Lee Posted June 1, 2007 Report Share Posted June 1, 2007 hows your finisher wired in? Following a couple of mentions on the forum thought I'd bring this one into the frame. I had my machine wired into a Bl**dy great big fuse box, leaver on/off type thing for years then one day it blow itself to bits! I contacted my local electrical wholesalers who said for the rating I need I only needed something like a cooker switch, which on there advice I fitted. The machine is wired into my 32amp fused ring main, with (from memory) a 45amp switch. But is this safe enough? Here my install, whats recommended or adviced & hows your finisher wired in? Lee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petercoulson Posted June 1, 2007 Report Share Posted June 1, 2007 hmmmm, you should always use an approved electrician now to install wiring for your machines. the advice of a cooker switch is good but it might be better practice to run a seperate supply or seperate fuse for your machine. this would be fairly easy, just get a similar box to yours but with a fuse fitting. most machine installations now are via a plug and socket arrangement, particularly 3 phase, this makes them easier to install but they then become a portable appliance and need pat testing every year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh-Candoit (ENG) Posted June 1, 2007 Report Share Posted June 1, 2007 I aint 100% certain on this but, can you get a plastic switch box of this size with a fitted replacable 32 amp Fuse?. I would have thought that a Double Pole Switch would be a safer bet if it is single phase. I'll have a word with the Electrical Inspector tomorrow if he's around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auto Key Wizard Posted June 2, 2007 Report Share Posted June 2, 2007 I hard-wired my 700 to the consumer @ 30A via a 45A D/P switch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh-Candoit (ENG) Posted June 2, 2007 Report Share Posted June 2, 2007 I hard-wired my 700 to the consumer @ 30A via a 45A D/P switch That would be my thoughts too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh-Candoit (ENG) Posted June 2, 2007 Report Share Posted June 2, 2007 Electric inspector says all the ways are OK, you can use a cooker or shower switch as well as long as there is a 32amp fuse at the distribution board or a circuit breaker. Oh and the swtch must be a double pole one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironplanet uk900 Posted June 2, 2007 Report Share Posted June 2, 2007 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petercoulson Posted June 3, 2007 Report Share Posted June 3, 2007 what is that about? did you have your finisher on that plug - the one with the white cable? although it does look like a pre fitted plug that you may have put electric pliers on. as for the black cable, as far as my limited knowledge goes nothing will happen, you are just reinforcing the ring main. but i may be wrong Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davejones1974 Posted June 5, 2007 Report Share Posted June 5, 2007 I would use a 32amp rotary isolator switch, but you should be fine with what your using. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CotswoldEngraver Posted August 4, 2007 Report Share Posted August 4, 2007 i know this is an old post but was just browsing around and came across it. Top pic, absolutely no advantage as the socket has busbars inside anyway lower pic looks like a loose live terminal or the result of crimping the insulation of the core. what rating is the finisher Lee, there should be a rating plate somewhere, if it is wired into the ring main then it will only be protected by the 32A breaker/fuse depends how much else you have on the circuit you may suffer with nusience tripping at some stage if the load is towards its limit Regards Andy Ase Awards oh and HNC electrical engineering + 16th Edition too before getting into trophies Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh-Candoit (ENG) Posted August 4, 2007 Report Share Posted August 4, 2007 oh and HNC electrical engineering + 16th Edition too before getting into trophies Now that's interesting, bet you do all the Switchgear plates for the local Electricians!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CotswoldEngraver Posted August 5, 2007 Report Share Posted August 5, 2007 oh and HNC electrical engineering + 16th Edition too before getting into trophies Now that's interesting, bet you do all the Switchgear plates for the local Electricians!! i'm working on them Hugh believe me! My field is heavy current industrial applications, speed control etc oh don't get me started that why i fancied a change! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Posted August 6, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 6, 2007 there should be a rating plate somewhere that’s interesting I have never found a rating plate on this machine! Although it’s a 1992 Whitfield 700 so maybe this wasn’t a regulation at that time.The original instruction manual states this “ Electrical connections must be made through an isolator and fuse of not less than 30 amps capacity, positioned on or near the machine†Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keithm Posted August 6, 2007 Report Share Posted August 6, 2007 Lee, is the machine 'isolator' you are using on a seperate circuit? Bare in mind that the starting load for the finisher is much greater than the running load. Also, your pliers will draw more Amps while heating up. Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CotswoldEngraver Posted August 6, 2007 Report Share Posted August 6, 2007 Lee, is the machine 'isolator' you are using on a seperate circuit? Bare in mind that the starting load for the finisher is much greater than the running load. Also, your pliers will draw more Amps while heating up. Keith it is my guess Keith that it is wired into the ring main (horror!) Judging by what you mentioned from the manual Lee it should have it's own 32A supply from the main distribution board Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Posted August 6, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 6, 2007 it is my guess Keith that it is wired into the ring main (horror!)Judging by what you mentioned from the manual Lee it should have it's own 32A supply from the main distribution board No Need to Guess The machine is wired into my 32amp fused ring main, with (from memory) a 45amp switch. But is this safe enough? Why is is a horror for it to be wired into the ring main, the spec of the machine and its installation manual indicate the main to be well within acceptable limits, the ring main is protected with a trip switch which has never tripped on this circuit. there are 5 motors on the machine and these run (from the plates on them) Fan 5.8 amps Wheels 5.0 amps Brush turning motor 0.66 amps Naumkeags 2.0 amps Brushes: inaccessible total amps consumed 13.46 amps (not including brushes) So provided the remaining items using the main are not unduly loading it isn't this perfectly safe? Although I agree, in principle a separate cable would be better, why is MY installation any unsafer? Lee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CotswoldEngraver Posted August 6, 2007 Report Share Posted August 6, 2007 having now seen what ratings the motors have i must say that i was perhaps a little over zelous with my earlier reply and for this i apologise to you Lee. It looks like the machine, which i must say i am unfamiliar with, does not need a 32A dedicated supply and will be perfectly ok on the ring main. It must be said though that anyone planning to install machinery such as this, especially in a large installation, should seek the advice of a local electrician because as you can see it does not take much to load up a ring main with equipment especially with heaters etc. Even something as mundane as a kettle can draw over 10.5A Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Posted August 6, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 6, 2007 it does not take much to load up a ring main with equipment especially with heaters etc. I agree with this sentiment & having never actually having paid attention so closely I am going to run a new cable to its own breaker in the near future. This is pretty easy for me as I have a suspended ceiling. I might tally up all my equipment to see just how much it draws at any one time. Lee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kobblers Posted August 6, 2007 Report Share Posted August 6, 2007 funnily enough, i had our machine tested at the weekend to see what current was being drawn due to the fuses blowing and our main scouring band drew 29 amps as a surge at start up then dropped right down hopefully, the machine will be wired into it's own supply shortly. (depending how fast the market get their act together and sort out the main fuseboard) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petercoulson Posted August 6, 2007 Report Share Posted August 6, 2007 ascap, when you say the fuses blow are they circuit breakers? if so you should install C or D class rather than B class as these will allow for the starting current better Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CotswoldEngraver Posted August 6, 2007 Report Share Posted August 6, 2007 I might tally up all my equipment to see just how much it draws at any one time. Lee When adding up all your equipment do not be alarmed if it exceeds the maximum current of the circuit as there is a calculation used when designing circuits called 'diversity' which basically means that you add together the totals of all the appliances on the circuit then take off a certain percentage, calculated at the time of design, for the simple reason that you are very unlikely to be using all the equipment at the same time! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kobblers Posted August 7, 2007 Report Share Posted August 7, 2007 no peter, it was the fuse in the plug that came with the finisher; 13 amp!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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