thenderScreen tycoon Premium Member join:2009-01-01 Brooklyn, NY |
thender
Premium Member
2014-Jan-23 6:35 pm
What kind of plug is this?This is currently used to supply 250VAC to a huge friedrich air conditioner. I have a device that has an IEC connector on it for power that needs 220-250VAC. I figured I could plug it into here, but I don't have the right cable. I bought this » www.ebay.com/itm/2311363 ··· 97.l2649 but I didn't notice that on this plug the two power prongs are too close to the ground prong. I need something like that but with the power prongs spaced further apart from the ground prongs, and also with longer/thicker prongs. I need that to go to a female IEC plug so it plugs into the back of this machine. I don't want to buy a 120-220 vac transformer and waste on that when all I need is a cable. Any suggestions? |
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leibold MVM join:2002-07-09 Sunnyvale, CA Netgear CG3000DCR ZyXEL P-663HN-51
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At first glance it looks like Nema 6-30R which means you would need a Nema 6-30P plug.
That circuit (if it was done correctly) should be protected by a 30A dual pole breaker. However that would allow too much current for a device with IEC C13 (the most common IEC plug).
If you are going from Nema 6-30 to IEC C13/C14 there should be a 10A overcurrent protection. |
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SparkChaser Premium Member join:2000-06-06 Downingtown, PA |
to thender
This is what I have from when I did a lot travel the UK. As Leibold pointed out it's a 10A cable but the plug is fused.
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JoelC707 Premium Member join:2002-07-09 Lanett, AL |
to thender
That is definitely a 6-30R outlet, I have one in my detached shed to feed a step-down transformer. Unfortunately I frgot the transformer was designed for 208V input not 240V input. It still works just fine but provides ~160V output not 120V output so it sits unused. We'd bought the transformer for use behind a large UPS at our office that was fed with 3-phase and would have 208V available. You could use a purpose built cord, ideally one with a fuse in it to provide the OCP or else you risk melting the cord long before the circuit breaker trips. Alternatively, if you feel up to it, you could swap out the circuit breaker for a double pole 15A or 20A model. You'd be ok to leave the wiring in place (should be 10 awg) but you should swap the outlet as well lest future users expect it to be capable of 30A. Breaker should cost you $10 or less depending on the brand of your panel. Use this for the outlet: » www.homedepot.com/p/Coop ··· Z1z116xt. And this for the new cover: » www.homedepot.com/p/Raco ··· 00038014. |
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sk1939 Premium Member join:2010-10-23 Frederick, MD ARRIS SB8200 Ubiquiti UDM-Pro Juniper SRX320
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sk1939
Premium Member
2014-Jan-29 3:03 pm
It's important to remember though that 208/240V US is provided by TWO hots and a ground (120/120/0) rather than straight 240V. You need a step-up transformer for what you want.
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JoelC707 Premium Member join:2002-07-09 Lanett, AL |
JoelC707
Premium Member
2014-Jan-29 3:07 pm
Where is this step up transformer coming from? He stated he has a 240V load to connect and wants to use this 240V circuit. No transformer needed. |
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sk1939 Premium Member join:2010-10-23 Frederick, MD ARRIS SB8200 Ubiquiti UDM-Pro Juniper SRX320
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sk1939
Premium Member
2014-Jan-29 3:20 pm
said by JoelC707:Where is this step up transformer coming from? He stated he has a 240V load to connect and wants to use this 240V circuit. No transformer needed. It depends on what device he has. If it's a US 240V device then it's fine, but if it's from Europe then no such luck. |
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JoelC707 Premium Member join:2002-07-09 Lanett, AL |
JoelC707
Premium Member
2014-Jan-29 3:41 pm
True that. I would assume (hope) he would have stated the device is non-US if that were the case but we all know what happens with assumptions LOL. |
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mackey Premium Member join:2007-08-20 |
to sk1939
said by sk1939:It's important to remember though that 208/240V US is provided by TWO hots and a ground (120/120/0) rather than straight 240V. You need a step-up transformer for what you want. Um, what? 240v is 240v is 240v. As long as you're not using a US device which expects a center-tapped neutral (or is cheating and expects to use the ground as a center-tapped neutral) on a EU circuit it'll be fine. Assuming it doesn't mind the 50hz/60hz thing... /M |
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sk1939 Premium Member join:2010-10-23 Frederick, MD ARRIS SB8200 Ubiquiti UDM-Pro Juniper SRX320
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sk1939
Premium Member
2014-Jan-29 9:56 pm
said by mackey:said by sk1939:It's important to remember though that 208/240V US is provided by TWO hots and a ground (120/120/0) rather than straight 240V. You need a step-up transformer for what you want. Um, what? 240v is 240v is 240v. As long as you're not using a US device which expects a center-tapped neutral (or is cheating and expects to use the ground as a center-tapped neutral) on a EU circuit it'll be fine. Assuming it doesn't mind the 50hz/60hz thing... /M 240V appliances in the US use basically 120V on separate poles, as opposed to true 240V (hot, hot, neutral, ground). I'm not going into 208/240V 3 phase since this is most likely residential. The OP has a US 30A 240V outlet and wants to plug a 240V appliance with an IEC connector into it, but the question is if it's European/Foreign 240V or domestic. |
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leibold MVM join:2002-07-09 Sunnyvale, CA Netgear CG3000DCR ZyXEL P-663HN-51
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You are correct that there is a difference between a typical residential 240V circuit in the US and Europe (exceptions to the rule exist on both sides of the Atlantic).
In Europe one of the two 240V legs is grounded which means your 240V appliance gets a Hot (240V to ground) and a Neutral wire (0V to ground).
In the US the center tap of the 240V secondary of the distribution transformer is being grounded resulting in two different Hot legs that each measure 120V to ground but 240V in between each other. The 240V appliance gets two Hot legs (and no Neutral).
The important thing however is that the appliance couldn't care less about that difference as long as it gets its 240V. Given that most of Europe uses non-polarized plugs it is impossible for an appliance to have any kind of dependency on which leg is Hot or Neutral (if any, since there are still areas such as rural Spain where you find the same center grounded 240V circuits as you do here in the US dating back to the time of the 110V to 220V transition).
The 50Hz versus 60Hz difference can actually be far more serious for any appliance that uses the line frequency for timing purposes or for electric motors. |
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thenderScreen tycoon Premium Member join:2009-01-01 Brooklyn, NY |
thender
Premium Member
2014-Feb-5 10:31 pm
This is a device made for use in Europe.
The original plug it came with did not even have a ground, which is strange since it terminates to an IEC connector.
I double checked the label. Oddly enough it says 200-300 VAC, 50 Hz, which is a wide range.
I have no idea if this outlet is 50 or 60 hz. Living dangerously, I decided to give it a whirl.
I made a 6-30 to IEC cable, with a 7 amp fuse on both ends before it hits the IEC cord. It goes from each of the two plugs carrying power on the 6-30 NEMA connector to a fuseholder with a 250 VAC 7 amp fast blow fuse inside of it, and fro the fuseholder's other end to an IEC cord.
I figured this was safely under the 10 amp limit of an IEC cable. The machine isn't specced to use more than 1000 watts, which is far under the limit of the 10 amps an IEC cord is supposed to carry anyway.
It works. It turns on. I'm happy.
Thank you for all of the advice, without it I would have just been happy with the unit's internal fusing, which obviously would not have been acceptable given I am using a 30 amp circuit on a 10 amp rated wire. |
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sk1939 Premium Member join:2010-10-23 Frederick, MD |
sk1939
Premium Member
2014-Feb-5 11:42 pm
What kind of machine is it, out of curiosity. |
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