hi new to the forum with a plug problem

[col81]

hi all after some advice on my new welder coz my last one got stolen and the insurance has sent me a clarke 450 te arc and im not sure what size plug or mcb fuse to run it the cable out the back looks like its 3 core 6mm can anyone help me

 

[madkayaker]

Do you plan to run this on 230V single or 415V single phase?

 

[wyn]

The MM catalogue shows it as 230 or 400 volts and an Av.input power of 17 Kw

 

[piman]

Hello Wyn,

17Kw? that is nearly 90 amps at 240 volt at 0.8 power factor. Not suitable for a 6mm cable?

Alec

 

[jugs]

Hello Wyn,

17Kw? that is nearly 90 amps at 240 volt at 0.8 power factor. Not suitable for a 6mm cable?

Alec

That = a CSA of 25 not 6, a BIG cable are the input figs correct ?

6mm CSA is about right for 17kW @ 415v=(41A) so 1 leg of a 3ph supply.
Make sure your feed is checked for ballance by a sparks.

 

[piman]

Hello Jugs,

"are the input figs correct"

That was the point of my last post, by the way you haven't considered power factor in your calculation, at 0.8 the full load at 17Kw would be nearer 51 amps, so 6mm would be small for 415 supply as well.

Alec

 

[jugs]

Hello Jugs,

"are the input figs correct"

That was the point of my last post, by the way you haven't considered power factor in your calculation, at 0.8 the full load at 17Kw would be nearer 51 amps, so 6mm would be small for 415 supply as well.

Alec

True, I had assumed the manufacturers had fitted the cable so it “should” be the correct one.

 

[col81]

thanks for the input

cheers for your help i was planning on running this on 240v single phase and planning on putting in a decicated supply for it my mig and compressor put still not sure was to do i was going to use a 32 amp plug on it and put a 40 amp breaker in for it what do you guys think

 

[madkayaker]

It will need much more than a 20A breaker. I think its time to get a sparky in for this one.

 

[jugs]

cheers for your help i was planning on running this on 240v single phase and planning on putting in a decicated supply for it my mig and compressor put still not sure was to do i was going to use a 32 amp plug on it and put a 40 amp breaker in for it what do you guys think

NO A 32A plug is rated @32A not the 90A that your machine will pull + a compressor
Look at your electric meter (mine is 80A the tails to the CU = 25mm CSA) Thats the size cable you need all the way to your welder !!

It will need much more than a 20A breaker. I think its time to get a sparky in for this one.[/QUOTE]

Ditto a NICEIC approved one.

good luck

 

[piman]

Hello Jugs,

"NICEIC", being lazy I know, i could look it up but what is that?

Alec

 

[jugs]

Hello Jugs,

"NICEIC", being lazy I know, i could look it up but what is that?

Alec

From google
"Charitable organisation set up to monitor standards and safety of electrical contractors. List of approved electrical contractors"

 

[madkayaker]

National Inspection Council Of Electrical Installation Contractors. Basically they check that sparky are up to the job and underwrite work carried out. Approved contractors can carry out full range of work and issues certification to comply with part P and Electricity At Work Regs 1989. Domestic installers can carry out domestic work. An approved contractor who does commercial and industrial work would be your best bet as they are more likely to be able to do the work.

 

[col81]

so you guys think it will pull 90amps i was thinking it would only pull about 25 and the amps output would change though the rectifier as it drops the voltage down the compressor wouldn't be on at the same time as the arc but i have a clarke 220 turbo mig as well so if i had a dedicated supply for those 3 it wont us set my main eletrics because my workshop is away from the house and the current draw of my old welder used to trip the electrics in the house so it need its own supply

 

[madkayaker]

How far is the workshop from the house?

 

[piman]

Hello Col,

just looked at the MM catalogue and it is a 400 amp machine, not really a DIY set :-), and yes average power 17Kw. Really that will be better off a 415 supply, and a 64 amp socket at that? Certainly the current drawn is proportional to the welding current, but you will be hard pushed to use it off a domestic 240 supply at anything near full output?

Alec

 

[col81]

the workshop is about 6 10 meter away from the eletric supply.
i have only got single phase and i doubt i will be welding any thing that will require full power not sure what sort of thickness it would weld but i recon atleast 20mm thick

 

[madkayaker]

that's going to need a separate supply from the mains to the welder of at least 25mm2. If the welder was on and cooker and or shower it would blow the main DNO fuse