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Old 03-06-20, 15:38
Paul Singleton Paul Singleton is offline
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Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Yarker Ontario Canada
Posts: 509
Default Too much power?

In addition to Grant’s post, when I was working my employer purchased a plasma cutter for use in the shop. An electrician was called to install a second 230 volt 50 amp circuit to feed the new plasma cutter. When checking the specifications the plasma cutter was rated at 230 volts and 30 amps, but had a 50 amp plug on it. The electrician was concerned because if the plasma cutter rated at 30 amps was powered by a 50 amp circuit there was a risk of the plasma cutter catching on fire if it developed a short as it may not trip the circuit breaker. On further reading of the manual it was found that the manufacturer used a 50 amp plug for convenience to the user so it could plug into a standard welder receptacle, but the machine itself had an internal 30 amp fuse on the power supply. The electrician had not heard of this before and thought it was unusual.

Paul
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