By Prosperi-Tees on
May. 05, 2011
Forums:
My shop has 100 Amp 3 Phase service. I have 1 220V 50Amp breaker. I have been thinking of getting a small auto like the Anatol Titan 5/7 for size purposes. I dont think it will work as the 220 50amp would have to be for a conveyor dryer which would have to be under 50Amps. From what I found I can get a dryer that can cure about 300-400 an hour which is about 3-4 times what I do now, then you have compressor and flash and of course everything else such as computers, lights,etc etc. but if it could that would be great. Any thoughts?
My next thought is a Brown Electraprint since its electric. The only issue would be a flash. Will my standard 18x18 110V 20 Amp flash work on the Brown auto?
Location:
United States
Re: Will This Work?
No, that's a spam link, not an electric supply. Please stop.
Dave UK imagesetters and Wasatch RIP
Re: Will This Work?
That would be nice if I had a shop for it. My shop is only 20x about 35
Re: Will This Work?
If you only have 50 amps of capacity you're probably going to come up short of power (for most small auto set-ups).
Conveyor dryer (small auto size) 6000 watts
Air compressor/chiller (small auto size) 6000 watts
IR flash 3000 watts
Press and lighting 1000 watts
Total 16,000 watts (66.6 amps at 240 volts)
The air compressor and conveyor dryer will cycle off/on... so the load diversity will be less than 66.6 amps most of the time, but you've really only got about 10,000 watts of continous load capacity with a 50 amp breaker.
Leave out the air compressor (with a Brown electraprint) and you're down to 10,000 watts (42 amps). Your 18x18 flash would probably work, but your flash times might be about 15 seconds (vs. a couple of seconds with a quartz flash).
If you have a 3 phase, 100 amp service... that would support about 40 KW (40,000 watts) of equipment.
Re: Will This Work?
Thanks Northland, I was hoping you would reply. So if i have 3 phase I should be able to pull it off. How do you know if you have 3 phase? My main breaker outside my shop has a 100 Amp breaker that looks like 3 poles because its not a standard single style breaker. Does this translate into 3 phase? I attached a pic. Thanks
Re: Will This Work?
It would appear you have a 3 phase service... is your shop in an industrial park ?
The service panel or meter socket should be factory labeled as "3 phase".
There are several configurations of 3 phase power (Wye, Delta, open Delta, corner bonded delta).
I think it would be money well spent to have an electrician give you an assessment of what your options are (probably $50).
He may recommend you replace the 50 amp breaker with something larger... and use that breaker to feed a new sub-panel with additional breaker space.
You may never have enough power to run a large electric conveyor dryer... but you can cure about 300 shirts/hr. with 6000 watts.
A word of caution... most people assume the major risk factor with electricity is "shock".
In fact, more injuries are the result of arc flash. A phase to phase short circuit will instantly broadcast a shower of molten copper. Don't overstep your abilities... seek professional help if you are uncertain about what you are getting into.
Good luck...
Re: Will This Work?
It is in an industrial park zoned for light manufacturing. The power coming in is subterranian.
Here is a couple pics. One of the outdoor and one of the indoor panel.
Re: Will This Work?
The service meter is a 3 phase device (judging by the "4 wire" notation on the meter label).
Your service panel is single phase (judging by the wiring diagram).
You may have enough power for a small auto set-up... depending on how much capacity is needed for your air conditioning unit. Your service panel could be fed with a 100 breaker or a 60 amp breaker.
I think if you are serious about going auto, it would be wothwhile having a professional assess your service capacity. Then you'll know if you have options other than a Brown all-electric.
Re: Will This Work?
Get the press that will advance you...don't settle for less.
If you are in a metal shop.....just change your panel box.
or
You could add a 200 amp panel box..then tie in your 100 amp box to that one.
I would switch panel box before changing your press
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Thanks for the reply. Is this something that electric company has to be involved in or can a qualified electrician add the panel box? I have been trying to research electricity and I am more confused now than before, I admire those guys that deal in that stuff.
Re: Will This Work?
Call an electrician...he may be able to just change the panel box.
The power entering the building from your supplier is surely enough to power 200 amps.
You are just limited by your panel box.
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Another question. If a conveyor dryer is rated at single phase 50 amps, does that mean its max draw? Like if you had it cranked up all the way? For instance my current Ranar Curestar 4000 is rated at 22 amps. If I dont crank it up all the way to its max of 1000 degrees and set it at 800 does that mean its pulling 20 percent less amps?
Re: Will This Work?
If the dryer has IR elements, it will draw full amperage as it warms up. When it approachs set-point the controller will start to cycle the power off/on. So, at start-up the dryer will draw full power... regardless of the temperature you set.