I am having an exhaust system installed to exhaust tailpipe emissions in an auto repair shop. The system is made in Italy. The blower motor is a two horsepower unit. It is marked 208 volts or 360 volts. The supplier is telling me that this motor will be compatable with my 480 volt service connection. I think the increased voltage will cause premature motor failure. Like a day, a week, a month…………not sure when but an early death. Am I correct? Thanks for the advise.
Mike L.
Replies
If the nameplate on the motor says 208 or 360 volts, those are the voltages it's designed to run on. 480 volts is not going to work (at least not for very long.)
360V is a common voltage in europe, by the way.
Is this a single phase or a three phase motor?
480v breaks down into 277 volts between phases in a Y system. It seems there will be a transformer in your future.
Your electrician should handle this for you. You do have an electrician, don't you?
~Peter
Your motor should be labeled 380V? Also 50 Hz
Cannot recall the IEC standards off the top of my head but the voltages in Europe changed in 2003 or 2002 by a few volts. The attachment is an IEC chart for voltages and operation at 60 Hz. You said 480 Vac at your place - you would need to verify with the motor mfg you will be OK on 480 Vac on the winding (vs the IEC 460 V ).
Here is what your situation is, and whether or not the motor will burn out depends on where the blower operates on its fan curve (starts to get real complicated, huh?) due to ducting size, etc.
Anyway, the motor turn 60/50 times faster, the problem is that if the vent system sizing did not take the faster motor speed into account in the duct design you could have trouble. Cause is that the power needed to pump air goes up as the cube of the fan or blower speed. The chart shows your motor (if built to IEC specs, like NEMA specs in the USA) will run OK at 2.4 HP vs the 50 Hz rated 2 HP. However, (6/5)^3= 3.4 HP! You could be OK, the Italian company may have provided the correct info for use on 60 Hz.
You should get a gaurantee, for if your ducting and system was not designed to limit the motor load to 2.4 HP, you will have a premature burnout.
Thanks to all for your input. Yes, I do have an electrician on the job. He agreed with me that we had a problem. This am the provider of the system brought motors to the job with the correct voltage requirements. Guess it took a night to see the light!. Again, thanks. This is a great site.
Mike L.
Good to hear it is all resolved, glad you have a competent contractor/electrician.