Bucket for 3 Phase Power?

[JoelTXCive]

I am a civil engineer, not electrical; so forgive my lack of knowledge.

What is a 'bucket for 3 phase power'?

I was a in a bid meeting today with contractors and we were going over plans for some large motorized gates. (The electrical engineer was not at the meeting)

The contractors all wanted to know if we had a bucket for 3-phase.

Are they referring to the transformer up on the electric pole? Or, are they talking about a panel box in a control building/cabinet?

Thank you.

 

[davidbeach]

A starter assembly in a motor control center (MCC) is often referred to as a bucket. Buckets can also have breakers for misc loads without having a starter.

 

[jraef]

"Bucket" is generally used to describe a removable power cubical in a Motor Control Center (MCC), be it for a motor starter or a feeder circuit breaker. So most likely the context was that someone there knew that the source of power would be from an existing MCC, they were inquiring as to whether or not anyone had determined if there was a bucket available in the MCC to feed this circuit, or if they had to add one, or possible add a new section onto the MCC in order to add one. It can affect the cost of the project quite a bit depending on the answer.

MCC:

MCC starter "bucket"

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

 

[JoelTXCive]

Thank you!

Yes, they kept referring to the control building, which was what threw me off.

I've heard people refer to the transformers on poles as buckets too since they look like buckets.

Thanks for helping an ill-informed Civil out

 

[GroovyGuy]

take a peek at he following video (lotsa clips of buckets).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXJKdh1KZ0w

gg


"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." Thomas Alva Edison (1847-1931)

 

[Skogsgurra]

They spoiled the fun by spilling the beans. Good show, though.

Gunnar Englund

http://www.gke.org

--------------------------------------
Half full - Half empty? I don't mind. It's what in it that counts.

 

[jraef]

Transformers on poles are often called "cans". I've never heard them called buckets, but the confusion is possible.


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

 

[GroovyGuy]

I have also heard of transformers called "bugs", and motor t-boxes called "pecker-heads". So is it safe to say that between every pecker-head and bug there is a bucket? Too slangy you say ...?
GG

"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." Thomas Alva Edison (1847-1931)

 

[Skogsgurra]

For pole transformers - the only bucket I know about is the mobile bucket-on-an-arm that the linemen work from.
Looking for the mighty fine Lineman song where the all about working from a bucket is revealed. Anyone found it?

Gunnar Englund

http://www.gke.org

--------------------------------------
Half full - Half empty? I don't mind. It's what in it that counts.

 

[jraef]

Heh, "peckerheads...
Somewhere in my "permanent record" is an HR file with my name on a complaint about using "inappropriate terminology" during a training presentation. I argued that it was a very common term in the electrical industry and didn't have any kind of inappropriate connotation or origin. So I was asked to document that.

I could not... Not only could I not prove an innocuous origin, a lot of evidence I found (although did not share with HR) did in fact point toward their interpretation. I still don't think that's the case, but this is one of those industry terms where the etymology is lost in the fog of lore.


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

 

[waross]

HR can be a bunch of terminal boxes at times. grin

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

 

[crshears]

Line terminology I've heard:

pole-top transformer - bug, bucket, can, kettle

down-guy strain insulator - johnny-ball

certain type of hoist/come-along: gillhooey

CR

"As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another." [Proverbs 27:17, NIV]

 

[controlsdude]

peckerhead | Definition of peckerhead in English by Oxford Dictionaries

https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/peckerhead

Definition of peckerhead - an aggressive, objectionable person.

used it that way for motor terminal junction box. I guess HR is right on pointing to a dictionary. But the electrical term is just slang electrical word.

Maybe wire nut is inappropriate? i thought that was funny.

 

[waross]

Electrical slang for a large basket grip for pulling cables? Don't go there.

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

 

[jraef]

Does it involve horse anatomy?


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

 

[waross]

Of a certain gender- Yes.

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

 

[GroovyGuy]

What does a Kellums grip have to do with horse anatomy ?

"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." Thomas Alva Edison (1847-1931)

 

[waross]

Electrician's slang.

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

 

[rterickson]

Concrete vibrator?

 

[leur2011]

For an "SPACE" bucket in MCC, does UL 845 requires to be equip with automatic or manual shutter. Or a cap plugs is suffice to cover the stab opening of vertical bus?