Vernon Tuck
Stainless
- Joined
- Oct 26, 2008
- Location
- Brenham, Texas
Guys,
I am trying to finalize a new wiring installation of an old 1980 vintage Syncrowave 300 welder. I bought the machine at a Pratt & Whitney auction. It was last run on 460V single phase. It has a 100 amp Cutler Hammer fuse box mounted on the back. I believe it was a 3 phase fuse box originally, as there are places for three fuses, although one of the spaces was empty.
To be clear, this is a single phase welder. I think there were some 3 phase Syncrowaves but this is not one of 'em. It can run on multiple voltages but they're all single phase.
The welder has a duplex 120V 10 amp grounded outlet on the lower front panel. I've been studying the literature, including schematics, and apparently there is a transformer inside there somewhere. Presumably, it drops the supply voltage (which can be jumpered to run off of 208, 230, 460, or 575 volts) to 120 volts.
The cord that runs from the power supply to the fuse box and from the fuse box into the machine, has four conductors. However, only three of these are in use: 2 hots (black and red) and a ground (green). The fourth conductor is taped up.
My understanding is that on a 120V circuit a ground may be "optional" but that a neutral and one hot are the essence of such a circuit. The owner's manual is not very helpful. What I'm trying to figure out is whether the machine is supposed to be wired with a neutral to supply the duplex 120V auxiliary plug. I cannot imagine Pratt & Whitney not wiring the machine exactly right. And all they have wired in is two hots and a ground.
By the way, I am only ASSUMING that the fuse box is a 3 phase box because of the three fuse places. As I said, the white conductor that comes into the fuse box is taped off. I am also under the impression that a neutral or a ground are never fused or broken. Hence, I conclude that the white/neutral is not intended to connect to a fused connection.
Do any of y'all have any guidance? I should also say I'm only ASSUMING the 120V duplex outlet is AC and not DC and I'm ASSUMING that it has not been disconnected. The old Lincoln SA200 engine driven welders have 120V DC outlets but I cannot imagine these are anything but AC.
So, my silly question for the day (and possibly good for the whole week) is: Is there some way to "create" an artificial neutral with a transformer? I'm assuming the answer is "no". Yes?
Thanks,
Vern
I am trying to finalize a new wiring installation of an old 1980 vintage Syncrowave 300 welder. I bought the machine at a Pratt & Whitney auction. It was last run on 460V single phase. It has a 100 amp Cutler Hammer fuse box mounted on the back. I believe it was a 3 phase fuse box originally, as there are places for three fuses, although one of the spaces was empty.
To be clear, this is a single phase welder. I think there were some 3 phase Syncrowaves but this is not one of 'em. It can run on multiple voltages but they're all single phase.
The welder has a duplex 120V 10 amp grounded outlet on the lower front panel. I've been studying the literature, including schematics, and apparently there is a transformer inside there somewhere. Presumably, it drops the supply voltage (which can be jumpered to run off of 208, 230, 460, or 575 volts) to 120 volts.
The cord that runs from the power supply to the fuse box and from the fuse box into the machine, has four conductors. However, only three of these are in use: 2 hots (black and red) and a ground (green). The fourth conductor is taped up.
My understanding is that on a 120V circuit a ground may be "optional" but that a neutral and one hot are the essence of such a circuit. The owner's manual is not very helpful. What I'm trying to figure out is whether the machine is supposed to be wired with a neutral to supply the duplex 120V auxiliary plug. I cannot imagine Pratt & Whitney not wiring the machine exactly right. And all they have wired in is two hots and a ground.
By the way, I am only ASSUMING that the fuse box is a 3 phase box because of the three fuse places. As I said, the white conductor that comes into the fuse box is taped off. I am also under the impression that a neutral or a ground are never fused or broken. Hence, I conclude that the white/neutral is not intended to connect to a fused connection.
Do any of y'all have any guidance? I should also say I'm only ASSUMING the 120V duplex outlet is AC and not DC and I'm ASSUMING that it has not been disconnected. The old Lincoln SA200 engine driven welders have 120V DC outlets but I cannot imagine these are anything but AC.
So, my silly question for the day (and possibly good for the whole week) is: Is there some way to "create" an artificial neutral with a transformer? I'm assuming the answer is "no". Yes?
Thanks,
Vern