy from a vendor who can't spell
cam-lok.
2. We've discussed previously code compliability of using a smaller
ground, but I don't think we've ever discussed an under-sized
neutral.
3. For this particular application (feeding a 200A
distro), a 2/0
neutral is acceptable. Even more so when one considers that the
neutral isn't even connected to the outputs (except for the "(1)
NEMA 5-20, 20 Amp, 2 Pole, 3
Wire, 120 VAC, duplex
receptacle"
convenience outlet on the LEX pagoda box). But this assembly wouldn't be permitted to supply a
dimmer rack.
4. We've also discussed previously the
derating required when 4/0
feeder is
bundled.
.