advice/help needed indicator light for machine

714gold714 · Jan 17, 2013

Hello there everybody

Was looking for some advice please.
Installed a power supply about a year ago for a machine- 3 phase 16amp off top of my head. I basically ran my SWA into unistrut in a 3 phase interlocking socket mounted on unistrust off the floor.

Basically the customer has now asked if i could install a indicator light on to the machine (portable on wheels) or the isolator, so that when the machine is running a light is visible to remind people to switch the machine off. Has anybody had a similar job and how did you do it.

thanks again

babylonsBurning · Jan 17, 2013

Hi gokl,
Does the machine have a control panel with contactors relays etc?
If so it will likely have a transformer for a control circuit, this transformer will likely be permantly
live when isolator is on,depending on voltage of the control circuit u should be able to wire a light from this.
However control panels are subject to different regulations than electrical installations e.g. type of wiring is different (e.g. tri rated).
Also the manufacturer prob wont be to happy about warranties etc!

Wiring a light straight from the isolator would require a 415 v primary transformer, not sure about fusing down for this as your wiring to transformer
will be a lot smaller than the supply and the fuse would be downstream!

LineProducts · Jan 17, 2013

May be way of here but cant you take a lead from one of the phases and N to bring down to 250v?

MDJ · Jan 17, 2013

Obviously I have no idea about the machine as you didn't say what it was, however when we used to wire machines we used to use auxillary contacts on the contactor and have a red and green light, the green light would shine when the machine was on, the red when the machine wasn't running but there was still power at it, only when the main isolator was switched off did both lights go off to let everyone who needed to know the power was cut.

gnuuser · Jan 17, 2013

we use this method as well if needed (most of our machines have an indicator light on them but occasionally the customer wants remote indicators added) or monitoring circuits added

714gold714 · Jan 17, 2013

Hello is basically for a very small machine that takes sharp edges off stainless steel there is no relays or contractors.
As somebody else said could I use 1 phase from the load side of isolator and use this to power light?

Darkwood · Jan 17, 2013

There's an indicator already present on the interlock isolator... if they are fluent in English they can actually read either the word ON or OFF.... simples

amlu · Jan 17, 2013

metal grid box, 1x 3 gang mounting frame, 1x 3 gang front plate, 3x grid neon, you can fuse it down to 3a if you have to.

[ElectriciansForums.net] advice/help needed indicator light for machine

Engineer54 · Jan 18, 2013

MDJ said:
Obviously I have no idea about the machine as you didn't say what it was, however when we used to wire machines we used to use auxillary contacts on the contactor and have a red and green light, the green light would shine when the machine was on, the red when the machine wasn't running but there was still power at it, only when the main isolator was switched off did both lights go off to let everyone who needed to know the power was cut.

God, the arguments i've had on, what colour means what over the years...lol!! I was taught that Green was ''ON'' and Red was ''OFF''!! Now it seems everything is reversed!! lol!! The argument being, that RED indicates danger, and GREEN indicates safe. Still confuses me to this day, when i see a panel full of green and red indicator lights, what i'm looking at!!!! lol!!