Balancing a 3 phase load

[gerard]

I have a question on balancing a load. We have 3 cabins with the following loads: 10kW, 8kW and 3kW, supplied by a three phase supply. Each cabin will have it's own supply. Is there a simple way of balancing these loads, or is it possible?

 

[Pete999]

Time for another 5 weeks at the skill centre for you Pete ...

Boydy

Probably right there mate. or could be the OAP club down the community centre

 

[Darkwood]

I have found out that the phases are not balanced throughout the building. All I can do is wire new loads to the phases with smallest loads

Be careful here when assessing the existing load, if you can get an idea of the design load of the existing not just a measured load as you may have clamped at a period that might not show a true reflection of the normal trend... once your happy with your averge load per phase then yes do as you suggest to rebalance the existing with your new loads.

 

[davesparks]

Stick a data logger on the existing supply for a week and get a proper look at what is going on

 

[gerard]

Stick a data logger on the existing supply for a week and get a proper look at what is going on

I will do exactly that... i'll put power monitor on it tomorrow and see what results are like.

Thanks...

 

[Darkwood]

Stick a data logger on the existing supply for a week and get a proper look at what is going on

A bit OTT tbh unless its fluctuating alot and the existing circuits are hard to identify and trace... a weigh up on of the existing circuits should be enough to guess if your measured reading is reflective of the nature of the design load.

Edit ... the OP already has the equipment so seems the better option - most don't posses this equipment and could be expensive to hire out.... this round to you dave

 

[davesparks]

A bit OTT tbh unless its fluctuating alot and the existing circuits are hard to identify and trace... a weigh up on of the existing circuits should be enough to guess if your measured reading is reflective of the nature of the design load.

Edit ... the OP already has the equipment so seems the better option - most don't posses this equipment and could be expensive to hire out.... this round to you dave

It depends how big and complex the installation is, and how accurate you want/need to be.

I am used to balancing generator supplies at festivals/events so am very mindful of maintaining good balance at all times, bearing in mind the nature of loads as well as design currents.

And for small installation some home energy monitors work as reasonable data loggers when high accuracy is not key. I've got 3 OWL transmitters with 200A CTs I picked up on eBay for next to nowt along with a USB receiver to download/monitor the data. They work quite well when my proper power quality analyser is already in use.

 

[Knobhead]

It's not even worth bothering about. Connect up and get on with the next job.

 

[MacLec]

If you were that fussed you could run 3 phase to each cabin but that would be cost + ott

 

[Silly Sausage]

Use a 3 phase powered, single phase output generator.
Perfectly balanced!

 

[Knobhead]

He could use a Scott T or LeBlanc transformer with 8KW on one leg and 8 + 3KW on the other

 

[gerard]

He could use a Scott T or LeBlanc transformer with 8KW on one leg and 8 + 3KW on the other

I will give it some consideration.

 

[Knobhead]

Hope you’ve got plenty of money.

They’re very rare in this country.