Dual Voltage controller 1

[SACAN]

Perhaps someone here can point me in the right direction here.

I design electrical heating elements, and a customer has asked me if I can design an element for dual voltage use. The easy answer for this is yes as he is asking for 380V 3ph and 220V 3ph. Its fairly simple to change the connections from wye(star) to delta and get the desired voltage.
The customer now throws in the wrench and wants it so that it can switch voltage without manually changing the wiring of the elements.

So I am thinking along the lines of a switch that switches the voltage supply and internal connections to the element.

Can it be done? Does anyone have any helpful hints?

Thanks!

 

[itsmoked]

You can bring out all your connections and then use contactors to hook up the connections in the manner you want.

Alternatively you can run all the connections out to a connector that you then plug a mating connector into that wires it accordingly. Hence a "configuration plug".

 

[fsmyth]

Am I missing something here? How is this any
different from a Y-delta motor start?
<als>

 

[cbarn24050]

A Y delta changover switch would seem to fit the bill.

 

[SACAN]

Thanks for the input on this, I will do some looking into the suggestions mentioned.
I had suggested a different configuration plug for a different voltage but we would rather not change our existing hardware.

 

[SACAN]

Can anyone point me in the right direction for a manufacturer/distributor of a wye-delta switch?

My own searches have brought up motor related items, that are used for giving a motor a soft start.

 

[ScottyUK]

SACAN,

There's little difference. The motor starts might have some additional overload protection that you don't need, but the switching pattern is exactly the same. Have a look at the circuit diagrams and replace the windings in those diagrams with your load resistors. Are you in Europe?

Most of the big manufacturers should have something to suit: Moeller, Siemens, Schneider (Telemecanique), A-B, ABB...


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One day my ship will come in.
But with my luck, I'll be at the airport!

 

[SACAN]

I am located in northen Ontario, Canada.

In retrospect after re-reading my initial inquiry perhaps I was not the clearest.

I am looking for a switch that can handle 2 different incoming voltages and depending on the incoming voltage, switch the connection type to the element from wye(star) to delta as needed.

So if the control is plugged into 380v 3ph it will switch the element to a star(wye) or 220v 3ph will work in delta.

I don't know how for sure a motor soft start works, I realize the switching may be similar but the motor power supply will/should be of a constant voltage. I think I am coming from the other side in my application.

I have taken the time to browse the ABB and AB sites, but perhaps I might be better off talking to them in person.

Thanks ya'll for your input!

 

[ScottyUK]

SACAN,

To forewarn you before you talk to the manufacturers:

The star-delta switches referred to above are manual operated. There are star-delta contactor arrangements too, but you would have to modify the controls. Trying to automate it could turn out to be quite tricky.

Is it really too much to expect the purchaser of the equipment to move a manual switch from 380V to 220V once? I would suggest that it is entirely reasonable to expect this, although if you know the destination of the equipment it would be a courtesy to set the switch to the correct position. Little details like that help to leave an impression of a quality product. I would also suggest putting the switch somewhere relatively inaccessible inside the machine, and putting a padlock on it.



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One day my ship will come in.
But with my luck, I'll be at the airport!

 

[SACAN]

Thanks ScottyUK,

I agree that having it manual would be the simplest, and quite likely that is the way we would go.

My concern regarding it auto switching connections was because, if the operator forgets to switch it and applies the incorrect voltage it will either heat up very slowly (to the opererators dismay) or heat up very fast ( to the operaters delight) and then burn out (to the operators dismay).

I suppose the best way to safeguard this would be to have each leg of this 2 way switch fused for the appropriate amperage.

Thanks again for you tip!

 

[ScottyUK]

You must recruit your operators from the same part of the gene pool we do: the bottom. That's why I said hide it away so Engineering can set it to the correct position, then lock it to discourage helpful fingers from interfering.


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One day my ship will come in.
But with my luck, I'll be at the airport!