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3 phase wiring

W

wallace

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At the moment the wiring for my machines is all daisy chained from one isolator to the next. I would like to tidy everything up because it looks a bit naff and cobbled together. I would like all wiring to be in conduit and done all proper like. I have 13 machines all 3 phase. What is the best/correct way to go about it? Would it be worth it buying a big reel of single core and feeding each machine individually, 52 wires including earth. Most of my machines are in one area but my lathe is 14m away
Mark
 
First off please be aware that I don't live where you do and don't know the local laws. Having said that, in a somewhat similar situation in my shop I added a 3ph distribution panel (fed from my rotary phase converter) and ran four separate circuits to a total of 8 different outlets. Each circuit is in conduit. My electrician used a different color wire for each line in the circuits (IIRC red, blue, black, and also green for the ground). Even if using a single color wire is allowed by code, that way lies madness when trying to diagnose problems. Using four circuits meant only 4 circuit breakers and also cut down on the amount of wire used.

With one exception, my 3ph machines all use the same plugs so I can rearrange them and plug them in anywhere. If I had a problem with one circuit, I could theoretically plug those machines in someplace else and still get work done until the problem gets fixed.

I bought my distribution panel and circuit breakers from used electrical supply warehouse. I'm certain this saved at least 75% on cost. The wire and conduit was of course new. I bought the outlets and plugs from a guy who had them left over from outfitting his shop. Most were used. You can find them pretty easily on Ebay.

Kirk
 
Many years ago I wired our factory for 3 phase. Big circuit breaker board wired to the incoming isolator and SWA cables from the board to various 3 phase machines and also SWA for single phase things like 13A sockets and lighting. Ended up a reasonably neat but also very tough job.

Maybe consider armoured cable and cleats instead of conduit. the cables inside will be different colours as well so no trial and error for rotation.

If you do want to go for conduit run it from trunking if you can. A big box section trunking that you just take the lid off and drop most of the cable run into is easier than trying to get wires through a lot of pipe. just have conduit drops to outlet locations.
 
Thanks Kirk, Robert
I think it would make sense to group my machines, I have a couple that need a lot of starting torque and I even have to have a motor running with no load to help start my planer and bandsaw.
 
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