wiring for new milling machine

[pb57]

I bought an acer milling machine that has a 3hp motor. I would like to wire it up to my welder outlet since I would never run both the mill and welder at the same time. the only thing that concerns me is the welder is on a 50 amp breaker and im sure the mill motor (3hp) wouldn't require such a high amp breaker. would there be anything wrong with tying into the welder outlet. im thinking its ok since if its going to blow a 30 amp breaker it would blow the 50 as well. And I would also be running the machine if there was any problem and could shut it down right away. thanks Paul

 

[454ragtop]

I think it should be fine. If you wanted to be extra careful you could add fuses where the cord enters the mill. Is the mill 3 phase and do you have 3 phase in your shop?
Jim

 

[Techie1961]

Can you give us a few more details? Are they both single or three phase? Whats the voltage? Are there fuses on the Mill?

 

[LXCam]

You'll be fine as the your mill either has a magnetic starter that will have overload protection motor. Did you get one with the VFD??

 

[Ign]

Breakers are there to protect the wiring in your walls/conduit, not the equipment which is plugged in. Otherwise you should be really worried about plugging a tiny LED lamp into a typical household 15A receptacle.

As others have stated, unless you're wired into 3ph you're gonna need a converter and I would only run a converter (static or rotary or VFD) on a dedicated circuit.

 

[pb57]

yeah its a brand new acer E-mill 3VS that is 3phase or single phase but has the built in Toshiba system that enables single phase variable speed, I don't have 3 phase in my shop. I have researched this mill endlessly and have nothing but excellent reviews, even better than the bridgeports. The variable speed Acer is supposed to be a vast improvement over the Bridgeport variable speed pulley system. I used to have a Bridgeport that I liked a lot but this new mill is so quiet its umbelievable.

 

[brook41]

Only solution that I could see is to remove the Welding outlet and install a sub panel with a 50 and 30 amp breakers. Is the welding outlet fed with conduit and what size? Is a neutral run to the welding outlet?

 

[pb57]

The welding outlet has #6 wire run to it in conduit. So you don't recommend just tying into the outlet using the 50 amp breaker as long as I don't run both machines at once?

 

[brook41]

You might be able to use the existing conduit to pull wires back to the panel and add a30 amp breaker. Pipe out from the welding outlet to the new outlet Code wise you cant tap off a 50 amp outlet.

 

[LXCam]

That VFD control panel doesn't look to have any type of over current protection other then built in over current for the motor only, nothing else. That's if I found the right schematic, everything they had was very generic. I would get a 2 pole, 240 volt 30 amp fusible disconnect and wire it into your welder circuit to feed the mill. And do you wouldn't be able to run both at the same time but who gives a ****.

 

[454ragtop]

With a built in VFD with over current protection, I'd just plug it in, should be good to go.

 

[LXCam]

With a built in VFD with over current protection, I'd just plug it in, should be good to go.

Here is the link from the manufacturer, there's no protection on the control circuit.

http://www.aceronline.net/acergroup/parts/parts-em_head_and_wiring_diagram.pdf

A simple AC disconnect would be more then fine. Or if you're crafty, a two pole fuse holder with 30 amp fuses would be perfect.

Grainger: Item # 4ZCP9

 

[pb57]

Thanks for the replies guys. I just didn't want to run 80 feet of conduit and wire if I didn't have to. I wont ever run both the welder and mill at the same time so I will be trying to find the 2 pole 240 volt 30 amp fusible disconnect that LXCam suggests if this is the simplest method. Im not an expert on electrical so where do I find this item. I guess I will hire an electrician to wire this into my welder outlet. thanks a lot again Paul

 

[LXCam]

Just a novice here, no knowledge at all.
Can't you just put a small box directly on the lathe with the size breaker required?
Seems simple enough. Why run wires back to the source when you can count the existing breaker as the source?

I am often wrong.

Well that's more or less what I suggested. The difference being a feed through breaker costs more money then a fusible solution.

Heck, I run both mills and my lathe off one circuit.

 

[LXCam]

right around a hundy.

 

[454ragtop]

Here is the link from the manufacturer, there's no protection on the control circuit.

http://www.aceronline.net/acergroup/parts/parts-em_head_and_wiring_diagram.pdf

A simple AC disconnect would be more then fine. Or if you're crafty, a two pole fuse holder with 30 amp fuses would be perfect.

Grainger: Item # 4ZCP9

If a 30 amp fuse makes you feel better about the control circuit, go for it. Me, I'd put a cord and plug on it and call it done.