Gigantic 3ph extractor

[Screwdriver]

Ok the plastic flexible conduit terminated at the top of the start delta, that open fitting will allow the box to get filled with dust unless opened regularly to clear. Even with the correct glands in this type of environment its a constant maintenance battel to regularly keep switchgear boxes clear. I have opened boxes like that in the past to find them half full of dust and contactors failing to close when energised.

I don't post what I can not back up with fact.
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Extraction at a customers site I supported until I dismantled and packaged for export.
No wase bags straight into a 40foot trailer via transfer fan.
Now over 20 years in wood-related production manufacturing and 40 years in UK manufacturing I don't play at this for fun.

That feature has already been discussed, I flagged it with the owner. I haven’t opened the control box up yet to see what that flying lead is. Clearly someone has modified this item from the original configuration. I am already in discussion with the manufacturer to address that specific issue. Thanks for pointing it out and I will make sure it is properly addressed.

All I have done so far is ask him what he’d like me to do and wheel the forklift truck in to the same space as a light snack for me to get my teeth into in between jobs. Assuming this thread isn’t locked, I should have a lot more info tomorrow.

I don’t doubt you have experience or even expertise in the subject. I take people at face value but I don’t see how those pictures help me in this circumstance or how that constitutes “a long and helpful technical post”.

 

[mtt.tr]

I know a number of old boys who set up their extractors. Id say only 1 worked properly thats from the guy at the machine not the boss

 

[WorkshopChris]

All I am seeing is negativity and people claiming they can see the “obvious problems” but dare not reveal them or presumably the Masons lodge will kick them out.

Should I lie and tell him I am not a qualified engineer?

You need to tell the guy if he is employing people you can not help directly as you have no experience in this situation but you are willing to help him try and find the right people who can help him lead his business in the right direction. I genuinely had helped to offer to the guy but your reply before I got to the second page of this stopped me. I am still willing to help this guy out, but you need to be honest with him, so he is aware of limitations. I don't have qualifications for half of what I do but for anything I do for a paying job I know I could stand up in court and hold my own, If i cant all I will do is point them in the direction of someone who can it's as simple as that.

I don’t doubt you have experience or even expertise in the subject. I take people at face value but I don’t see how those pictures help me in this circumstance or how that constitutes “a long and helpful technical post”.

I got the distinct feeling you were suggesting I was just another keyboard warrior.
My first post is long gone I am not going to re-type that lot.

 

[roofman]

Remember Steve Richard Branson can not fly big jet liners but he makes a good living paying other people to do it for him...I hear the concerns of others over safe work etc but it does not stop you delegating and still making a few quid. Wish i had done more delegating and i might of been able to crawl out of bed in under 10 mins these days because of worn out knees

 

[cheb]

It might also be worth noting that Branson started the Virgin empire from a phone box. He signed Mike Oldfield and got Tubular Bells. To order it you had to phone a number between stated times, that's when Branson was in the call box.


At least that's what he'd have us believe. Anyway, chutzpah gets you places.

 

[mtt.tr]

It might also be worth noting that Branson started the Virgin empire from a phone box. He signed Mike Oldfield and got Tubular Bells. To order it you had to phone a number between stated times, that's when Branson was in the call box.


At least that's what he'd have us believe. Anyway, chutzpah gets you places.

I agree, but normally requires independence, not expecting a forum to hold ones hand.

 

[Parm]

Now let me play Devils Advocate.
In X years time Fred has lung issues. His Ambulance chaser will have a root around at many things one being his employers extraction systems. He will ask for
Design spec.
Commissioning Documents
Maintenance records
Test records
It has also been known for them to look at the people maintaining it.
Installing it and all sorts of other bits.
The above will all be a Civil action so the Company are innocent until the solicitor can prove other wise, but if the HSE get involved the company will be guilty until they can prove they are not.

Before the ambulance chaser, someone like me will be involved to investigate the occupational asthma riddor, or one of my colleagues to do a fire and explosion investigation

Ambulance chasers usually wait for our prosecution, it saves em a lot of time and money

I’m in the middle of prosecuting a consultant because his expertise was gained on the internet. His rubbish advice has resulted in two young men being permanently disabled

I interviewed him under caution with the tape recorder running. After 2 hours of his BS, I showed him him stuff and he was singing like a canary and made full admission. Then I served him a prohibition notice which shut down his business

His trial is in June, it’s a slam dunk

 

[Screwdriver]

You need to tell the guy if he is employing people you can not help directly as you have no experience in this situation but you are willing to help him try and find the right people who can help him lead his business in the right direction. I genuinely had helped to offer to the guy but your reply before I got to the second page of this stopped me. I am still willing to help this guy out, but you need to be honest with him, so he is aware of limitations. I don't have qualifications for half of what I do but for anything I do for a paying job I know I could stand up in court and hold my own, If i cant all I will do is point them in the direction of someone who can it's as simple as that.

I already did that with the forklift for example. Pointed him at the right people, gave him a copy of the relevant section of the manual (a very kind chap from here sent me), I even narrowed it down to a suspicious item in the binnacle (suspiciously new). But they couldn’t/wouldn’t fix it so it’s come back to me.

he knows me because I pop into the bike shop next door all the time to do odd jobs and they recommended me to him. He’s been to my house, had a tour of my workshop so knows what he’s getting. I also told him no fix no fee (that’s how I roll) but I can do that with people I want to form a relationship with because what goes around, comes around.

bottom line is, if I don’t help him install the extractor, it won’t get done. He doesn’t have to because he is upgrading a pretty damned decent system already in place. This one should be better, it’s certainly bigger!

As for the legalities well the electrical work will get signed off by an electrician. It’s probably too simple a job for him to do under the current lockdown (it not much more than extending a cable and sorting out some oddities with a secondhand system) but he is happy to inspect it once it’s done. The extractor unit itself again I assume has been determined to be of the correct type and suitability by the owner. I just have to ensure all of the relevant guidelines are followed and I should get that from the manufacturer or under the direct instruction from the owner.

The ducting is a side issue. He mentioned it, I said I could help. I wouldn’t have the first clue how to design a system myself but if someone pointed me at a stack of tubes and said “put that there” well, I am sure I could figure it out.

That is not to say I could “become” a ducting engineer, I am sure it is one of those trades (like plastering) that only comes good with years of practical experience. What I have though is determination and a methodical approach which for many people would be impossibly time consuming. I couldn’t be a “professional” because who could make a living if they spent a week doing a job that should take a few hours? Well, I can and I do. I hide my inexperience by investing a ton of time into my “property maintenance” handyman role.

 

[Gareth J]

My 2p, I have (maybe had!) relevent enough qualifications and experience to apply for a job designing ducting.

I would and have cobbled together my own extractor. I might, in an unpaid, unofficial capacity make suggestions for things to try on someone else's own, cobbled together system. BUT, but, I would not be qualified to alter, make changes to adapt, adjust, design, make ducts for, brackets for, someone else system. Particularly someone with employees.

Fluid dynamics/airflow is weird. It can seem, and be, total common sense but often small alterations can induce weirdness - strange (destructive) vibrations, dead areas where low, no or even reverse flow exists where you expecting the opposite.

A ducting engineer (or whatever they'd be called) won't be doing full CFD analysis for every design by they will have a set of rules to follow and, just as importantly will have a good idea about how to check it over and spot/rectify any unforseen weirdness should it occur.