Industrial Sparky/welding engineer help please!

[edbear2]

I have to go to the USA in a few weeks to work for a month or so.....I have some container space for tools etc. and have been asked to pack a spare welding transformer......Its a Miller 275 syncrowave...An a/c..d/c tig welder, with a provision for arc welding as well...It has variable power inputs on a board with busbar links allowing for 215/315/415 input voltage, depending on how it is wired.......My question is please.

.USA 3 phase is 240v ..60hz.....whereas the U.K. runs 50hz......the voltage will be within the operating parameters, but will the difference in frequency be an issue......have tried a couple of my normal welding engineers but they are non-committal on this

 

[m1ecy]

Being a Miller (An American designed device) you should be ok.

When you run a transformer designed for 50 hz, on 60 hz, it will tend to run a little cooler, and the output will be a little higher.

Oh, BTW, US spec three phase is 480v 60hz - ours is 415v 50Hz

Think you are quoting phase to neutral voltages.......

Why not give Miller a buzz and ask them - if they say no go then you have a definitive answer

Cheers
Sean

 

[shenion]

US 3-phase can be 208, 240 and 480V. I think there is 380V also.

208 is 3 120V phases and is common for small businesses. I have seen 240V 3 phase.

If it is 240, there is often a local transformer for 208V (or the other way around.) That way they can run 110V light and appliances of on a single phase.

The syncrowave will probably work.

 

[Jake SS]

Are you sure it is a sync 275?
Have not heard of that one.

 

[HOUNDMAGNET]

Hi,i would definately contact the manufacturer.A lot of electronic control systems are synchronised to the mains frequency which is 50HZ in the uk and 60HZ in the usa.
Using the wrong frequency could affect the timing of the scr rectifiers and or mosfet/igbt control timing.That could cause them to fail which might result in an expensive repair!

 

[edbear2]

Are you sure it is a sync 275?
Have not heard of that one.

Yep........we have 3 of these (and a 250 with a PC 300 remote pulse control).............Maybe its a market destination thing ie. it may be just a european model......There are certainly lots about in the UK.. ..at my last job we had 5 of them new in 1997 so maybe they are a discontinued item...ours are VGC, as 80% of the work is fabrication, and they may not get used for more than 2-3 hours a week for long periods...On the market area idea, I had some problems before I got a manual for our migmatic 353 as it didn't show on U.S. site download list..all sorted now.......The machine is being packed in any case, so I will update this in 3 weeks or so when I am re-united with it, and perhaps it may help someone else..so thanks for the advice so far from you guys