[toxo]

Hi guys.

I'm looking at buying a sewing machine that has a red plug on it but the motor says 240V can I use this machine at home? It's on an auction site so can't try anything.

Thanks. Paul

 

[joed]

There is no such thing as 3 phase 240. It is three phase 208.
Does the motor actually say three phase? 240 volts single phase is available in 99% of the homes in north America. You will have to install a proper receptacle to use it. It will plug into your normal three prong wall receptacle.

 

[joecaption]

Joed, did you mean to say it will not plug into a reguler outlet?
May want to edit what you said.

 

[wirenut1110]

There is no such thing as 3 phase 240. It is three phase 208.

3-phase 240 volt is a high leg delta system where phase to phase is 240 volts, 2 phases to ground are 120 volts, and 1 phase (high leg) is 208 volts to ground.

Pretty common in older services, not much used anymore in new services.

 

[micromind]

There are entire subdivisions around here that have 240 volt 3ø ∆ services. The 3ø is used for the A/C unit.

There also exists a 240 volt 3ø system with only 3 wires, one of them is grounded, there is 240 from any wire to any other wire, but no 120. Mostly found on irrigation pumps, not buildings.

There are plenty of 240 volt single phase motors as well as 3ø. If possible, get a pic of the nameplate.

Rob

 

[toxo]

Sorry guys. Didn't realise my location wasn't there. Over here we use 240V mains. The machine I'm after has a motor which states 240v but the plug that goes in the socket is a red safety plug which is normally used for a 3 phase supply. Question is.. can I use it on a single phase home circuit?

 

[AllanJ]

If the motor itself has just two wires going into it and is labeled 240 volts, then you can connect it to a 240 volt single phase source.

 

[joed]

If it is really a 3 phase unit then you can NOT use on a single phase system as it is.
There are converters available to convert the single phase to three phase or you could change the motor to a single phase motor.

 

[ddawg16]

Did anyone notice that the OP is in England? Local power is 240Vac 50Hz.

If the plug looks like this...good to go...

 

[Philly Master]

well since Philly is what is old when speaking of electric ...LOL

we have 208 3 phase in the city .. usually high leg b phase

out in the suburbs you see more 240 3 phase all legs 120 to ground

and we still have some 2 phase 5 wire ....:laughing:

 

[toxo]

I suppose the question can't be answered without more info. I was merely trying to ascertain whether the thing (labeled 240V) could be wired to use at home. It does have a RED 3 phase plug on it but I don't know if it's been put on there as some kind of safety feature. Wishful thinking I think.

 

[micromind]

I suppose the question can't be answered without more info. I was merely trying to ascertain whether the thing (labeled 240V) could be wired to use at home. It does have a RED 3 phase plug on it but I don't know if it's been put on there as some kind of safety feature. Wishful thinking I think.

Correct.

You'll need to know if the motor is single phase or 3 phase.

 

[dmxtothemax]

Can you post a pic of the plug and cord ?
If not, look on the plug for a model number and brand ?
What type of plug is it ?
How many pins ?
What shape are they ?
What pattern are they ?

 

[AllanJ]

well since Philly is what is old when speaking of electric ...LOL

we have 208 3 phase in the city .. usually high leg b phase

out in the suburbs you see more 240 3 phase all legs 120 to ground:

Psst! The high leg 3 phase is the 240 volt kind (delta system).
The symmetric (wye, all legs 120 to ground) is the 208 volt kind.

Older primary (substation to street) lines may be 4KV (4160 volt) phase to phase or 2400 volts
phase to ground.

In cities, modern primary lines are typically in the 13000 volt phase to phase range, in rural areas they
could run up to 30000 volt phase to phase usually with just one of the three phases serving
each street.

Depending on the pole transformer array, buildings receiving 3 phase power might get either
120/208 or 120/240 volt (secondary) power regardless of the primary voltage.

 

[beenthere]

Psst! The high leg 3 phase is the 240 volt kind (delta system)..
The symmetric (wye, all legs 120 to ground) is the 208 volt kind.

That will ay with the area. My town, 240 volt is high legged. A city not far a way, 230 volt is high legged.

 

[stickboy1375]

That will ay with the area. My town, 240 volt is high legged. A city not far a way, 230 volt is high legged.

????, 230 and 240 volts are nominal numbers in the same voltage range.

 

[Toller]

That will ay with the area. My town, 240 volt is high legged. A city not far a way, 230 volt is high legged.

Never heard of 230v. Doesn't that make it difficult to buy anything, or is it close enough.

 

[beenthere]

????, 230 and 240 volts are nominal numbers in the same voltage range.

In the city I spoke of, they have both 240 and 230, depending on which area you are in. And the power company is very specific that they are not the same. The areas with 240 3 phase is not high legged, the area with 230 is. In my town, its only 240 volt 3 phase, and it is high legged.

 

[stickboy1375]

Never heard of 230v. Doesn't that make it difficult to buy anything, or is it close enough.

Its all the same thing....

 

[beenthere]

Never heard of 230v. Doesn't that make it difficult to buy anything, or is it close enough.

230 is within the =/-10% of 240.