I am sure this is not the correct place to post this, probably not even the correct site entirely. But this is a vast resource of industrial knowledge in general... so here goes. Please feel free to point me to a better electrical power website if you know of one.
I have a 11Kva diesel genset that I power my house with when we lose power (which is quite frequent). The generator has a mechanical voltage regulator but no AVR (that was an option that this particular unit did not have). I monitor the voltage, hrz and amps and generally speaking its not bad, but I do drop voltage a little when there is a large demand.
I also happen to have a Stabiline BCR1210OU power conditioner (10Kva), that I was going to use in my shop to boost 208 to 240v but never did. As we are running out of space in the shop, I moved the power conditioner to my house and figured I would install it after the generator so I have nice steady voltage. Otherwise its a really heavy paperweight.
All seems great....EXCEPT.... The manual for the power conditioner says it can run a 120V load but it should be connected between output tap #1 and the 120V tap - which is basically a Center tap on the output coil. And the 120v load should not exceed 1/2 the rated Kva of the unit (which makes sense as its half of the coil). I can post the schematic if I get any interest in this inquiry.
Since I am powering my electrical panel with this unit, in addition to 240v loads, I will have 120v loads on both output legs by nature of the way the breaker panels are set up. So, my question is.... Can the power conditioner handle 120v on the LEG #2 using the same 120V center tap. Now before you tell me, this is a question for Superior Electric (maker of the unit), I should mention that I have emailed them multiple times and have not gotten an answer yet.
So I am hoping to tackle this with a collection of broad electrical knowledge. Basically this unit is large transformer with a primary and secondary (output) coils and there are a series of smaller coils that buck or boost voltage to the primary input coil, which in turn affects the voltage on the output coil. However, looking at the schematic the voltage adjustment is input on the left side of the coil (based on the schematic) which lines up with the output coil between output LEG 1 and the 120v Center tap. On the right side of the coil we have a series of taps on both the input coil and output coil where input and output voltages can be adjusted - for example if we want to go from 208V in to 240V out. its really just how much of the coil windings you are tapping into on both the input and output sides.
Are you still with me so far...? So what I am saying is, I THINK, the reason that the manufacture wants the 120v load on only one side of the the circuit is because that is the side that will see voltage regulation. The other side will certainly have voltage between LEG 2 and the center tap, but that voltage is fixed based on the input and output taps used. Assuming my theory is correct, I can certainly test the voltage on both sides, but how do I know if the 120V center tap can handle the current that may be generated from either end of the coil. An electrician friend of my has told me that the left side to center and right side to center will cancel each other out, but I haven't gotten my head around that yet)
So here's to hopping that someone on this forum has any idea what I am talking about...
Thanks
clint
I have a 11Kva diesel genset that I power my house with when we lose power (which is quite frequent). The generator has a mechanical voltage regulator but no AVR (that was an option that this particular unit did not have). I monitor the voltage, hrz and amps and generally speaking its not bad, but I do drop voltage a little when there is a large demand.
I also happen to have a Stabiline BCR1210OU power conditioner (10Kva), that I was going to use in my shop to boost 208 to 240v but never did. As we are running out of space in the shop, I moved the power conditioner to my house and figured I would install it after the generator so I have nice steady voltage. Otherwise its a really heavy paperweight.
All seems great....EXCEPT.... The manual for the power conditioner says it can run a 120V load but it should be connected between output tap #1 and the 120V tap - which is basically a Center tap on the output coil. And the 120v load should not exceed 1/2 the rated Kva of the unit (which makes sense as its half of the coil). I can post the schematic if I get any interest in this inquiry.
Since I am powering my electrical panel with this unit, in addition to 240v loads, I will have 120v loads on both output legs by nature of the way the breaker panels are set up. So, my question is.... Can the power conditioner handle 120v on the LEG #2 using the same 120V center tap. Now before you tell me, this is a question for Superior Electric (maker of the unit), I should mention that I have emailed them multiple times and have not gotten an answer yet.
So I am hoping to tackle this with a collection of broad electrical knowledge. Basically this unit is large transformer with a primary and secondary (output) coils and there are a series of smaller coils that buck or boost voltage to the primary input coil, which in turn affects the voltage on the output coil. However, looking at the schematic the voltage adjustment is input on the left side of the coil (based on the schematic) which lines up with the output coil between output LEG 1 and the 120v Center tap. On the right side of the coil we have a series of taps on both the input coil and output coil where input and output voltages can be adjusted - for example if we want to go from 208V in to 240V out. its really just how much of the coil windings you are tapping into on both the input and output sides.
Are you still with me so far...? So what I am saying is, I THINK, the reason that the manufacture wants the 120v load on only one side of the the circuit is because that is the side that will see voltage regulation. The other side will certainly have voltage between LEG 2 and the center tap, but that voltage is fixed based on the input and output taps used. Assuming my theory is correct, I can certainly test the voltage on both sides, but how do I know if the 120V center tap can handle the current that may be generated from either end of the coil. An electrician friend of my has told me that the left side to center and right side to center will cancel each other out, but I haven't gotten my head around that yet)
So here's to hopping that someone on this forum has any idea what I am talking about...
Thanks
clint