208/240/480V 3 Phase 2

[Jason K]

I would like to sought advice if my battery operated fork lift is rated 208/240/480V 3 phase can be charged with 220V 3 phase supply?

Can some assist?

 

[waross]

What country are you in?
220 Volts has not been a standard voltage in North America for over 50 years.
Do you really have 220 Volts or are you just assuming?
Voltage ratings of 208/240/480 Volts are common on 60 Hz systems.
220 Volts was more recently a standard voltage for 50 Hz systems.
It depends.
If the charger has taps or connections for each voltage and lacks a 220 Volt tap, it may not be wise to use it on 220 Volts.
If the same tap or connection is used for both 208 Volts and 240 Volts the charger will probably work on 220 Volts.
There are motors rated for 208/230/460V 3 phase that will operate on aany voltage between 208 Volts and 240 Volts.
However battery chargers are not as voltage agile as are motors.
First go back and find out what your voltage and frequency actually are.
220 Volts at 60 Hz is possible in a very old four wire delta legacy installation but so rare as to be suspect.

Bill
--------------------
"Why not the best?"
Jimmy Carter

 

[jraef]

Likely it is irrelevant. A battery operated forklift will run on DC from the battery. So what you are really looking at is a battery CHARGER that has multiple possible input voltages. If it's relatively new, then it;'s likely a universal input in that it senses the line voltage and adapts the input to the rectifier to compensate. So if it is capable of 208V and 240V, it is capable of anything between them as well. it likely just lists those voltages because those are standard distribution voltages in the US, which is their likely target market, at least for that model.

Best practivce however would be to simply check with the mfr.


" We are all here on earth to help others; what on earth the others are here for I don't know." -- W. H. Auden

 

[Jason K]

Our electric Toyota forklift truck is from the U.S. It is charged by a Hobart Accu-Charger system (model 750C3-18) with:

CHARGER:
AC input: 208/240/480 volts, 22/20/10 Amps,
3-phase,
60 Hertz,
DC Output: 36 Volts and 130 Amps max, 18 Cells

We plan to shipped the forklift with charger to a country with 230V 1-phase 50Hz and 380V 3-phase 50Hz.

We also have the following TRANSFORMER with specs as attached in the destination country. Wonder if it can be used.
INPUT: 380V 3-phase
OUTPUT: 220V 3-phase
Capacity: 5KVA
Frequency: 50/60HZ

 

[waross]

Your charger has a large transformer.
If the Volts-per-Hertz ratio is exceeded a transformer is subject to possible failure due to saturation.
240 Volts @ 60 Hertz is a V/Hz ratio of 4
200 Volts @ 50 Hertz is a V/Hz ratio of 4
220 Volts @ 50 Hertz is a Volts per Hertz ratio of 4.4, 10% high. You will have used up most or all of your safety margin.
208 Volts @ 50 Hertz is a Volts per Hertz ratio of 4.16. While this is still 4% high, it will work if your supply is stable and not subject to high voltages at some times of the day.

Bill
--------------------
"Why not the best?"
Jimmy Carter

 

[wayne440]

IIRC, that series is a ferroresonant design. The 50Hz supply might present an issue.

 

[Jason K]

You are right that 50Hz supply might present an issue as the input Hz for battery charger is at 60Hz.

Any advice what is the easiest way to get things running?

If we were to purchase a new transformer altogether 380V 3 phase 50Hz to 240V 3 phase 60Hz is it possible?

 

[davidbeach]

A transformer can’t change frequency. 50Hz on both sides or 60Hz on both sides.