240v tools

[oil pan 4]

The http://ecorenovator.org/forum/applia...microwave.html got me thinking about using more 240v stuff.

A few years ago I switched out my work lights that had 120v 500w lamps for 120v 300w lamps. The 500w lamps seemed to burn out quickly.
Well finished the 6 pack of 300w amps I bought back in 2009 or 2010. (I only use these occasionally)
So I am upgrading to 300w 240v halogens and putting a 6-15 plug on my light.

Trying to grind down some anti-abrasion hard facing rod welds the other day gave me plenty of time to consider that it might be time to get a bigger grinder. Well I already have one of the largest most powerful 120v grinders made so I searched 220v grinders and got a hit. A 9 inch 240v 2,400w grinder.
That should do it. But they are not cheap.

These will work well with generator support to not load up one or the other 120v legs of split phase power coming off the generator.

[oil pan 4]

Why 240v?
Well a standard 120v house circuit give you between 1,800 and 2,400 watts.
Going up to 240v on a 20 amp breaker gives you 4,800 watts on one circuit.

[WyrTwister]

Originally Posted by oil pan 4

The http://ecorenovator.org/forum/applia...microwave.html got me thinking about using more 240v stuff.

A few years ago I switched out my work lights that had 120v 500w lamps for 120v 300w lamps. The 500w lamps seemed to burn out quickly.
Well finished the 6 pack of 300w amps I bought back in 2009 or 2010. (I only use these occasionally)
So I am upgrading to 300w 240v halogens and putting a 6-15 plug on my light.

Trying to grind down some anti-abrasion hard facing rod welds the other day gave me plenty of time to consider that it might be time to get a bigger grinder. Well I already have one of the largest most powerful 120v grinders made so I searched 220v grinders and got a hit. A 9 inch 240v 2,400w grinder.
That should do it. But they are not cheap.

These will work well with generator support to not load up one or the other 120v legs of split phase power coming off the generator.

Single phase .

God bless
Wyr

[oil pan 4]

For lighting it's poor mans 277v power.
I'm converting all my 78mm halogens to 240v power.
Added a 240v 6-20 receptacle to my plasma cutter, mainly for a convenient place to plug in my 240v German grinder.
I will eventually add a 6-20 receptacle to my welder too.

[oil pan 4]

New 240v tool. The harbor freight 240v, 2.4kw spot welder that requires 16 amps.
Which if the name plate is correct is like a .62 power factor. So it will be getting some power factor correction.

I have a home made 120v spot welder but it kind of sucks.

[WyrTwister]

Originally Posted by oil pan 4

New 240v tool. The harbor freight 240v, 2.4kw spot welder that requires 16 amps.
Which if the name plate is correct is like a .62 power factor. So it will be getting some power factor correction.

I have a home made 120v spot welder but it kind of sucks.

16 amps continuous at 240 VAC . I would wire it with # 10 copper THHN & try it on a 2 pole 20 amp Circuit Breaker . If that holds , good , it not go to a 2 pole 30 amp CB . 10 copper THHN is good for 30 amps . Certainly OK for 20 amps .

God bless
Wyr

[oil pan 4]

The spot welder says it can take a 50% duty cycle.
I think if I tried to run it at a real 50% duty cycle it would smoke the transformer.
Realistically I think it's good for more like a 20% to 30% duty cycle depending on ambient temperature.
The factory cord appears to be metric equivalent of about 16 gauge.
I can power factor correct it and drop a few amps.
So far fixed 6-20 circuits are 12 gauge wire and 20 amp breaker. Equipment 6-20 receptacles have 10 gauge dryer cord feeding the plasma cutter then it splits at the main buss inside the machine with 12 gauge wires that are maybe 1 foot long going to the 6-20 receptacle.

[WyrTwister]

Originally Posted by oil pan 4

The spot welder says it can take a 50% duty cycle.
I think if I tried to run it at a real 50% duty cycle it would smoke the transformer.
Realistically I think it's good for more like a 20% to 30% duty cycle depending on ambient temperature.
The factory cord appears to be metric equivalent of about 16 gauge.
I can power factor correct it and drop a few amps.
So far fixed 6-20 circuits are 12 gauge wire and 20 amp breaker. Equipment 6-20 receptacles have 10 gauge dryer cord feeding the plasma cutter then it splits at the main buss inside the machine with 12 gauge wires that are maybe 1 foot long going to the 6-20 receptacle.

6-20 receptacle is 240 VAC single phase 20 amp . Fine to run # 12 copper , but should be wired to a 2 pole 20 anp CB .

God bless
Wyr

[oil pan 4]

Yes always tandem breakers for 240v.

Also the cord on the spot welder is 14awg not 16 like I thought.

The spot welder comes with a 6ft cord that had ring terminals on it, as if you are going to hard wire a portable tool to a panel with a 6 foot cord.
I put a 6-15 plug on it.

[oil pan 4]

One 15 amp receptacle to rule them all.