Can I "step down" a 415V Voltage source to 230V?

JohnnyTodd

Hi there,

I'm looking to take a feed from a 415V voltage source to power a 230V device. Problem is the 415V source is three phase voltage. I measured the voltage between one grey and black cable using one of those digital meter yolks and its measuring 230VAC. Can I just use this without damaging the device?

hohojojo

yeah just a feed off one phase and neutral but if you have to ask this i think you should stay away from three phase supplies though

JohnnyTodd

hohojojo wrote: »

yeah just a feed off one phase and neutral but if you have to ask this i think you should stay away from three phase supplies though

Thanks.

Do I need a fuse or anything to reduce current or resistance or is that not an issue?

JohnnyTodd

Another question,

I caqnt isolate this power suppy as its running another machine. Obviously I dont want to touch the live wires but should I ground myself in the event I do? Dont fancy a shock today

hohojojo

if you cant isolate it i wouldn't touch and i am an electrician and if it is powering a machine its fused for that machine you could end up tripping its breaker

JohnnyTodd

Got it sorted but cables are getting very warm. Should I increase cable thickness or is there a way to reduce the current to the machine?

DublinDilbert

God where to start! Woukd be funny if it wasn't so serious.

Can you describe your set up in detail and provide a diagram or two??

Based on your questions above, it would be best to get someone who knows what they are at to look at it.

Btw things shouldn't get hot, blue sparks are also a bit of a no no ;-)

dave2pvd

DublinDilbert wrote: »

God where to start! Woukd be funny if it wasn't so serious.

Can you describe your set up in detail and provide a diagram or two??

Based on your questions above, it would be best to get someone who knows what they are at to look at it.

Btw things shouldn't get hot, blue sparks are also a bit of a no no ;-)

That's right - don't let the sparks out. They're supposed to stay inside the wires. With the smoke.

chrismon

Id stay well away from that if I were you :eek:
You asking for a fire to start.
Get an electrician to sort it for you.

DublinDilbert

dave2pvd wrote: »

That's right - don't let the sparks out. They're supposed to stay inside the wires. With the smoke.

Yea don't let the smoke out, have done it more than once, not nice...

Doom

JohnnyTodd wrote: »

Another question,

I caqnt isolate this power suppy as its running another machine. Obviously I dont want to touch the live wires but should I ground myself in the event I do? Dont fancy a shock today

Darwin award coming your way.......;)

djpbarry

JohnnyTodd wrote: »

Got it sorted but cables are getting very warm. Should I increase cable thickness or is there a way to reduce the current to the machine?

Dude, with all due respect, you're out of your depth - get someone who knows what they're doing to help you before you do yourself a serious injury.

Outkast_IRE

and he was never heard from again:D

JohnnyTodd

djpbarry wrote: »

Dude, with all due respect, you're out of your depth - get someone who knows what they're doing to help you before you do yourself a serious injury.

Thanks for your concern, I got the problem sorted. With a bit of online reading it turns out that the machine draws the current it requires so my previous posts make no sense. Apologies for that as I'm not electrically minded.

I had to increase the thickness of the cable. All working fine now so thanks everyone.

JohnnyTodd

Doom wrote: »

Darwin award coming your way.......;)

Come on man, gimme a break!, it was my first time doing it. I barely heard of three phase power until last week!

jca

What's black and frazzled and hangs from the ceiling?? 1st year Electrician!!

djpbarry

JohnnyTodd wrote: »

I barely heard of three phase power until last week!

So what the hell are you doing playing around with it?!?

JohnnyTodd

djpbarry wrote: »

So what the hell are you doing playing around with it?!?

Who said anything about playing with it?

Granted I'm no spark but it's not rocket science. If an electrician can do it so can I.

Marcus_Crassus

Yes, but an electrician spends 4 years learning this stuff. You spend a week reading the internet and then nearly set your gaff alight.

mawk

I have no idea if this guy its a troll or not.
But if you went from hearing about three phase to deciding "**** it" and taking a screwdriver to it in a week.. Lucky not to have symptoms including but limited to:
Smelling of bacon
Einstien hair
Interior burning
Rigour mortis.

djpbarry

JohnnyTodd wrote: »

Who said anything about playing with it?

Granted I'm no spark but it's not rocket science. If an electrician can do it so can I.

I have a degree in electronic engineering, but there are a lot of jobs I would not attempt myself, such as what you've described above. I’m happy to tackle basic wiring myself, but anything that involves routing a mains supply, I will always get an electrician involved, for insurance reasons if for nothing else.

godtabh

I'm locking this thread for H&S reasons. Please contact a professional